Children's Home run by Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 1

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It can provide care for up to 3 children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of the monitoring visit. The inspectors spoke with one of the children.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 21 and 22 July 2026. Following this inspection, 3 compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. The compliance notices related to Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, Regulation 11, the positive relationships standard, and Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have completed training on managing allegations which includes understanding the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer. Managers follow up with staff in supervision and team meetings to ensure this learning is implemented into practice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager ensures that she speaks with children after each incident. Conversations are thoughtfully timed to ensure that children feel at ease and can speak freely. Information shared by the children becomes the centre of reflective discussions with staff. This motivates staff to think about new ways they can improve their practice to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight and evaluations of incidents have improved. The registered manager has introduced clear timeframes for incidents to be reviewed within. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 2 Managers use the evaluations to establish clear and timely actions plan to reduce risks for children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has completed a full review of children’s risks plans. Children’s plans are individualised and contain clear steps for staff to follow. This ensures that there is a consistent approach to managing risks for children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff follow guidance provided by managers to ensure that children return home safely. The manager has introduced procedures which strengthen communication between staff about children’s whereabouts and when they last had a ‘check in’. This ensures that children are safe when they are away from the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff have improved children’s routines. Staff speak to children about their sleep routines and encourage them to think of things which may help them to settle at night. Managers review and respond to suggestions, and children now benefit from having more structure to their day.

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This monitoring visit

Staff can take part in training on trauma informed language and curiosity. Trainers use methods which help support staff in applying skills to improve their practice. Staff talk to children about their vulnerabilities with curiosity but without judgement, and children respond positively. Managers say they are supporting staff to embed this approach and improve the use of positive language in children’s records.

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This monitoring visit

Following this monitoring visit, an internal case review was held to discuss the findings of the visit. It was agreed that sufficient action had been taken to meet the steps identified in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The other requirements raised at the full inspection were not looked at during this visit. Therefore, they remain requirements until the home’s next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/07/2026 Full Inadequate 23/09/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to The Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that clear guidance is given to staff so that they are consistent on steps they will take when children are not responding to staff at the agreed check-in times.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure staff support children to understand the actions that will be taken and when, including where staff will search for children and when children will need to be reported as missing from home. 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 4 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered manager has thorough oversight and evaluation of incident records, including missing from home records, which is reflective and shows shortfalls in staff practice, then take appropriate action to support children and staff.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered manager makes the effort to speak to children and staff after any incidents, including when children's whereabouts are unknown. This information should then inform the manager's overall evaluation and next steps. 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 5 Ensure that the registered manager and all staff have a clear understanding of what constitutes an allegation, how to respond to children when an allegation has been made, and the process that needs to be followed to ensure children are safe and relevant agencies are aware. The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(ix)(x)(b)) 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 6 Ensure that staff encourage children to engage with a routine that supports their health and wellbeing. When staff are not effective, leaders must review and evaluate the strategies used and support staff to adapt when necessary.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered manager and staff understand children's earlier experiences and that language and interactions are trauma informed.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff are provided with the opportunity to reflect in supervision sessions to help them understand better ways to build relationships with children. The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 7 the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, record and evaluate the consequences provided to children, their effectiveness, and ensure that children are given the opportunity to engage in this process and have their voices captured.

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 8 must include details of—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (3)(a)(b)(c) (4)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all safeguarding partners, including Ofsted, are informed of any serious incidents or of any allegations made by the children promptly and that the correct processes are followed to address any allegations. Supporting children and staff in the process.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home's statement of purpose

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 9 help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure all rooms and furnishings consistently meet a high standard that reflects the needs of the children and provides a welcoming environment that they can call home.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; 30 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 10 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when children are not attending education, there is a clear routine and structure in place at home for the child to take part in, and that this can be shared with other educational professionals when needed.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Social Care Services (Clayton) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 31 Shaw Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 4AG

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Inspectors

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Inspector Claire Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2797717 12 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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