Barton Moss Secure Care Centre

Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 1 Barton Moss Secure Care Centre Barton Moss Road, Eccles, Manchester M30 7RL

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this secure children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict children’s liberty.

p.1

Information about this secure children’s home

The home can care for up to 27 children aged between 10 and 18 years. All places available at the home are commissioned on a contractual basis by the Youth Custody Service. The admission of any child aged under 13 years under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 requires the approval of the Secretary of State.

p.1

Information about this secure children’s home

The commissioning of health services in this home is the statutory responsibility of NHS England under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Education is provided on site, in dedicated facilities.

p.1

Information about this secure children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2025. There were 22 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following concerns raised by children that they were being inappropriately locked in their bedrooms for long periods of time, particularly at weekends, and over the last 2-3 months. The findings from this visit supported what children said.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children said that they are being regularly and inappropriately locked in their bedrooms because of staffing shortages. Inspectors found that this practice is becoming routine. It impacts on children’s rights and is having a negative impact on children’s health and wellbeing. Children reported feeling anxious and frustrated. Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 2 Leaders and managers acknowledged to inspectors that this practice is taking place in response to their being insufficient staff on duty at times to keep children and staff safe. However, more children have moved into the home during the last 2–3- month period, with managers stating that they did have sufficient staff at that time.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Management oversight of this practice is not robust. Inaccurate records are being kept, meaning that leaders do not have a clear understanding of how often children have been locked into their bedrooms outside their normal routines.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers acknowledged that insufficient action has been taken, in some cases, in relation to the staff attendance policy. Overall, lack of management oversight and actions has led to significant impact on children’s routines, care and wellbeing.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The requirement and previous recommendations were not considered during this visit. Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Good 10/12/2024 Full Good 06/02/2024 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

*Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

p.4

Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

p.4

Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

p.4

Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (2))

p.4

Requirement Due date

Ensure that children are not locked in their bedroom unless the legal criteria for single separation is met.

p.4

Requirement Due date

Ensure that managers have effective oversight of when children are being locked in their bedrooms, to ensure that the legal criteria is met. If the legal criteria is not met, then effective action must be taken to stop this practice. 20 September

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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)(h)) 20 September Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 5 In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have clear oversight of all forms of restraint and restriction of liberty.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that English and mathematics teachers use children’s individual starting points, including EHC plan outcomes where appropriate, to plan and sequence learning that is ambitious and tailored to their needs.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 September

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children benefit from a well-structured reading programme that helps children of all abilities to develop their reading skills further. This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should ensure that medication audits include a clear process for sharing any findings and following up on required actions. This process should be formalised so that clear lines of accountability for any medication errors are established. This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff who deliver supervision have the appropriate skills and experience. This recommendation was made at the last

p.5

Recommendations

inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 7

p.6

Secure children’s home details

Registered provider: Salford City Council

p.7

Secure children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 5DA

p.7

Inspectors

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector (lead) Shaun Common, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for secure children’s home - monitoring visit: SC040500 8 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8