Children's Home run by Oldham Council in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 1 SC035339 Registered provider: Oldham Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with 4 children about their experiences of living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 3

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Summary of findings

Children are happy and settled in the home due to the positive relationships they have with staff who know them well. Staff understand the children’s likes and dislikes and support them to have their voices heard.

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Summary of findings

Staff enjoy working in the home and caring for the children. They value the support they receive from managers. External professionals provide positive feedback about the children’s experiences provided to children at the home, and they are confident that managers have systems in place to keep children safe.

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Summary of findings

One child is not accessing their school place, and their daily routine lacks structure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm, nurturing and thoughtfully designed home. There is a separate annex for one child who is preparing to live independently. The child is included in all group activities and mealtimes according to their wishes. One child who moved into the home the week before the inspection said, ‘I like it here.’ Before arriving, the child attended an introductory meeting where they shared a meal with staff and the other children. Since moving in, the child has been able to personalise their bedroom by purchasing new items.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive, trusting relationships with staff. The strong and secure relationships that children have with the manager are essential in maintaining stability and effective communication. Children are confident to express their wishes and feelings in a way that they are comfortable with. Staff also support relationships between children and their families, with parents and brothers and sisters being encouraged to visit the home. One child said that staff supervised their time with family sensitively and respectfully.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted, and all children have education plans and identified school placements. Staff liaise closely with partner agencies to address barriers affecting school attendance. However, one child does not regularly attend school and does not regularly participate in suitable, structured activities during the school day when they are absent from school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy sharing memorable experiences together. A dinner party activity was particularly well planned and enjoyed by everyone. Children benefit from dedicated one- to-one time with staff. Some children have travelled abroad with staff, and one child enjoyed a UK holiday staying in a caravan. One child was supported and encouraged to attend their school prom, which was a significant achievement for them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 4 Staff take care to support children’s individual cultural needs. One child has been helped to research their ancestry, and staff worked with the child to understand this. The child’s independent reviewing officer praised this, describing it as a ‘valuable piece of work’ that significantly boosted the child’s self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s health and ensure that routine appointments are up to date. When children are reluctant to attend health appointments, staff creatively support them, explaining the importance of the appointment and requesting health workers visit the home to improve relationships.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are kept safe by staff who understand how to manage identified risks. Staff communicate calmly with the children using a therapeutic approach. Staff are confident in managing difficult situations with children. Staff follow procedures that are guided by risk assessments, which are clear and based on each child’s individual needs and circumstances. The manager has used consequences as a behaviour management tool but recognises these have not always been effective. There is now more emphasis on positive reinforcement, rewards and direct work with children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know the children well and can recognise when children are unhappy. One child said, ‘Staff understand when I am feeling low without me having to tell them.’ Staff then act on this and provide the child with additional support and company.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing from home, staff understand the risks and actively search for them to help minimise the time the child is away. Staff work with other professionals to understand the reasons why children go missing from home. Robust procedures are in place to support children, and multi-agency meetings take place to identify more effective ways to safeguard them. The missing-from-home coordinator said, ‘I have consistently found the staff team to be proactive, child centred and committed to safeguarding the young people in their care.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager identifies emerging risks to children and liaises with specialist services to support identified needs. Professionals from the substance misuse service provide valuable advice when there are emerging risks associated with substance misuse. Staff understand what to do if a child returns home under the influence of substances, and they follow up with direct work with the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Physical interventions have been used when children or others have been at risk of harm. Physical intervention is used as a last resort, and staff are trained to use therapeutic approaches as a way of de-escalating incidents when they occur. The manager maintains oversight of physical interventions, ensuring that they are appropriate and that staff practice remains safe and proportionate. Children are given opportunities to discuss incidents when they are ready, which helps children and staff maintain positive relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 5 Children are taken seriously when there are any allegations about staff. Procedures are followed in line with regulation, and actions are taken to help children feel safe. Allegations are investigated thoroughly and fairly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a qualified and experienced manager. The manager ensures that all staff work in a child-focused way to promote positive outcomes for children. The manager understands children’s needs and ensures that multi-agency professionals support children and carry out agreed actions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by a deputy manager and a head of service, and their commitment to children is evident in the progress they are making. The management team is determined to provide every child with stability, regardless of their previous experiences, and they always focus on the children’s strengths.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value the support they receive from the management team, which has a presence in the home and works alongside staff. Staff undertake mandatory training and additional training to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to support the children. Appraisals take place annually and allow staff to develop and reflect on their skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals who work alongside the team are positive about the support children receive. A social worker for one child said, ‘The staff team provide robust and consistent responses that are specific to the child’s needs and personality.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly, providing staff with opportunities to reflect on each child’s progress and needs. There is a focus on effective communication, recognising staff’s skills, and supporting one another and the children. One new member of staff received a well-planned induction. They reported that they feel supported and commented on the strength of communication in the home, which has assisted them in getting to know the children and understand the routines. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that, when children are not accessing their education provision, they are provided with and encouraged to participate in suitable, structured activities until full-time education can be resumed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spindles Shopping Centre Level 8, George Street, Oldham OL1 1LF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Whitbread

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Inspectors

Jayne Lord, Social Care Inspector Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC035339 8 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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