Children's home where kid snuck out in early hours to go drinking is shut down

A children's home in south Manchester where a child snuck out in the early hours of the morning and came back drunk has been shut down just two months after opening. The 'inadequate' home - which Ofsted has not named - was suspended with immediate effect after an inspection earlier this summer.

The home, which is operated by a private company Blue Kite Children Care Limited based in the West Midlands, registered with the regulator on May 5, but by June 23, its manager resigned with immediate effect. The home was inspected by Ofsted two weeks later after an interim manager was appointed.

Blue Kite said they had the right staffing mix at the time of the inspection but they are now investing in staff training and improving the home.

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According to a report published on August 10, inspectors found 'significant shortfalls' in safeguarding, leadership and management arrangements at the home. The report said: "Safeguarding practice is not robust and is ineffective.

"Leaders, managers and staff demonstrate a lack of understanding about their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. When there are concerns about a child’s safety, they have not taken appropriate action to minimise the risk of harm.

"For example, one child was able to leave the home in the early hours of the morning, without the knowledge of staff, and became unwell due to alcohol misuse. Records did not demonstrate that action had been taken to keep the child safe."

The children's home was registered to provide care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and one child