Children's home run by Bright Futures Care Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC456149 1 SC456149

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Bright Futures Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities and sensory impairments.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken while assurance visits were paused due to the current restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was to help ensure that the home was making progress since the last full inspection in December 2018.

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This monitoring visit

Young people live in a safe and supportive home environment. They receive individualised care that is tailored to meet their complex needs. Each young person has a dedicated team of staff that cares for them. This provides young people with the high level of consistency that they require. One social worker said, ‘I found staff to have a good understanding of [young person’s name]’s needs. His key workers appeared to know him really well and it was nice to see the relationship he has with them.’ Young people have a settled home life. However, one young person, who has lived at the home for a long time, has started to display new behaviours which have put him at risk of harm. The manager has been proactive in seeking multi-agency support for the young person. New restrictions, which have been legally authorised, are in place to keep the young person safe.

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This monitoring visit

Young people’s complex needs and behaviours are well understood by the staff team. Staff use Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) symbols and visual timetables to supplement their communication with some of the young people. This Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC456149 2 helps alleviate young people’s anxieties as they understand the sequence of daily events. One young person’s vocabulary has begun to expand and this is maximising the young person’s opportunity to communicate his needs.

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This monitoring visit

All young people have detailed care plans and behaviour support plans. These documents reinforce the strategies staff need to use to keep young people safe. However, one young person’s care planning documents have not been updated to reflect all his current routines and the way staff are supporting him. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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This monitoring visit

All young people have continued to attend educational provision during the periods of national restrictions. For some young people, this has meant a mixture of physical attendance and virtual teaching, facilitated through video conferencing technology. Staff are working with education providers to try to limit the disruption to young people’s education. Staff have supported young people to adapt to new routines and have helped young people to complete homework.

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This monitoring visit

The home is spacious and generally well maintained. Most of the young people’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated to reflect their individual tastes and interests. However, one young person’s bedroom has padded material added to the walls. This padding is an historical addition and is not in line with the needs of the young person who currently lives there.

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This monitoring visit

Young people are supported to keep in touch with their families. Staff help young people to use technology and social distancing measures to communicate with their families safely. Risk assessments detail the safety measures that are in place to help keep young people healthy. However, these risk assessments are generic. A recommendation is made that risk assessments, relating to COVID-19 and the young person’s contact arrangements, should demonstrate an individualised approach to managing risk.

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This monitoring visit

The manager demonstrates a good understanding of the rights of young people who require constant supervision, but who may not have the mental capacity to consent to this. She has worked closely with external professionals to ensure that the rights of young people are safeguarded. In addition, young people have access to independent advocacy. This helps to empower young people and ensure that their voice is heard within care planning and decision-making processes.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2018 Full Good 11/10/2017 Full Good 08/03/2017 Full Outstanding 18/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC456149 3

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Recommendations

 Children’s care plans should reflect that they are receiving care which meets their needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account of the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Specifically, the manager should ensure that all children’s bedrooms are decorated in line with their individual needs.  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role

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Recommendations

they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, additional training should be accessed in relation to the Mental Capacity Act.  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Specifically, risk assessments relating to COVID-19 and the child’s contact arrangements should detail an individualised approach to managing risk.

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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: SC456149 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Asher House, Barsbank Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA13 0ED

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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC456149 5 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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