Children's Home run by Bright Futures Care Limited in Halton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 1 Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by an independent company. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have learning disabilities, sensory impairment and social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 11 October 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The staff team is now more stable. This means that staff develop better relationships with children and provide continuity of care. It also helps staff to better understand children’s needs and provide improved levels of care.

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The care of children

Children are now making good progress. They all attend full-time education and are making progress against their targets. Staff know children’s health needs and help them to attend their health appointments.

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The care of children

Children look happy and settled in their home. They interact well with staff and visitors and use various communication methods to express their feelings. This means that staff can quickly respond to children’s needs.

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The care of children

Children’s plans are now clear and mostly up to date. This ensures that staff know children’s needs and targets. However, one child moved into the home without an up-to-date care plan.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, managers have made improvements to the interior of the home. Communal areas are now well furnished and decorated. Children now benefit from a warm, welcoming and homely environment.

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The safety of children

Staff build better relationships with children. This helps staff to de-escalate incidents with children and it reduces the need for physical interventions. When staff use a physical intervention, they help children to communicate their feelings about the incident afterwards.

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The safety of children

The manager carefully considers children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk management plans clearly detail strategies to manage children’s risks. As a result, staff have a better understanding of children’s risks and what they need to do to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Managers keep children’s missing-from-home protocols up to date. They provide a detailed response for staff to follow if a child is missing. However, since the last inspection, there have not been any missing-from-home incidents.

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The safety of children

Relationships within the staff team are now much better. Handovers between staff help them to understand any current or ongoing issues with children. This means that staff provide a safer environment for children. One member of staff said, ‘We Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 3 are now one big team, working together with better handovers and better communication.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have made improvements in key areas following the last inspection of this children’s home. As a result, managers made good progress to meet the requirements and recommendations. This has improved care and support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers take robust action in response to allegations. Leaders completed one investigation over a short period of time. This helped to resolve issues quickly and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The management team provides good levels of support to staff. Staff feel able to talk openly with managers and share their thoughts. One member of staff said, ‘I received really good feedback and support from my manager, I can talk about any concerns.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager ensures that all staff are now trained to meet the specific needs of children. The manager reviews staff training and discusses this with staff as part of their supervision meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has improved their monitoring systems and has better oversight of incidents. However, the manager’s review of the quality-of-care report covers a seven-month period rather than six. It also lacks an evaluation of stakeholders’ opinions, including children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 31 July 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 6 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that a quality-of-care review is completed every six months, and that this includes an evaluation of the quality of care provided. This should include an evaluation of different opinions as detailed in the regulation.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s care plans are updated and reviewed prior to children moving into their new placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 7

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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 WA13 0ED

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Inspector

Mark Woodbridge, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2652976 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 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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