Children's home run by Brighter-Futures-Cymru Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 1 Registered provider: Brighter-Futures-Cymru Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who may have emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in November 2023. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff. They call this ‘home’ and one child gave it a rating of 9 out of 10. Staff speak fondly about the children and show care through warm and nurturing relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high expectations for children and encourage them to attend education regularly. When children have difficulties in education, staff support and advocate for children to receive additional resources. This means that children achieve and barriers to learning are reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to enjoy a wide range of activities and develop new interests. Children enjoy attending drama club, singing lessons and church groups. They also enjoy spending time with staff, playing hide and seek, going on long walks and making bird- feeding tables. These activities enable children to grow in confidence and have memorable experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. They attend routine appointments and receive medical treatment when required. In addition, staff support children to attend individual therapy sessions, which help them to explore their previous experiences and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers understand children’s care needs well. However, children’s targets and experiences are not consistently recorded in care plans. This may have an impact on staff fully understanding children’s needs and areas for development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into the home are well supported. The managers and staff work well with previous carers and create detailed transition plans. Children are provided with the opportunity to visit the home and meet the staff and the children they will live with. This helps to reduce any anxieties and promotes new relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and decorated to a high standard. Fresh flowers and children’s pictures help to create a welcoming environment. Children’s bedrooms have been personalised and children enjoy playing with musical equipment and a karaoke machine in the home’s communal spaces. This is a home that children feel comfortable in.

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

There have been very few safeguarding incidents in the home. The manager and staff understand children’s risks and their responsibilities to keep them safe. The children have written risk management plans which contain clear guidance for staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 3 Incidents of physical restraint are rare, and staff only use restraint to keep children safe. After incidents, staff reassure the children and seek their views. However, records do not include a description of the intervention used and demonstrate that all staff have received a debrief. Managers have recognised the need to work with staff to improve recording.

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

Allegations made by children are rare. However, in relation to one occasion when a child said that she was unhappy with a staff member’s practice, the manager could not provide evidence that an investigation took place, and the referral of the concern to safeguarding agencies was late. This makes it difficult to understand what learning has taken place.

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

Children are helped to understand their behaviours and positive behaviour is celebrated. Each child has a personalised reward chart and they can earn financial rewards to put towards a special treat like a new bike. In addition, when children receive consequences, these are not punitive, and staff use direct-work sessions to educate children. This practice provides children with the opportunity to make better choices.

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

Recruitment processes are thorough and staff who are recruited to work in the home are subject to all necessary checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team. There are plans for changes in the leadership team and a new manager has been appointed who has applied to register with Ofsted. Both are child-focused and passionate about children receiving high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings, supervision and training are used to equip staff with the information and knowledge they need. Staff say they enjoy working as part of the team and are happy to come to work and do not see this as a ‘job’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed effective working relationships with placing authority social workers and other external professionals. Feedback from all professionals is consistently glowing. One social worker said, ‘Progress for [name of child] has been phenomenal.’ Another social worker said, ‘[Name of child] feels loved and understood.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not ensured that children’s case files contain up-to-date information from their placing authorities. They have requested children’s plans, but not escalated their concerns. As a result, the information is still not available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have identified that they would benefit from changes to monitoring tools and the recording system. The managers hope that these changes will ensure that there are prompt responses to shortfalls in practice. The effectiveness of these new systems will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 4

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records meet regulatory requirements and debriefs with staff are conducted appropriately. 29 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that concerns about staff practice are responded to promptly and that thorough investigations are completed. In addition, ensure that 29 May 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 5 children understand the steps taken to investigate and respond to concerns raised about care staff.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for children’s up-to-date care plans and education plans to be available at the home.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information should be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child and take into account any relevant plans. 29 May 2024

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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: 2718354 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brighter-Futures-Cymru Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Malthouse Business Centre, Malthouse, Regent Street, Llangollen LL20 8HS

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Inspector

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2718354 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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