Children's Home run by Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 1 Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this children’s home. It is registered to care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties and are likely to have experienced trauma. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager who was registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are carefully managed. Before moving in, children receive information about the home, including pictures of the staff who will support them. Staff visited a child several times before they moved in. This helped them to develop relationships with the staff and to begin to trust them. This approach makes the transition into the new living environment smoother for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Equally, staff provide support for children when they move out of the home. One child received photos of their time at the home, along with a goodbye card and gift from staff. The child expressed gratitude, acknowledging the staff’s crucial role in their successful move to their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. One child said, ‘My relationship with the staff is so great. I know the staff love me.’ Another child said they are happy living in the home and know that staff care about them. Interactions between children and staff are warm and friendly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager value children’s views. Children express their views, wishes and feelings through conversation, children’s meetings and key-work sessions. This allows them to reflect on things that are happening in their lives and provides opportunities for children to learn how to communicate effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is promoted. The manager has worked in partnership with education providers to secure a school placement for one child. An education professional said, ‘During meetings the manager is really good at advocating for [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of activities and experiences, such as day trips to theme parks, zoo visits and outdoor activities like football and walking. Before moving to the home, one child could not swim. Through activities and lessons they have now learned to swim. These activities boost children’s self-esteem and confidence while teaching them important life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend time with those people who are important to them, such as family. Staff have positive relationships with family members, ensuring that safe and meaningful visits take place when appropriate. A family member of one child said, ‘At family time, staff are kind and very friendly.’ This approach aids children in maintaining connections with people who are significant in their lives. Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 4

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

Staff provide a nurturing and safe environment for children. Children say that they feel safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are dealt with effectively. When incidents occur, staff manage them appropriately and follow the correct safeguarding procedures to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

Staff use a nurturing approach when children harm themselves. They seek medical advice as needed and provide first aid. Through conversations and activities, staff help children to understand their thoughts and feelings. Additionally, children are referred to specialist health professionals to help them manage their emotions, and strategies are implemented to minimise the likelihood of further incidents.

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

Incidents of restraint are rare; this is because staff manage children’s behaviours effectively. Using the home’s model of care, staff apply strategies such as humour, playfulness and empathy to support them. When physical intervention is necessary, it is used safely and as a last resort. The manager oversees all incidents and gives children the opportunity to express their feelings following incidents.

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

Prompt action is taken when children make allegations or complaints. Information is shared swiftly with appropriate professionals to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. Children are kept informed of outcomes. This ensures that children feel confident to raise concerns and helps them to feel safe and secure in their home.

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

The internal systems for overseeing children’s internet use are effective. The use of parental controls ensures that children only access age-appropriate content. Additionally, staff educate children on potential online risks and what responsible behaviour is. These actions help children to use the internet in a safe way.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of each child’s needs and provide appropriate care for them. However, children’s care plans and risk assessments do not always reflect and detail their current needs. This recording shortfall has not had an impact on the care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post for seven months. He is experienced, child-centred and has high aspirations for both the children and staff team. The manager has created an ethos of continuous learning and development, so that children receive good-quality care. One staff member said, ‘The manager’s engagement with us and the children is exceptional. He focuses on children’s progression as well staff progression.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a motivated and skilled staff team who have a wealth of experience. The manager ensures that staff are well supported to carry out their roles. Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 5 Training is provided in areas specific to children’s needs. Consequently, staff have the knowledge and skills to provide good-quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported through practice-related supervisions. Reflective conversations about the children’s well-being and safety are central to these discussions. The manager understands the importance of staff welfare. This helps to ensure that staff are well prepared and supported to give children the care they need. Staff are extremely positive about the support they receive from the manager. One member of staff said, ‘His practice is amazing, and leadership is top tier.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds reflective team meetings where he creates additional learning opportunities to develop staff practice. For example, staff participate in role-playing scenarios and workshops on how to manage safeguarding incidents effectively and keep children safe. Staff spoke positively about opportunities to develop and improve their skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with external agencies is good. All external professionals commended the manager and staff, particularly on the effective communication and the care provided to children. A common thread in the feedback from external professionals was that children have good relationships with staff, and how well the staff and the manager advocate for the children. One social worker said, ‘I get weekly reports. They are one of the best I have seen and include pictures of what [name of child] has been doing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. He has daily oversight of the running of the home and the care provided to the children. This oversight helps to quickly identify any shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s independent visitor carries out monthly visits. However, their reports fail to accurately report on the frequency of significant incidents. The absence of this information limits the regulator’s oversight of the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 6

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the children’s care plans reflecting their current emotional needs, including therapeutic needs. Missing-from-care risk assessments must be clear and provide guidance for staff. 21 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the independent visitor’s monthly reports accurately detail significant incidents for the reporting period. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2656172 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peak House, Farm House Way, Birmingham, West Midlands B43 7SE

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2656172 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 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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