Children's Home run by Bright Futures North West Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 1 Registered provider: Bright Futures North West Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the last full inspection, inspectors identified serious concerns in safeguarding practice in the home and ineffective leadership and management arrangements. As a result, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the home.

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

After a monitoring visit on 14 March 2024, the suspension was lifted. In Ofsted’s view, the provider had taken appropriate action to meet the requirements under Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 2 regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 3

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have reviewed their systems in relation to children’s moves into the home. Consultations with the staff team and external professionals mean that robust systems are now in place to ensure that staff have a better understanding of children’s needs.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff visit children before they move into the home. Staff share information about the home, including photos. This helps the child to familiarise themselves with the home and staff team before moving in. This helps to alleviate any anxieties they may have. Staff provide opportunities for the child to engage in a range of activities in the home and community. Staff support the child to develop new interests and hobbies. Staff and managers recognise the underlying reasons that prevent the child from engaging in activities. As a result, staff can help the child overcome barriers to engagement, and the child now enjoys attending a local boxing club with the manager. However, opportunities for the child to access the community were not always available due to the staff not having regular access to a car.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages in educational activities daily and is making progress. Staff understand the difficulties the child faces to engage in education for prolonged periods of time. Staff provide opportunities for the child to engage in education in line with his level of ability and understanding. The manager is a strong advocate for the child. He has identified educational provisions that can meet the child’s needs. The manager challenges professionals when there are delays in the child being able to attend educational provisions.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend time with family members in line with their wishes. Staff invite the child’s family members into the home and maintain positive relationships with them. Parents and close relatives are provided with regular updates on the child’s progress. Staff advocate for the child to spend time with friends who are important to them. Staff help the child to overcome difficulties in expressing their views to others. As a result, the child now engages with an independent advocate and can express their views on who they would like to spend time with.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities well. Staff spend time getting to know the child. As a result, staff have developed positive relationships with the child. This means that the child can discuss their behaviour and previous life experiences. Staff’s understanding of the child’s needs means that they can provide support to the child to reduce their risks. Staff work well with court directed orders to ensure that the child is safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 5 Staff have a good understanding of the risks associated with the internet and social media. Staff help the child stay safe by checking their devices and talking to them about how to keep safe.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of exploitation. They recognise the signs when a child may be at risk. Staff help the child to understand these risks by talking about scenarios and watching educational videos. This helps the child to understand the risk and how to keep safe.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders, managers, and staff have good relationships with professionals. This helps to provide the child with effective all-round safeguarding.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Incidents of the child being missing from home have reduced since they have been living in the home. When incidents do occur, staff look for the child and work with professionals and family members to find them. However, on one occasion, staff were unable to travel to the suspected location of the child due to not having access to a vehicle. This led to staff using public transport, which delayed the child being able to return home.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans include strategies and interventions from psychological and diagnostic assessments. This means that the child is supported in line with their level of understanding. However, not all records have been signed by staff.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child can talk to staff if he is worried. Staff talk to the child after incidents to help them understand their emotions. Staff help the child to improve their relationships with staff through letters of apology and restorative conversations. This provides the child with opportunities to reflect on their behaviour and the impact of this on others.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager. He is supported by a competent deputy manager. Managers are committed to providing high standards of care to the child. The manager knows the child well, and they have a positive relationship.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is cared for by a consistent and stable staff team. The recruitment of new staff to the home is safe. Since the last inspection, staff morale has improved. Staff say they enjoy working in the home and that they feel well supported by managers and colleagues.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works hard to ensure that the staff team has the knowledge and skills to support the child well. He monitors and reviews staff training and development. Staff have had training in specific areas to meet the child’s individual needs, for example trauma-informed practice and behaviour management. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 6 Significant progress has been made in the oversight of the care being provided. The manager has effective monitoring and review systems in place. This is helping him improve the quality of care that staff provide for the child. Daily and monthly checks enable the manager to have oversight of staff practice on a regular basis. However, the manager had not identified that a statutory review had not taken place within timescales. Action was taken to rectify this during the inspection.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager welcomes independent scrutiny of the home. However, the independent visitor’s reports have not been shared with the regulator within the relevant timescales. The manager took action to address this at the inspection. Quality of care reports are submitted within timescales. However, the manager does not consistently demonstrate how practice can be improved.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision and team meetings. Reflective sessions following the previous inspection have provided staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and identify improvements that can be made to the quality of care provided for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 7

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.7

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vii)(ix))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have access to transport arrangements to provide the child with activities in line with their interests and wishes. 16 August 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires, and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child 16 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 8 and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that local authority plans are obtained, the child’s records are reviewed and read by the staff team and that they are updated accordingly.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure than an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (7)(a)(d)(e)) 16 August 2024

p.8

Recommendation

 The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 64, paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 9

p.8

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: 2734267 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Futures North West Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 48-52 Penny Lane, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Merseyside L18 1DG

p.10

Inspectors

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2734267 11 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.10

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11