Children's Home run by Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 1 Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may be experiencing social and/or emotional issues. The home is privately owned and managed.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, there were two children living in the home, both of whom were spoken to as part of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This inspection was scheduled to consider the progress made in addressing the serious and widespread concerns identified at the inspection carried out on 24 April 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. The care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 2

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

A case review was held following the last inspection to consider the concerns raised. Ofsted then issued a compliance notice under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000, in relation to regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard) of The Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 18 June 2024 and found that steps had been taken to address some of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. The provider also planned to continue working towards an improvement plan.

p.2

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following this visit, a case review was held which considered the provider’s actions to meet the compliance notice. It was concluded that sufficient progress had been made to meet the steps of the notice. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2024 Full Inadequate 30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2023 Full Inadequate 14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child had moved out of the home the day before the inspection due to poorly managed bullying incidents.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff have failed to implement effective boundaries, routines and structures. Children regularly stay awake through the night and sleep late into the afternoon. Poor and inconsistent routines have an impact on children’s well-being and limit the progress they can make.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not have fun. They spend extensive periods of time in their bedrooms, including eating their meals. Children are also not being provided with regular and age- appropriate activities. They are not being supported to develop important social skills.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff do not have good enough oversight of children’s daily experiences. One child’s room was unhygienic and had a strong odour due to the presence of wet cat food. Staff knew about this but had not taken any action.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not being supported to enjoy sustained achievement in education or training. Concerns had arisen about the children’s engagement with education towards the end of the summer term. Staff had no clear plans to help children successfully return to school after the holidays. One child was telling staff and family members that they were not intending to go back to school, but staff were not taking this into account. Children are not being supported to access formal education.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children do not have a good experience of moving out of this home. Children have moved out in a poorly planned, last-minute way. This has caused them unnecessary anxiety and distress. Staff do not protect children’s emotional well-being or set children up for success in the next stage of their lives.

p.4

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

Staff do not have the knowledge or skills to safeguard children. In this inspection period, four children have said they feel unsafe and/or unhappy. This has led to children leaving the home and refusing to return. As a result, two children’s placements have ended in an unplanned way. Children do not have confidence that staff will protect them from harm.

p.4

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

Bullying incidents are poorly managed. Staff do not have clear guidance or the skills to safely manage children’s relationships. Leaders and managers have not demonstrated important learning from repeated bullying incidents. Records show that unmanaged bullying has been a long-standing concern in this home. Children have experienced physical and verbal abuse. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 5 Risk assessments are poor. Safety plans regarding peer relationships are impractical and punitive, relying heavily on constant supervision. A local authority team manager said this approach ‘felt like secure accommodation’.

p.4

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

Staff do not always follow safety plans. This has led to incidents of hitting, kicking and, on one occasion, inappropriate touching. One professional said, ‘Staff didn’t understand or empathise with his [a child’s] worries.’ Children are not kept safe.

p.5

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

Staff do not have good oversight of children’s use of technology. One child is on their mobile phone throughout the night. Staff did not know how to manage this risk effectively.

p.5

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

Children have been sharing bedrooms at night. Their plans were not updated to give staff guidance on how to manage this issue. Children are being exposed to unnecessary risk.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leadership and management arrangements are ineffective. There has been no registered manager at the home since October 2023 and there have been multiple changes in the management of the home since then. The acting manager was not present during the inspection due to an allegation having been made against them. Children say these changes are unsettling.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring of the home is ineffective. Potential risks are not identified or addressed. The acting manager has not been able to be in day-to-day charge of the home. Leaders and managers do not understand children’s experiences of living in this home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not consistently identify or address shortfalls in staff practice. When issues are recognised, managers do not address concerns quickly or thoroughly. Managers do not ensure that children are receiving good-quality care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have a limited understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have not addressed long-standing shortfalls in practice. Children do not receive good enough care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The supervision of staff is inconsistent, with some not receiving regular oversight. The quality of the records of supervision meetings also varies, with some being brief and lacking in detail. Formal oversight of staff practice is ineffective.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not take children’s complaints seriously. Children have told managers that they are unhappy and feel threatened or unsafe. Leaders and managers have not taken effective steps to address these concerns. Staff dismissed one child’s concerns about being physically assaulted by a peer, saying it was ‘play fighting’. One child who left the home told his social worker that they felt staff did not care about him. Children do not feel respected or listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 6 As a result of the concerns arising from this inspection and the provider’s long-standing poor inspection profile, Ofsted took the decision at a case review on 21 August 2024 to suspend the provider’s registration, under section 20B of the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 7

p.5

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that staff share information about emerging risks for children with the team and other professionals.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Also, that children are properly supervised and supported in the home, to prevent conflict between them. 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 8 Specifically, the registered manager must make sure that all staff, including leaders and managers, understand the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection.

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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 and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.8

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.8

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)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must have the skills, knowledge and experience to understand the needs of the children being cared for and to lead staff to provide good-quality care. 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 9 The registered person must ensure adequate oversight of care in the home, including of significant incidents, and ensure appropriate information-sharing with all partner agencies.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that robust monitoring systems are being used effectively to give the manager useful oversight and review of plans, assessments and records relating to the children.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all children’s feedback is taken seriously and used to inform care planning.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

p.9

Requirement Due date

the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(i)(iii))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have positive daily routines and structures.

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 10 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.10

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.10

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.10

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.10

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(viii)(ix)(x))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 11 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.10

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.11

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.11

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.11

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.11

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.11

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b))

p.11

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 17 October 2024

p.11

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.11

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 12 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)(d))

p.12

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must make sure that there is sufficient communication with and challenge to children’s placing authorities when care planning is unclear or does not meet children’s needs.

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.12

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.12

Requirement Due date

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

p.12

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.12

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.12

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.12

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.12

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)) 17 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 13 In particular, the registered person must make sure that staff understand the standard of care set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They must make sure that staff have the skills and knowledge to deliver care which meets this standard.

p.12

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must make sure that children are properly prepared and supported to move on from the home.

p.13

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: 1250035 14

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Building Bridges Care Homes Ltd

p.14

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Mill Farm, Bull Bridge Lane, Liverpool L10 6LZ

p.14

Inspectors

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Inspector Paulette Forbes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1250035 15 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.14

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.15

Inspectors

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

p.15

Inspectors

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

p.15