Children's home run by Brighter Horizons Care & Support Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 1 Registered provider: Brighter Horizons Care & Support Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since June 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first full inspection since registration in June 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

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: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living in the home. Both children have been living there since it opened. The manager undertook a detailed assessment to understand the needs of the children before they moved to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, and say that they like living in the home. Caring and attentive relationships were observed between staff and children during this inspection. Professionals commented on the positive relationships that the staff have established with the children in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities, such as trips to the beach, pamper nights and visits to the local gym. Staff promote children’s individual interests. For one child this means that they have enjoyed bike rides, and there are plans in place for them to take part in a driving experience. One professional said, ‘The staff really drill down on children’s interests.’ Additionally, staff capture photographs and information about these experiences to enable children to have memories that they can cherish in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support each child’s health and well-being. Children have access to all universal healthcare services. All children have up-to-date health assessments in place. Staff work in partnership with the children’s nurse and health therapists to ensure that the children receive support to improve their dental hygiene and personal care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their educational outcomes in relation to their starting points. Staff maintain regular communication with educational professionals. This ensures that any barriers to education remain a shared priority. One child has recently started a brick laying and construction course at college. This is a significant achievement as they have not been in education for several years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently support children to enjoy family time. As a result, children spend time with the people who are most important to them. Parents report that the strengths of the staff include how well they build relationships with children and communication systems that are ‘excellent’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are not aware of the local offer, which sets out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is a missed opportunity to access additional resources for children. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and nurturing environment. The home is furnished to a good standard. However, attention is required to the kitchen flooring and landing carpet to ensure that they are maintained to an acceptable standard. A recommendation has been made to address this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 3

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

Safeguarding practices in the home are good. Staff understand the importance of minimising risks for children, and have a sound knowledge of safeguarding practices. There have been no incidents of children go missing from the home. However, staff are clear on the actions they need to take to ensure that there is a well-coordinated response during any missing incidents.

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

Risk and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed, and the plans are well written. Positive behaviour is promoted by staff. They have a good understanding of the children’s behaviours and are consistent in their approach. Consequently, restraint in the home is not required and incidents are minimal.

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

Staff support the children with good-quality direct work. These individual work sessions focus on important topics, such as positive friendships, vaping, dental hygiene and e- safety. As a result, this is helping children to understand the risks they may face in the community and the dangers that the internet can pose.

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

Recruitment procedures and robust checks are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted prior to starting work. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children in the home.

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

Medication systems in the home are robust. Each child has their medication safely stored. All staff are trained in the administration of medication. The manager ensures that a weekly audit takes place, and they have a good oversight of these records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He is supported by a strong deputy. Together, they continually set high expectations for the staff to deliver good-quality care for the children living at the home. Staff benefit from strong leadership and say that the manager is approachable and very supportive. There is a stable staff team in place who know and understand the children well. Staff said that they, ‘love working in the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective audit systems in place. These systems ensure that the management team has robust management oversight. Areas of improvement are identified through the manager’s internal and external monitoring systems to consistently deliver a good quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and used to reflect on staff practice. Team meetings are well attended and cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to the children’s needs. Good communication systems are in place that include daily handovers to ensure that staff are kept updated about children’s plans and routines in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 4 New staff take part in a thorough induction and complete an in-depth training programme to develop their skills. All staff have attended training to be able to meet each child’s individual needs. This includes self-injurious behaviour, autism and therapeutic parenting. Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that managers and staff are aware of the local offer setting out the support available for children with SEND. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 26, paragraph 5.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children live in a homely and comfortable environment. Attention is required to replace the worn flooring in the kitchen and remove the black marks on the landing carpet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 15 paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2747025 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brighter Horizons Care & Support Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Curtis Martins-Brown

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Inspector

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2747025 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 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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