Children's Home run by Brighter Horizon Homes Ltd in Croydon

Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 1 Registered provider: Brighter Horizon Homes Ltd

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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 three children with learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2023. The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. Both were spoken to by the inspector.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. It is furnished and decorated to a good standard. The children have their own bedrooms and bathrooms, that are clean and tidy. Photos and artwork that the children have created are on display in communal areas. This contributes to the children having a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and help children to develop trusting relationships with them. They encourage children to share their views and support them in making decisions. Children confidently tell staff when they are unhappy or upset. This helps staff to support children to manage their feelings around certain issues, such as things that happen in school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, children have made good progress in education. Both children now attend mainstream schools that meet their individual needs. Staff work with the school to help children reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to socialise with each other at mealtimes. They plan meals and set dinner times. The children also do activities such as swimming and attend the local youth group together. This encourages children to bond and form positive relationships with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to learn independence skills. They guide them in tidying their bedrooms by putting away toys, books and clothes in the right places. The children assist staff in doing their own laundry and sometimes help prepare dinner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers create a culture that celebrates every child’s success. They display medals and trophies. Staff use encouraging words with the children. Children are modelling this behaviour and developing positive communication skills that they are learning from the staff.

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

Children’s risk assessments identify triggers for risky behaviour. This supports staff to know what action to take to manage risks. Staff know the children well and can quickly identify when children are getting upset and how to support them to calm. There has been a decrease in incidents for children since the last inspection.

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

Leaders and managers have ensured that staff use approaches that support children to reduce risks of harm. One child who was subject to a deprivation of liberty order has been supported and now no longer has restrictions in place.

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

Leaders and managers equip the team with essential tools and resources. Together, they create a structure in which children thrive, with predictable routines and clear Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 4 expectations. Children are able to negotiate with staff so that practices are not rigid and allow the child to develop their confidence and have a sense of being heard.

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

Physical intervention in the home is rare. When children’s behaviour is not appropriate, children have the opportunity to discuss this in key-work sessions after incidents. Leaders and managers are building a culture for staff to develop professional curiosity in relation to children’s behaviour and to learn from incidents to ensure change happens to prevent incidents.

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

Staff induction includes vital safeguarding training. All staff receive ongoing tailored training such as safeguarding children with learning difficulties. This enhances staff’s knowledge, to address the unique needs of the children in the home. Staff said that training has helped them in their approach, boosted children’s safety and given them the skills needed in their roles.

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

Leaders and managers have taken children’s needs into account when assessing a child’s suitability for the home. However, they have not considered how the restrictions placed on one child could impact the child already living there. Furthermore, that child’s social worker was not informed and therefore missed the chance to consider the impact it would have on them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The newly registered manager has ambitions and sets high expectations for the quality of care for children. Morale among staff is high and they want to help the children to make good progress and succeed. Staff enjoy coming to work and feel supported in their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and the staff team all know the children well. They speak of them with empathy and warmth. Staff enjoy the children’s company.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff receive comprehensive inductions to support them in their roles. They also provide a probation period, regular supervision and appraisals. The systems in place support staff as they develop and evaluate their practice. This helps them work effectively and meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers oversee the home, holding monthly reviews with senior leaders. The registered manager has developed tools to help with this oversight. The tools enable leaders and managers to identify any gaps in practice and also what is working well in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals and parents praised the staff. They said that the staff want the best for the children and always try their hardest. The children’s social workers said the children have made good progress, have settled in well and are enjoying life in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2739386 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brighter Horizon Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: International House, 109-111 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8JA

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Inspector

Jo Tarbie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2739386 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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