Children's Home run by Bright Futures Care Limited in Warrington

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 1 Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to care for up to five children who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. Inspectors spoke with two of the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 19 November 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the full inspection, the home has undergone significant improvement work. Children now live in a bright, welcoming and homely environment. Children have chosen themes for their bedrooms, such as dinosaurs and Marvel characters, and soft furnishings have been replaced throughout the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy warm relationships with the adults who care for them. Staff and managers have made plans to introduce direct work with children to help them understand their rights, their history and how to keep themselves and others safe. This work is ongoing.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with their health and well-being. Staff check on children regularly throughout the night and record children’s presentation when they need additional observations for their health.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers advocate for children who are preparing to move. When professionals make plans that are not in the best interests of the child, staff and managers challenge this. This helps to ensure that transitions are done in the best interest of each child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children well and understand how to keep them safe. When children’s risks change, staff update their paperwork to ensure that these changes are communicated to all staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff hold children when this is necessary to keep them safe. This is done as a last resort, and staff make a record of the incident. Staff talk to children after being held. However, this approach is not consistent. The management team evaluates most incidents after they occur to ensure that staff acted appropriately in the best interests of the child. However, there have been some incidents that have not been reviewed by managers. This does not ensure that all holds are proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has recruited more staff to the home. This will ensure that there is a consistent stable team in place. When new staff join the team, managers ensure that all checks are completed. Following the last inspection, the manager completed an audit of all staff files to check that staff have been recruited in a safe way. This ensures that adults working in the home are safe to work with vulnerable children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager of this home is experienced, with the skills and knowledge required to lead the home. The management team has engaged in reflective work to understand the challenges and consider learning from the previous year. Managers have also led reflective sessions with staff to enable the team to express frustrations, share learning and make plans to move forward in a more positive way. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 3 Managers have provided all staff with supervision meetings to ensure that staff can speak to a supervisor and reflect on their own well-being and practice. Staff have had their performance appraised and probations reviewed to enable all staff to consider their own development. Team meetings have been held each month, with learning and reflection brought into these.

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Findings from the inspection

The management team has taken some action to address the shortfalls raised at the full inspection. Most requirements given at the full inspection have been met. One requirement made at the last inspection has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/03/2024 Full Good 25/01/2023 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they evaluate all incidents of behaviour management. Ensure that children are spoken to by someone not involved in the incident to determine their feelings about it.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 April 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children receive proactive direct work, targeted to their specific needs, to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o Bright Futures Care Ltd, Asher House, Barsbank Lane, Lymm WA13 0ED

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Inspectors

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Justina Henry, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2593530 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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