Children's Home run by Bridge2Future Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 1 Registered provider: Bridge2Future Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It is registered to care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 28 January 2025, Ofsted conducted an assurance inspection of this home. Serious and widespread failures were identified at this inspection. A notice to restrict accommodation was issued, along with compliance notices under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

p.1

This monitoring visit

On 1 April 2025, Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit at this home. The purpose of this visit was to assess the action taken by managers to meet the steps set out in the compliance notices for regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard), and to review the managers’ compliance with the notice to restrict accommodation.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have adhered to the notice to restrict accommodation. However, very little progress has been made towards fulfilling the steps set out in each compliance notice and managers have failed to make improvements to the safeguarding and leadership systems in the home. Consequently, both compliance notices have not been met and two further compliance notices for regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), and regulation 13 (the leadership and management Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 2 standard) have been issued. In addition, a further notice to restrict accommodation has been issued.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Leaders do not ensure that staff are equipped with the skills to support children to feel safe and secure in the home. While staff have completed some training to develop their skills, they are still unable to demonstrate how they will respond effectively to safeguard children during times when children are in crisis.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers and staff do not have a good understanding of children’s risks. Since the last inspection, development for staff to improve their safeguarding knowledge has been planned, but has not yet taken place. As a result, leaders cannot be sure that staff are able to assess children’s risks effectively and keep them safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Leaders fail to notify Ofsted of significant incidents involving children in the home. In addition, management oversight of children’s safety is poor and leaders do not understand why concerns about children’s safety should have been notified. These repeated shortfalls prevent Ofsted from having oversight of safeguarding arrangements in the home.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Monitoring and oversight by leaders and managers remain ineffective. They do not ensure that there are sufficient arrangements in place to protect children from harm. The failure to take effective action to improve the quality of care compromises children’s safety, experiences and progress.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have made some progress towards fulfilling two of the requirements raised at the last inspection. For example, children who move into the home will now have opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. Also, staff now have more opportunities to discuss concerns and their development through regular supervision sessions.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Requirements under regulations 7 and 33 were reviewed and considered to have been met. No other requirements were reviewed during this visit. These will be considered at future inspections. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 4

p.3

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 with the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

p.4

Requirement Due date

 risks are understood and managed effectively by managers and staff 26 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 5  staff have the skills and experience to respond to children’s risks and keep them safe  risk management plans contain up-to-date and clear guidance for staff to follow and mitigate risk  staff consistently follow children’s plans to ensure that they provide children with good-quality, consistent care, which keeps children safe.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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; and

p.5

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)(d)(e)(f)(h)) 26 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

p.5

Requirement Due date

 there are sufficient staff to meet each child’s needs  that when staff cover is required, this does not impact on the continuity of care for children as far as possible  staff have the appropriate skills to respond effectively to children’s needs  that there are effective monitoring and review systems in place to ensure ongoing improvements to the quality of care provided to children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i)(ix))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff respond to children’s needs in line with the therapeutic approach outlined in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. 27 March 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 27 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

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. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are provided with clear boundaries, structure and routine, and supported to engage in constructive activities when they are not in education.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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. (Regulation 5(a))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should include each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care. 27 March 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 27 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 8 A notification made under this regulation—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

p.8

Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that Ofsted is informed of all serious incidents.

p.8

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.8

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bridge2future, Surestore, Ninth Avenue, Burton-on- Trent DE14 3JZ

p.9

Inspectors

Kev Brammer, Regulatory Inspection Manager Tonia Dubidat, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2772513 10 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.9

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 .

p.10

Inspectors

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.10

Inspectors

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

p.10

Inspectors

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

p.10