Children's home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 1 Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by Bradford Children and Families Trust. The home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The Trust has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role. There is an interim manager in post. There has been no registered manager since September 2023.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2024 Full Inadequate 14/05/2024 Full Inadequate 11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The two children who live in the home have lived here for four and five years respectively. There have been some challenges in that time; however, the stability, consistency and commitment from staff during this inspection period have supported the progress the children have made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children’s school attendance has improved alongside how well they are able to learn when they are at school. Education plans clearly detail progress. One child attends a vocational course that he is interested in taking up a career in. He has been supported to attend work experience within the same industry, which has the potential to lead to an apprenticeship. Staff have supported him to understand the importance of gaining core subjects to progress at the right level.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood. Children are encouraged to attend health appointments. This is not always successful, but staff continue to try. Children eat a varied diet and are offered healthy, home-cooked meals. Children are encouraged to get involved with the cooking, which they do regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are celebrated. Staff are proud of children when they do well. Documents detail the successes of children so that they are remembered. Achievements such as sitting mock exams, winning trophies at rugby and celebrating birthdays are recorded with love and care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been an extensive refurbishment of the home in line with the occupational therapy assessment that was completed. Children were involved in choosing some of the furnishings and deciding what changes to be made. This means the home feels much more homely, and children are invested in their environment.

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

Children have positive relationships with staff in the home. There are fewer incidents and none of these have escalated to the point of requiring physical intervention. This is testament to staff understanding children’s needs and providing care aligned to the home’s model of care. When safeguarding incidents do happen, swift and purposeful intervention takes place to ensure that risks are managed and the likelihood of recurrence is reduced.

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

Risk assessments capture all known risks for children. They outline strategies for staff to use to support children. Children’s documents track risk level and provide clear oversight of whether risks are increasing or not. This is useful for identifying patterns over a longer period. Staff respond to risk proportionately in line with children’s age and plans. This helps children to be able to learn from their actions with the support of staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 4 There has only been one incident where a child went missing from home. Staff responded appropriately in line with the child’s plan and liaised with the right professionals in a timely way. The child returned home unharmed, and a detailed independent interview took place where the child shared positives about living in the home.

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

Staff have the skills to identify early indicators of difficult dynamics within the home. This is addressed with the children, and liaison takes place with the people involved in children’s lives. This prevents issues from escalating and supports children to feel safe within their home.

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

The manager appropriately notifies Ofsted when there are safeguarding concerns. This provides the regulator with a good understanding of the manager’s safeguarding responses.

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

When new staff are recruited, the manager carries out checks in line with safer recruitment practice. This ensures that staff in the home are safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been without a registered manager since September 2023. An interim manager has been working in the home since July 2024. She has yet to complete her application to Ofsted to register.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She has been unwavering in her leadership of the home, which has ensured that the children live in a safe home and receive good care. She is child focused and highly effective in her role. Highly efficient monitoring systems enable her to identify and address practice issues with staff in a timely way. This has also enabled her to provide support to staff to improve their skills in recording children’s documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is now a sufficient and functioning permanent staff team in place. It has remained committed to children throughout this inspection period. Staff know the children well and speak proudly of the progress that they have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy to work in the home. They receive regular supervision, although this is not always reflective and does not always involve discussions about the children. The manager is aware of this and has an action plan to address this. When new staff start, they receive regular probation reviews to support their practice being aligned to the model of care in the home. All staff have now received an annual appraisal with a focus on their own professional development. Plans detail clear actions to support staff to achieve their goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly, and children are discussed at length and reflection of practice and changes takes place. There have been numerous training Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 5 and development opportunities for staff. Staff are up to date with mandatory training and are keen to learn additional skills when this is offered. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 6

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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

Any person who carries on or manages an establishment or agency of any description without being registered under this Part in respect of it (as an establishment or, as the case may be, agency of that description) shall be guilty of an offence. (Section 11 (1) Care Standards Act 2000)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the person in day-to-day charge of the home registers with Ofsted. 2 June 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2730003 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House (5th Floor), 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 0QL

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Inspector

Joanna Beal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 8 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 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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