Children's Home run by Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 1 Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and are likely to have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2656172 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2024 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and two children have moved out. Both children living at the home at the time of this inspection spoke with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from thoughtful introductions to the home, which take place only after leaders have carefully evaluated each child’s needs and potential risks and are confident that these needs can be met. Staff from the home visit children in advance and provide them with information about the home, the staff team and the other children living there. This child-centred approach prioritises children’s well-being and emotional needs by ensuring that they feel informed and prepared for the move. Additionally, it helps to reduce anxiety and promotes a sense of security and inclusion. One social worker commented, ‘Coming to this home was a game changer for [name of child]. This was the perfect home for them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move out, they receive photos and memory books of their time at the home, along with goodbye cards and gifts from staff. Staff work in partnership with professionals to ensure that children’s transitions to their new homes are smooth and well supported. This support has been invaluable, as both children who moved out are happy and have settled well into their new homes. One child said, ‘Staff have helped me move out and helped me to feel that I can positively close this chapter and open a new chapter in my life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs through careful planning and by communicating effectively with external providers. Staff ensure that children attend their routine health appointments. The organisation’s in-house psychotherapist offers additional guidance to staff on appropriate approaches to supporting children’s emotional health and well- being. Where necessary, staff seek specialist help, including referrals for counselling. This multi-agency approach to care ensures that children’s holistic needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child consistently attends school and has excellent attendance. Another child has recently begun home tutoring and is receiving dedicated support from staff. The manager is working in partnership with external providers to identify the most suitable educational provision tailored to the child’s needs. One child has expressed a strong desire to succeed academically, aspiring to become a professional chef. Children are motivated to excel in their education and empowered to pursue their dreams with confidence and determination.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in various activities that enrich their social experiences, such as mountain climbing and participating in competitions that reflect their individual hobbies and passions. They also go on day trips to explore new places and environments. Additionally, all the children enjoyed a beach holiday. These experiences help children build healthy peer relationships, gain confidence and create positive memories. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 4 Children spend time with their families and other people who are important to them. Staff support children in contributing to decisions about these arrangements and actively seek their views. This helps children stay connected with those who are significant in their lives.

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

Children form strong, trusting relationships with staff, built on mutual respect and affection. One child said, ‘I have really good relationships with all the staff.’ Another child said, ‘Staff are funny, and I like hanging out with them.’ Children feel safe in the home and have confidence in the staff who care for them.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been very few safeguarding incidents in the home. When incidents occur, staff respond appropriately and follow established safeguarding procedures to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

There have been two missing-from-home incidents. On each occasion, staff promptly followed the children’s individual protocols. Children are welcomed warmly and with care when they return. Staff provide emotional support and a safe space, helping the children feel valued and reassured. Staff engage the children in nurturing, non-judgemental conversations about the risks and dangers of going missing, focusing on helping them understand how to stay safe.

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

Disclosures and complaints are rare. When they occur, they are managed effectively. The manager ensures that children are safe and protected from harm and keeps them informed of outcomes. These actions help children feel confident in raising concerns, knowing they will be taken seriously and that they are safe in their environment.

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

Physical intervention is not used in the home. Instead, staff nurture children and skilfully apply de-escalation techniques in line with the home’s therapeutic model. Their approach incorporates playfulness and verbal praise to help children relax and regulate their emotions.

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

Safer recruitment guidelines are consistently followed. The manager ensures that all staff undergo thorough recruitment checks before commencing work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been a change to the day-to-day management of the home. A new manager, who is experienced and registered with Ofsted, has been appointed. She is supported by a dedicated and ambitious deputy manager. During the inspection, the manager was on leave; however, the deputy manager and the home’s internal quality assurance officer provided effective support to the inspector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Despite regular updates to children’s care plans, leaders do not consistently evaluate potential hazards and risks that could harm children. Robust measures to minimise or Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 5 eliminate these risks are not always implemented effectively. Additionally, children’s risk assessments do not consistently provide clear guidance for staff to follow to ensure children’s safety. For example, staff have not consistently followed the guidance to check one child’s electronic devices. This oversight has had a negative impact on the child, compromising their safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Furthermore, one child has not had access to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they receive the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and life. As a result, there is a risk that children may not understand their rights or have access to the entitlements and support available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders’ and managers’ systems for monitoring and review do not consistently support effective oversight. For example, several gaps were identified in recording practices, and children’s records and key-work session reports are not consistently updated. As a result, managers have failed to identify shortfalls in staff practice and have not always taken the necessary steps to ensure that children are safe and well cared for. This has led to inconsistencies in the delivery of high-quality care and in maintaining robust safeguarding measures. Leaders have given assurances these shortfalls will be addressed immediately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings and supervision sessions are held monthly. The manager also ensures that staff performance is appraised annually. These practices help ensure that staff are well supported in their roles and ongoing professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular training to ensure that they have the skills and competencies required to meet the diverse needs of the children in their care. Systems are in place to ensure that training is routinely updated or refreshed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External professionals report that communication with the manager and staff is exceptionally strong. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 6

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s risk assessments accurately reflect the level of risk and provide clear, actionable guidance for staff to follow, thereby promoting each child’s safety. 14 July 2025

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 14 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 7 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;

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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.

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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)(f)(g))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children receive care in line with the home’s statement of purpose and that the home’s monitoring systems are effective in identifying and addressing all shortfalls.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all children’s records are up to date, are clearly written and factual and that each record is appropriately signed and dated. 14 July 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children are offered access to appropriate advocacy support. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16) Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 8

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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: 2656172 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Stirchley) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peak House, Farm House Way, Birmingham, West Midlands B43 7SE

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2656172 10 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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