Children's Home run by Welcare Global Limited in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 1 Registered provider: Welcare Global Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in February 2025 and is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. No other children have lived at the home since its registration with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 2

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improvement to be good

Leaders did not plan the child’s admission to the home well. Leaders could not provide evidence of how they had assessed the staff’s ability to meet the child’s needs. Leaders said that they were not given enough information about the child before admission, although the placing authority’s referral information was sufficient to inform the provider of the child’s needs.

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improvement to be good

The child is not adequately supported in their education. The manager does not sufficiently challenge the child’s placing local authority to ensure that the child receives this. The child is receiving some tutoring sessions in the home without the agreement of the local authority. Leaders were unable to demonstrate how they have verified the quality of this tuition.

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improvement to be good

The child has made some progress from their starting point. The child can reflect more deeply on past events. Staff encourage the child to discuss their thoughts and feelings. Staff can describe the model of care used in the home. This approach draws on an understanding of childhood trauma. Records show that staff understand and apply this approach on a daily basis.

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improvement to be good

The child is building positive relationships with most staff. They enjoy a range of activities, which staff balance alongside ensuring their safety.

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improvement to be good

Leaders have not carried out all pre-recruitment checks before staff work at the home. This includes checks that are important to children’s safety, such as written references and Disclosure and Barring Service checks. The manager cannot be certain that staff are safe to care for the child living at the home, which could place the child at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Staff and leaders have not ensured that they adhere to safety measures in the home. Staff have left prescription medication unattended, which has enabled the child to take possession of this. Staff did not identify this error through medication checks. Staff discovered the error by accident while checking the child’s mobile phone. However, staff carried out this check without proper justification.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not always informed the child of their intention to carry out a room search. Furthermore, searches of the child’s bedroom have not always been effective or carried out at a time appropriate to the level of risk identified. Leaders could not find the log of these searches. This means that the manager does not monitor practice to ensure that it is safe and respectful of the child’s privacy and dignity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 3 Staff know the child well and are aware of their needs and the key risks they face. However, staff do not keep the child’s risk assessment up to date, and it is missing some key information. This does not support staff in ensuring that they are aware of emerging patterns or themes.

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improvement to be good

Staff demonstrate the ability to successfully de-escalate situations when the child struggles to manage their emotions or behaviour. When needed, staff hold or guide the child, and physical restraint is used in a way that is proportionate and necessary to keep the child and others safe. However, the manager has not consistently evidenced that they have spoken with the child and staff following incidents of physical restraint. The manager cannot therefore evaluate with staff and the child whether alternative measures could have been used.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of the child going missing have significantly reduced. This includes instances where an opportunity has presented itself. Staff can describe the appropriate procedures they follow when a child goes missing.

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

There are shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home, which has led to poor oversight and monitoring. Leaders do not show an accurate and up-to-date understanding of the legislation and guidance for children’s homes.

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

The child and some staff say that the manager is not always present in the home. The evidence of management oversight in children’s records is inconsistent. Some records are missing or out of date. Leaders could not demonstrate that staff receive a high- quality induction and probationary period.

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

The home’s statement of purpose contains out-of-date and inaccurate information. This has not been updated for several months. The review of the home’s location lacks inclusion of key local risks to children and others.

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

Leaders have recruited a high number of staff for the home. Plans for the recruitment of staff are based on the wider goals of the organisation, not on the specific needs of the child. At present this does not negatively impact upon the child.

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

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager. Team meetings and staff supervision sessions are holistic and comprehensive in nature. Leaders express a willingness to learn and improve. The manager is enthusiastic about achieving positive outcomes for children. Leaders are aware of the risk of a closed culture and have introduced measures to address this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 4

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete; 22 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 5 full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8))

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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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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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 5 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 6 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—

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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;

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

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

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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

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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)(c)(e)(f)(h)) 8 August 2025

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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)) 8 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 7 In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the challenge needed to the local authority about the child’s lack of education provision, and to any concerns about the social worker not completing expected tasks.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is effective care planning and strong working relationships between the staff of the home and the placing authority, which is essential to the success of placements. The registered person should ensure that any information gathered, as well as any assessment of need, is recorded in writing. They should also record clearly their reasons why they consider the home able to meet the child’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. The registered person should ensure that they maintain sufficient oversight of records, including reviewing their quality on a regular basis and evaluating any action taken by staff as appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations,

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. The provider should refer to the non-statutory guidance ‘Children’s homes regulations amendments 2014: Advice for children’s homes providers on new duties under regulations that came into effect in January and April 2014’ regarding the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 8  The registered person should ensure that they develop and keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The registered person should

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Recommendations

ensure that this is reviewed in a timely manner where changes in the home’s approach to the delivery of care or staffing occur. The registered person should ensure that this document contains accurate and up-to-date information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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: 2795277 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Welcare Global Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: BizSpace, Knowles Lane, 21, Bradford BD4 9SW

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Inspector

Sam Saxby-Brown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795277 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 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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