Children's Home run by Bright Life Living Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 1 Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Wolverhampton) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2025 and is working towards their level 5 qualification in leadership and management for residential childcare.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All expressed that they were happy and felt settled. Staff have developed warm and nurturing relationships with the children by spending meaningful time with them and showing genuine interest in their lives. As a result, children have developed trust in the adults caring for them and feel emotionally safe. One child described the home as being ‘one big family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of education are mixed. There have been delays in progressing some education plans, which were appropriately challenged by the manager. Formal education arrangements are now in place. Staff use a range of strategies to promote engagement and demonstrate high aspirations for the children. This is reflected in how they support and encourage educational progress. Children have made measurable progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. The impact risk assessment completed prior to their admission did not sufficiently consider the needs of the other children. Despite previous managers exploring all possible options to maintain the placement, it was not sustainable in terms of the welfare of the children. The outcome was not positive for the child, who did not wish to leave, resulting in a further disrupted placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with appropriate health services, and staff support them to attend appointments. Staff encourage children to take responsibility for their health needs, helping to prepare them for independence. Children also benefit from access to the provider’s therapeutic services, which promote emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain positive relationships with professionals involved in the children’s care. This enables effective collaboration with the local authority and education providers. Feedback from some professionals highlights the quality and impact of staff support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are tailored to the individual needs of each child. These sessions are child centred and effective in engaging children. They support children’s understanding and help them to address areas of difficulty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is stylish and modern, with a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Interactions between staff and children are warm and often filled with laughter. Children’s bedrooms reflect their personalities, with staff responding to their preferences in the design and decoration. Children’s views are also considered in decisions about the home and garden, contributing to their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child told the inspector, ‘This is the best home I’ve ever lived in.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 4

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

The manager and staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the risks associated with each child. Risk assessments are detailed and regularly updated to reflect the children’s evolving needs. This ensures that staff consistently follow protocols that promote safety and well-being. Responses to behaviour are measured and underpinned by fair boundaries, which help children feel secure.

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

Records of incidents involving physical intervention are comprehensive. They show that staff make concerted efforts to use playful engagement and diversion techniques to de- escalate situations. Restrictive practices are only used as a last resort, once all other options have been exhausted. Debrief sessions are reflective and demonstrate that the manager challenges staff to consider good practice. Following incidents, staff talk with children to understand their feelings and experiences. The manager and staff also seek guidance from the clinical team and are proactive in implementing advice. This has led to improvements in practice and a reduction in incidents.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and take appropriate action to locate them. They continue their efforts until the child returns safely. Reports relating to missing incidents are well documented and show strong management oversight. These incidents have significantly decreased over time.

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

Staff respond to bullying with creativity and persistence. They help children understand the impact of their behaviour and work hard to prevent further incidents. Their approach promotes positive group dynamics, and children often interact well with one another.

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

Allegations are responded to swiftly and thoroughly. Staff engage in meaningful conversations with the children involved, and managers notify the relevant external agencies. Children feel listened to and have confidence in the complaints process.

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

Systems for managing medication are effective and ensure children receive it safely. Although medication errors are rare, managers respond quickly when they occur. As part of a robust action plan, staff received refresher training, and no further errors have been reported.

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

Some records contain subjective language and are not written in a child-friendly manner. If accessed by children, these records could be unhelpful and potentially undermine their understanding of events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders and the manager share a clear and purposeful vision: to ensure that children leave the home having experienced meaningful and nurturing care. Central to the manager’s practice is the creation of a family-style environment. There is a strong commitment to helping children build lasting and happy memories of their time in care. The manager has fostered an inclusive culture that promotes equality and celebrates Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 5 diversity. Staff demonstrate respect for each child’s individual needs, and children feel valued as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s calm and positive demeanour contributes to a settled and reassuring atmosphere. This helps children feel at ease, particularly during moments of distress. The manager promotes openness and honesty, which enables children to feel heard and involved in decision-making processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Strong relationships have been established with external professionals. The manager advocates effectively for children and is prepared to challenge decisions that are not in their best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a stable and consistent staff team, which has removed the need for agency staff. This continuity provides children with a sense of security and stability. Staff receive regular supervision sessions in line with organisational policy. These sessions are reflective and consider both the needs of the children and the professional development of staff. Team meetings are held frequently and are collaborative in nature, helping to strengthen relationships within the team. Staff speak positively about the support they receive from the manager, describing their leadership as ‘exceptional, well organised and child-focused.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monthly audits and reviews are thorough and inform the manager’s oversight of the home. The manager is proactive in seeking advice and implementing changes to improve outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 6

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Recommendation

 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. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2746312 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Life Living (Wolverhampton) 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

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2746312 8 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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