Children's home run by Better Futures Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Better Futures Care Limited

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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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since March 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There has only been one child living at the home since the home was registered. The inspector spoke to the child.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a good sense of belonging and feels accepted and valued living as part of a family unit. The manager and staff are forming good relationships with the child, which has supported a reduction in the times that the child struggles with their emotions and behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s core health needs are being met. The child is active and enjoys participating in activities of their choice. Their physical health is reported to be good, and the child attends all health appointments. However, professionals are concerned when the child gains access to vapes. The child also sometimes refuses to take medication. These refusals are not recorded to ensure that there is a record of when and why the child has not taken their medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted, and staff celebrate the child’s small achievements of attending education daily. This is progress from the child’s starting point. The manager is proactive and liaises with the appropriate authorities to advocate for an education provision that can meet the child’s needs. Staff are creative and provide informal educational opportunities, supporting the child to learn through play.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is promoted in line with the child’s plan. The manager is creative to try and enhance the child’s experience when they are with family members. Feedback from professionals reflects that the manager is a strong advocate for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child takes part in a range of activities that they have an interest in. They enjoy horse riding, trampolining and, more recently, trips to the local funfair.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The experiences of the child are captured in memory books, which are regularly updated and will form a record of the time that the child lived in the home.

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

The child is kept safe by staff who have clear instructions in the risk assessments on which steps to take. The risk assessments are regularly reviewed but have not always been read in a timely manner by staff. So far, this has not had an impact on the child, and the risk assessments demonstrate that some of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities have reduced since May 2025.

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

The child does not go missing from the home. There have been occasions when the child has left the home without permission. Staff follow their missing-from-home protocol, and they have been able to keep the child in sight and have managed to encourage them to return home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child and have an awareness of how to manage difficult situations, which has negated the need for physical intervention. There has been a significant reduction in the times, both inside and outside of the home, when the child has struggled to manage their behaviours. This is due to the stability of the staff team and staff’s skills and ability to keep the child calmer.

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

Staff work sensitively in partnership with the child to help educate them in areas such as sexual health and what is appropriate and healthy. Some staff do this with care, empathy and understanding.

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

One professional said, ‘Staff are showing patience, consistency and commitment to meeting the child’s needs. They provide a safe nurturing environment and work hard to support [name of child’s] emotional and behavioural development.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is newly appointed to the home but has worked hard to ensure a level of continuity across the team for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision; however, this lacks any opportunity for reflection to review work, provide support and review performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In some recordings, the tone used is not therapeutic, objective or clear. Blaming language has been used at times, and the child has been exposed to discussions about the home’s finances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When consequences have been used, these have mainly been for financial reparation. The child is not told how much they are being charged or how long this should be repaid. Furthermore, the manager and staff do not review what impact this form of consequence is having on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are reflective and child focused. These meetings allow the staff an opportunity to engage in collaborative discussions about how they can further promote positive care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good clear oversight of the home, with a consistent audit being completed via the electronic recording systems. The manager is visibly present in the home and has oversight of incidents and significant events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing is sufficient to meet the needs of the child living at the home. Staff are safely recruited, and newly recruited staff receive an induction and development plan, including regular supervisions to monitor their progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; and

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a record is kept of any consequences and that the child is aware of these. The manager should review the effectiveness of these consequences. 21 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.14)  The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which will allow 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)  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-

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Recommendations

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) Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: 2827973 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Better Futures Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 New Augustus Street, Bradford BD1 5LL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leighonie Parlour

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Inspector

Angela Ross, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2827973 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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