Children's Home run by Bridge2Future Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 1 Registered provider: Bridge2Future Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation operates this home. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post. They registered with Ofsted in August 2025. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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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: 11 February 2025

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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: 2778059 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection. They were spending time with their family in preparation for moving back home and so did not share their views. Since the last inspection, seven children have moved into the home and seven children have moved on. One child moved on to foster care, in line with their care plan. One child moved to another children’s home, more suited to their needs, and five children returned to the care of their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have lived in the home have had a good overall experience. They make progress from their starting points. Staff have a good understanding of children’s care needs and how to provide safe and good-quality care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are prioritised. Staff ensure that children are quickly registered with local health services and seek specialist support when required. They ensure that children have a healthy, balanced diet and take regular exercise. They have supported children to develop improved sleep routines and to take their medication more regularly. As a result, children are healthier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to make progress with their education. When children are not in education, staff ensure that bespoke learning plans are in place, to ensure that children are continuing to receive education. Staff work in partnership with education professionals to provide children with opportunities to improve their academic ability and reach their full potential. As a result of staff support, three children were able to re- engage in education, after extended periods out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to have fun and try new things. They have been out on activities in the local community, to the seaside and on trips to theme parks. This helps children to develop socially and build their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children’s voices being heard. Staff and managers listen to children’s views. Children have opportunities to have their say in a variety of ways and they also have access to an independent advocate. This provides children with opportunities to influence the care and support that they receive. They also have the space to share and talk about their achievements and reflect on and learn from incidents. This supports children to feel valued and listened to and ensures that they are supported to build trusting relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most of the children who moved into the home were new to social care. Overall, managers’ care planning processes when considering these children’s needs were good. However, as children had not previously been in care, some risks and vulnerabilities emerged that were previously unknown. In some instances, managers have not fully explored the ease of access to transport in the local area, when there are known risks of children going missing from home. On occasions, this has impacted the staff’s ability to Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 4 fully meet children’s needs and keep them safe. This has contributed to unplanned endings for some children.

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

Overall, managers and staff know children well. Staff understand children’s needs and risks, and the actions they need to take to keep children safe. There have been times when children’s risk and vulnerabilities have increased, and staff have managed most of these challenges well.

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

The manager has effective oversight of children’s care plans. This ensures that staff are provided with clear and up-to-date guidance on how to meet needs, mitigate risk and keep children safe. There are clear targets in place for children, which align with their local authority and education, health and care plan targets. Staff review these regularly to monitor children’s progress.

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

Managers respond quickly when there are allegations, complaints or concerns about staff practice. They ensure the local authority designated officer and social workers are always informed. This allows for all concerns to be investigated and there is critical analysis and learning from incidents. This helps children to be confident to raise any concerns, as they know staff will take them seriously. It also helps them to feel safe and secure in their environment.

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

Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort. Managers have oversight of all incidents, and they have reflective discussions with staff and children following the use of the intervention. This ensures that, when used, physical intervention is proportionate and necessary. It also supports learning for staff and allows staff to amend practice to meet children’s individual needs.

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

When children are missing, staff follow children’s missing-from-home protocols effectively. When children return, staff warmly welcome them back, so that they understand that staff worry for their safety. When risks have increased, the manager has quickly raised concerns and collaborated with the police and external professionals to reduce risk and keep children safe. As a result, there is a multi-agency approach to reduce the risk of children being missing from home and the associated risks of exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the leadership and management of the home. There is a new registered manager. She has great ambitions for the home and staff and expectations for children to achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care that staff provide to children. She has developed a good understanding of the home’s areas for development and strengths. The manager is resolute and committed to the continued Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 5 development of the home, to ensure that children consistently receive good-quality, safe care that supports them to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has robust oversight of children’s records. She has supported staff to develop and write all children’s records to children, in child-friendly, nurturing language. This helps to support children’s understanding of their own plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, staff feel supported by the management team. Staff say the manager is ‘consistently supportive’ and ‘understanding’. The manager provides staff with a comprehensive induction, regular practice-related supervision and reflective team meetings, and there is a comprehensive training plan in place. These approaches help staff to develop in their roles and ensure that they have the skills to meet children’s individual care needs. However, there is a lack of experience in the team and there have been occasions when staff have lacked confidence when managing children’s risks. While managers have recognised this and are holding regular workshops to upskill staff and model good practice, some staff have at times felt unsupported and unsafe working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff and managers work closely with a wide range of professionals so that children receive well-coordinated care. This is a strength of the home. The manager challenges those who are not meeting children’s needs, or when she feels decisions are not in the best interests of the children. Feedback from professionals was positive. They are complimentary about the communication from staff and the progress that children make while living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 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 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff have the required skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective care to each child. In addition, that there are suitably experienced staff in place to meet children’s needs and to provide support to inexperienced staff. 12 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)) 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are prepared for moving on from the home, both practically and emotionally. Additionally, that they fully understand children’s risks in relation to the home’s location when considering children moving into the home.

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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: 2778059 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bridge2Future, Surestore, Ninth Avenue, Burton-on- Trent DE14 3JZ

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2778059 9 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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