Children's home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 1 Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust

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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 operated by Bradford Children and Families Trust on behalf of a local authority. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 4 children living at the home at the time of this inspection, and all 4 children engaged in the inspection process.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 30 September 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2024 Full Good 23/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have positive experiences and make exceptional progress from their starting points. Positive affirmations are used as part of everyday language, both verbal and written. Furthermore, children experience stability with all of them living at the home for over two years. Children develop positive and trusting relationships with staff, who make sure that their emotional and developmental needs are met. Children enjoy spending time with staff either out on activities, cooking, playing games or just being in their company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create a home-from-home environment for the children, where children enjoy nurturing experiences. Children smile, laugh and receive hugs from and give hugs to staff. Staff tell children that they are loved and share an open culture where children can share anything with staff knowing that they will not be judged. Photographs of the children and staff are proudly on show around the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make remarkable progress with their education with one child being in their second year of studying for their ‘A’ level examinations. One child goes to college and did exceptionally well with their GCSE exam results, even though they had missed lots of education prior to moving into the home. One child asked to move schools to one closer to home. This was facilitated in a professional manner with their needs at the heart of the planning and transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are healthy, and staff encourage them to make good choices around diet, hygiene, and fitness. Children take pride in helping to plan, prepare and cook with staff, learning the necessary skills that they will require to support their independence. When health issues arise, staff offer gentle, caring support and use social stories for the children to support them with their understanding of what is happening.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff receive the training to ensure that children have cohesive support with their emotional wellbeing. When professional support is needed, the relevant referrals are made in a timely manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have amazing opportunities that bring joy and excitement to their lives. These include holidays, days out, fun activities of their choice both inside and outside of the home. For example, children go to the cinema, horse riding and enjoy pampering days. Children’s friends are invited and warmly welcomed into the home to spend time playing and having meals together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff collate memorabilia and photos for children to keep so they can look back on the fond memories they have of their time at the home. Furthermore, staff speak and write about children’s achievements and experiences with pride and compassion, using certificates to celebrate and praise children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 4 One professional said, ‘If there was an outstanding then this home definitely deserves it. Everything they [staff] do is for the children and to create a warm and loving home for them.’

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

Children said that they feel safe living in the home and that they know if they were ever in any danger the staff would immediately get them to safety. Staff use thoughtful, therapeutic strategies to help children feel safe, to understand risk factors and feel protected.

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

Staff have an exceptionally good understanding of the children’s needs and early experiences, and the risks that affect them. Care plans and risk assessments are comprehensive, well documented and provide clear guidance so that staff can respond promptly to an identified risk.

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

Risks to children have reduced because of the excellent support and prompt action from staff. When concerns are identified, staff have discussions with the children to help them understand what their risks and vulnerabilities are, and how staff intend to support them through this. Children engage in these discussions and have actively been involved in reducing their own risks.

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

Staff know the children well and are highly sensitive to recognising when they are upset. They notice changes in the children’s body language and tone of voice. Their early intervention reduces the chance of the children’s emotions getting out of control. Children know that they can trust staff and are open with them and share their thoughts and feelings.

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

Staff demonstrate vigilance and professionalism in their approach, responding swiftly and appropriately to safeguard children. Staff work collaboratively with safeguarding agencies, such as the police. The nature of the relationship that has been created with the local PCSO allows them to pop in for chats with staff and children. This is observed to be natural, with the children welcoming them and engaging in chats, laughter and positive responses.

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

There are no incidents of children going missing from the home. Nonetheless, staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the steps they must take to support an immediate and safe return. Physical interventions are not needed in the home. The relationships the children have with staff are rooted in trust, mutual respect and emotional security.

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

One professional said, ‘Staff collaborate effectively with school and other professionals to ensure that the child’s educational, social and emotional needs are met holistically. The staff demonstrate strong commitment to helping the children achieve long-term outcomes.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads with strength, reflection and aspiration. His calm and respectful child-centred approach influences the whole staff team. The manager fosters a culture where empowerment and confident decision-making are central to daily practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff are ambitious for the children and celebrate their achievements with genuine pride. This positivity, combined with the home’s nurturing atmosphere, enables children to thrive. Advocacy is not just merely an aspect of the manager's role, it is embedded at the core of his leadership approach, ensuring that all decisions and changes consistently prioritise the children’s needs and accurately reflect their voices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an effective system of oversight. He reviews all documents relating to the children. The manager’s monitoring systems enable him to ensure that staff consistently provide an excellent quality of care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision that is child focused and allows for staff to use research in practice when discussing the children. This openness allows staff to have a platform for reflection and to inform their practice. Furthermore, the manager facilitates regular reflective team meetings in which staff undertake detailed discussions about the children, evaluate the effectiveness of current practice and identify any adjustments required to further strengthen outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a comprehensive training programme that reflects the individual needs of the children. Training remains current, and the manager proactively identifies further learning that would enhance staff practice and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager adheres to safer recruitment procedures when recruiting new staff, helping to ensure that they are safe and suitable to work in the home. Staff who are employed are all qualified to the appropriate level. The staff team is well established, with staff who have demonstrated long-term commitment to the home and the sustained continuity of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children, staff and professionals all said that the manager is an ‘amazing, supportive, and child focused manager.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 6

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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: 2730065 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House (5th Floor), 4 Manchester Road, BRADFORD, West Yorkshire BD5 0QL

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Inspector

Angela Ross, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2730065 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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