Children's home run by Bright Futures Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 1 Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to care for up to 4 children who have learning disabilities or sensory impairments.

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Information about this children's home

There were 4 children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spent time with all 4 children.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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: 2691624 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2024 Full Good 09/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build trusting and positive relationships with children. As a result of the nurturing care they receive, children make excellent progress. One social worker said, 'It's just brilliant what they're doing and we're seeing a completely different and happy child now.'

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to understand how to keep themselves safe. They support children to work towards weekly targets that develop or reinforce their understanding of important topics. This ensures that all children continue to make progress at a pace that is right for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide effective support to help children develop and achieve their aspirations. Daily engagement in education is consistent for all children, which marks significant progress for some children. One child, aspiring to pursue a qualification in health and social care, has successfully completed their first work placement and is now preparing for a second.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. Managers advocate for children to rebuild family relationships that may have been lost for some time. As a result, one child, who had not seen one of their parents for over a year before moving to the home, now sees both parents every weekend. One parent who was anxious about their child moving into residential care said of staff, 'They are very loving and care deeply for my child'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take children out to a variety of places and encourage them to explore their interests. They support each child to communicate in a way that works for them, ensuring that all children are able to express their voice and make their own choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a clean, warm and welcoming home. They contribute to the decoration of the home, and their photos are displayed throughout the home. Children have access to a wide range of books, toys and games that reflect their individual interests.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of children's individual risks, vulnerabilities and communication needs. One parent said of staff, 'They know [child's name] inside out and really understand their needs.'

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

Staff provide children with consistent care, enabling them to benefit from clear structure and predictable routines. This helps children to feel safe and settled in their home.

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

Before a new child moves into the home, the registered manager ensures that staff have the appropriate skills and experience to meet the child's needs. Managers also ensure Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 4 that children who move into or out of the home benefit from carefully planned transitions that are carried out in the best interests of each child.

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

Because staff know the children well, they are often able to help them calm when they become distressed. When necessary, staff use physical holds to keep children safe. While many of these holds are appropriate and necessary, one child has, at times, been held to prevent them from going downstairs at night or from smearing safe hygiene products on their body. These holds do not meet the threshold for safe or proportionate physical intervention, and the manager has not consistently identified these shortfalls.

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

Managers respond to concerns quickly and effectively to ensure that staff remain able to care safely for vulnerable children. Staff and managers work well with professionals and parents involved in each child's care. When necessary, managers challenge other professionals to ensure that children receive the services and support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has the experience and skills required to manage the home effectively. Managers support staff wellbeing, both personally and professionally. Staff report that they feel valued and encouraged to share their ideas to contribute to children's progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from ongoing training and regular supervision sessions which supports their development. However, not all staff have received annual appraisals of their performance or completed reviews during their probation period. This means there is not always assurance that all staff are consistently meeting children's ongoing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team meets regularly to discuss children's progress and changing needs, which helps to ensure that staff remain up to date. However, children's documents are not consistently kept up to date when their care changes. This means that inexperienced or temporary staff may not always have the accurate information they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager makes good use of internal and external monitoring. This contributes to a good standard of care at the home. The manager follows safer recruitment practice to make sure that the adults who work at the home are safe to work with the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 5

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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 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

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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 29 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 6 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all physical interventions used are necessary to safeguard the child or staff. The manager's evaluation must consider staff practice and whether the situation could have been managed differently to avoid an intervention.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that each child's records are completed and maintained.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that documents for children are regularly updated to reflect children's changing needs. 29 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff receive annual appraisals of their performance and regular reviews of progress throughout their probationary period. 29 March 2026

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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: 2691624 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Asher House, Barsbank Lane, Lymm WA13 0ED

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Inspector

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2691624 8 regulates 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 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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