Children's Home run by Bridgeway House Children’s Services Ltd in Sandwell

Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 1 Registered provider: Bridgeway House Children’s Services Ltd

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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 provides residential care for up to 2 children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a registered manager who is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in May 2025, and this is the first inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home and spoke to the inspector. This is the only child that has lived at the home since its opening.

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improvement to be good

The child’s experiences and progress are inconsistent. While there are examples of positive care, shortfalls in leadership oversight and lack of escalation limit the child’s overall progress.

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improvement to be good

Relationships between staff and the child are not consistently strong. While staff seek to develop a positive relationship, they do not always have the experience and skills required to respond to children’s needs in a way that helps them feel understood and secure. This has restricted progress in forming trusting and stable relationships. Leaders recognise that staff require further development to strengthen practice in line with the model of care.

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improvement to be good

The home is generally clean, and staff work to maintain a safe and orderly environment. However, some aspects of the physical environment are not welcoming, such as worn and strained carpets throughout the home that detract from the overall standard of the home.

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improvement to be good

Leaders understand the importance of education and have ensured that in-house tuition is available for the child. However, they have not taken sufficiently effective action to advocate on the child’s behalf to ensure that they have secured an appropriate education provision and to ensure that the child’s learning needs are met.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to develop some age-appropriate independence skills. The child is increasingly able to manage everyday tasks and is beginning to take responsibility for their own space. They take pride in their bedroom, which is kept tidy and reflects their interests and preferences. This promotes a sense of ownership and contributes to building the child’s confidence and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide the child with a range of opportunities and actively involve the child in how they choose to spend their time in a manner that respects the child’s wishes. The child benefits from a consistent daily routine, which promotes their health and wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, there were no current concerns about the child’s safety, however, management oversight of safeguarding practice is not sufficiently robust. For example, the monitoring and reviewing process for incidents have not been embedded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 4 Physical intervention is used only when necessary and as a last resort to keep the child safe. Staff demonstrate awareness of appropriate use and act promptly to manage immediate risks. However, post-incident discussions with staff and the child are not consistently taking place within timescales specified in legislation. This lack of oversight limits leaders’ ability to identify triggers, support emotional recovery and reduce the likelihood of further incidents.

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improvement to be good

Staff use consequences in a proportionate way and aim to support learning following incidents. Boundaries are clear and responses are fair. However, there is limited follow up work to help the child develop alternative strategies for managing their emotions and responses.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practice is not sufficiently robust. In one staff member’s file, gaps in employment history had not been fully explored. In addition, the manager is related to a member of staff and although a conflict-of-interest risk assessment is in place this has not been followed in practice. These shortfalls weaken safer recruitment practices and reduce assurance that appropriate checks and scrutiny are applied to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has not consistently advocated for children, when other services have not fully met their needs. For example, escalation has been limited when an education provision has not been in place and when professionals have indicated that further assessment may be required. This reduces assurance that the child receives timely access to the support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have access to training relevant to their roles. Training covers a wide range of courses to support staff. However, some staff are still developing the experience needed to confidently embed their learning in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision. These sessions provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on practice, wellbeing and safeguarding measures. However, not all staff feel consistently supported by leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place monthly and are used to discuss current themes and issues, supporting effective communication across the staff group. One parent commented positively on the quality of communication with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager demonstrates a realistic understanding of the shortfalls identified and acknowledged the areas requiring improvement. There are plans in place to strengthen practice in these areas. Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 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, 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

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

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 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)(ii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 2 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. 6 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 6 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 2 February 2026

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)) 6 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; 2 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 7 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(b)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a homely, domestic environment and that communal areas reflect those found in a family home rather than an institutional setting. Where wear and tear is identified, such as worn carpets in high-use areas, repairs are completed promptly to maintain a safe and comfortable home environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2816515 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bridgeway House Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o APM Accountants, 283 High Street, Smethwick B66 3NJ

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Inspector

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2816515 9 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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Inspector

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