Children's home run by Bramley Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 1 SC013553 Registered provider: Bramley Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home reopened in April 2025 after a period of closure for renovation and recruiting and training a full staff team.

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Information about this children’s home

This home can provide care for up to 8 children who require specialist support. There were 4 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home reopened.

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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 outstanding

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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: 31 October 2023

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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: SC013553 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring that children’s past experiences do not limit their current opportunities or future potential. They work proactively to provide children with the same life chances as their peers, supporting them to achieve the best possible outcomes. Staff deliver consistent high-quality care. They are dedicated, skilled and motivated, and they take pride in the positive influence that they have on children’s daily lives and longer-term progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from structured, well-planned care that prioritises their safety, emotional wellbeing and growing independence. Staff have a detailed understanding of each child’s needs and triggers, and they adapt their support effectively to help children to manage day-to-day challenges. Staff advocate strongly for children’s education and health needs. As a result, children become safer and more settled, and make meaningful progress in their behaviour, emotional resilience and readiness for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy living in the home. This is a direct reflection of the staff team’s unwavering dedication and consistent approach. Interactions between staff and children are warm, respectful and attuned. Children confidently seek support and make requests, knowing that staff will respond appropriately. Staff skilfully tailor their communication and engagement to the needs of each child, demonstrating a deep understanding of their individual personalities and backgrounds.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Impact risk assessments are used effectively to ensure that potential new admissions are well considered and that the child is compatible with the existing group. Staff take account of a wide range of factors, including current risks, the home’s ability to meet needs, the effect on existing residents, staff training requirements and therapeutic or education packages. Children living in the home are actively consulted, and their views inform decision-making around new admissions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Thoughtful planning underpins all transitions into and out of the home. The manager advocates strongly for children to ensure that their needs are understood and appropriately supported before any move takes place. This forward-thinking approach ensures continuity of care and reduces disruption.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are routinely encouraged to express their views, wishes and feelings. Their contributions are taken seriously, and are used to inform care planning, activity choices and meal planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently promote positive, healthy relationships. They model respectful interactions with each other and support children to form friendships in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 4 Children benefit from shared social experiences, such as group activities and family-style mealtimes, which promote a sense of belonging and connection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment in a beautiful location. Children have access to generous indoor and outdoor spaces and are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. They are involved in decisions about the home’s environment, helping them to develop ownership and pride in where they live.

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

Incidents of accidental injury are few and occur only as a result of ordinary age-appropriate activities, such as play or sport. Instances of self-harm are rare. When incidents do occur, staff respond promptly and effectively, in accordance with children’s individual safety plans. Records and plans are updated appropriately, ensuring that learning is embedded in practice.

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

Allegations are managed sensitively and in line with safeguarding procedures. They are reported in a timely manner, and appropriate action is taken to protect all involved. The manager ensures that children and staff feel listened to and supported, facilitating restorative discussions that help to resolve concerns constructively.

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

Children say they feel safe in the home. They are provided with open and supportive opportunities to express any worries, and there is no bullying. Staff deal swiftly with any emerging tensions, preventing escalation and promoting a positive group dynamic. As a result, children do not feel the need to go missing from home.

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

Staff manage incidents calmly and with skill. De-escalation and distraction techniques are used effectively, meaning that physical interventions are rarely required. Systems for reviewing incidents are robust and ensure that learning is consistently captured and implemented.

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

High levels of supervision mean that children do not have access to alcohol or drugs. Any children arriving with a history of substance use receive thoughtful support and appropriate medical guidance.

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

Children understand how to raise concerns and the children’s guide clearly explains the complaints process. Staff and managers are open and transparent in their practice, and parents and professionals feel confident sharing concerns. Since the home reopened, only one complaint has been made. This was dealt with promptly and sensitively, resulting in a positive outcome and the complainant feeling heard.

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

Natural consequences are used appropriately and sparingly, offering children meaningful opportunities to reflect on their behaviour and make amends. Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 5 Children’s access to the internet is proportionate to their assessed risk. Staff ensure that children can demonstrate their understanding of online safety before access is granted, and all online activity is supervised.

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

Medication is stored and administered safely. Retraining took place following a previous medication error, and managers have strengthened practice further by ensuring that two staff now dispense medication as standard.

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

Safer recruitment processes are consistently applied, ensuring that only suitable adults work in the home.

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

Given the level of risk presented by the children, door alarms are used on bedroom doors throughout the day and night and motion sensors are used at night as an additional safeguard. These measures are clearly outlined in the statement of purpose, and consent is obtained from children and their social workers. Children understand and agree to these arrangements as part of the home’s structured programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate an exceptional commitment to meeting the diverse needs of the children. Staff have an in-depth understanding of each child’s cultural and religious background and actively seek children’s views to ensure that their care is meaningful and personalised. Children are supported to maintain and strengthen their sense of identity, heritage and family connections. When family links are limited, staff undertake thoughtful and proactive planning to ensure that children’s cultural needs continue to be prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from external professionals and carers is unanimously positive. Relationships with external agencies and carers are transparent, respectful and highly collaborative. External professionals consistently report that the progress the children make is a direct result of the high-quality care and unwavering commitment of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides inspirational leadership. His dedication, compassion and consistently child-centred approach are evident throughout the home. He champions multi-agency working, recognising the critical role of health, education, social care and therapeutic support in meeting children’s complex needs. His strong belief in trauma-informed care underpins all practice. Access to clinical supervision enables staff to reflect meaningfully on children’s presentations and their own responses. This reflective culture ensures that children receive consistent, emotionally-containing care that drives exceptionally positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly visible, approachable and deeply invested in the development of both the children and the staff team. He works collaboratively with external professionals and empowers staff to share in his vision. Staff speak with great warmth about the support that they receive, the positive team culture and the safe, nurturing environment Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 6 that has been created. Their confidence, skill and deep understanding of the children are a testament to his leadership. He is held in very high regard across the whole team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff provide calm, consistent and nurturing care. Their approach supports the children to feel safe, understood and valued. Clear boundaries, reflective practice and strong relationships underpin their work. As a result, children make meaningful progress from their starting points. The stability and emotional containment provided by the team enable children to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision for staff is regular and purposeful, with increased frequency during their probation period. Annual appraisals support staff to reflect on their performance, celebrate strengths and identify development opportunities. Staff report that managers invest in them as individuals and that this helps them to grow professionally and personally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training is extensive and highly responsive. The manager ensures that bespoke training is arranged in preparation for new children moving into the home, so that staff are well equipped to meet their needs from the outset. He acts swiftly to source additional training when emerging issues are identified. This proactive approach ensures that staff continually develop their practice and that children’s needs are consistently understood and met to a high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made.

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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: SC013553 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bramley Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Inspector

Vicki Horton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC013553 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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