Children's home run by Brighter Stays Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 1 Registered provider: Brighter Stays Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted when the home opened in September 2025.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved in and one child has moved on since the home was registered. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to both children. The children said that they feel happy at the home and have trusting relationships with staff. This helps the children feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to make progress in all areas of their development. Professionals recognise the positive impact staff have on children’s wellbeing and progress. For example, one social worker commented how a child has made considerable progress in comparison to their starting points, with missing-from-home incidents and criminal involvement reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education. Staff promote good routines for children which help them attend and engage in education. Managers advocate on behalf of children to ensure they have education arrangements in line with their particular needs. As a result, children make academic progress. For example, staff supported one child who previously struggled with school attendance to pass their entry level 3 functional skills. Staff have supported another child to return to school after a period of low attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with, and encourage them to participate in, enrichment activities. They spend quality time with children through play, walks and planned activities. Staff encourage the children to spend time together and assist them to pursue their own individual interests. Children have fun experiences and build positive memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is decorated to a good standard. Children are proud of their home. They share their views on how they want their home to look. The home environment is spacious and cosy, enhancing children’s sense of comfort.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use language that cares and write the daily records to the child. They praise children and recognise their achievements. Staff capture these achievements and praise in celebratory books that the children can use to look back on their positive experiences. This helps children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considers the individual needs of children and their suitability to live together before they move in. Staff and children usually meet each other before the children move in. One child moved in quickly as a matter of urgency. Staff quickly formed a relationship with the child, helping them to settle. The one child who has moved on only lived at the home for a short time. This was because staff were unable to meet their needs. The child’s placing authority failed to share important information and managers did not consult all the relevant agencies about the child’s needs before they moved in. This means that managers were not fully aware of the support the child required and that they were not well equipped to provide this. Consequently, the child moved out in an unplanned way. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 3

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

Children living at this home have complex behavioural and social needs. Staff offer the children individualised support and keep them safe. They understand the children’s risks and actively work to mitigate these. The manager works collaboratively with other professionals to develop strategies to support the children to stay safe. Effective staff support has meant that incidents of children going missing from home and being involved in criminal activities have reduced since the children moved in. Consequently, children are now safer.

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

Staff actively support children to have good routines and boundaries that are individualised for each child. Children now have a structure to their day, which helps them feel safe and secure. This has helped improve children’s attendance at school and reduced their anxieties.

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

Staff manage tricky situations well. They use de-escalation techniques in line with children’s support plans effectively. Staff rarely use restraint. On the one occasion staff used restraint, this was used as a last resort to keep the child safe and prevent harm. The manager quickly spoke to the child and staff to check on their wellbeing. The manager reviews any incidents to identify any learning. He acts on learning identified and arranges further training for staff as appropriate. Staff quickly rebuild their relationship with the child through restorative conversations. This helps children learn how to rebuild fragmented relationships.

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

Staff are responsive to children’s changing needs. They teach children how to manage age-appropriate risks. Staff have conversations with children to help them keep safe in the community and online. For example, one child is now able to gradually build up spending time alone in the community and return home safely.

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

No children have gone missing from home since the home was registered. On one occasion, a child left the home without adult permission while significantly distressed. Staff were proactive. They immediately followed the child and did not lose sight of them. Staff contacted emergency services to request immediate support for the child due to concerns about their mental health and risks escalating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably experienced manager who is working towards the relevant management qualification. The manager works closely with the deputy manager and staff team to ensure the children receive good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has sufficient staff to meet the children’s individual needs. The staff report positive morale and say that they feel well supported. This helps ensure low levels of change in the staff team. Consequently, children benefit from stable relationships with consistent staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 4 The manager provides staff with effective day-to-day guidance. Staff benefit from regular reflective supervision and team meetings that focus on the children’s needs and their wellbeing. This helps to build staff’s confidence in their ability to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff develop effective working relationships with partner professionals. They meet regularly with these professionals to reflect on children’s progress and develop appropriate support strategies. The manager advocates for children. He challenges partner professionals if they fail to meet children’s needs. For example, the manager requested a sensitive move-on plan and education offer for one child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place, which he uses to maintain good oversight of children’s progress and staff practice. The manager undertakes reflection with staff, which helps to improve practice. As a result, children receive attuned and individualised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake a variety of relevant training that enables them to meet children’s needs. Staff are working towards the level 3 diploma in residential childcare. This helps to build staff confidence in understanding children’s development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they understand what will be required of them before they accept responsibility for a child’s placement, to avoid disruption and instability for the child in future and for other children in the home. They should ensure that information is gathered from other relevant agencies, and if appropriate, the child’s family with regard to children who may move into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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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: 2836576 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brighter Stays Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bradshaw Johnson Chartered Accountants, 11 Bancroft Hitchin SG5 1JQ

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Inspector

Priscilla Koroka, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2836576 7 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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