Children's home run by Bedford Borough Council in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 1 SC409506 Registered provider: Bedford Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by the local authority, provides short breaks and respite care for up to 6 children with physical and/or learning disabilities and/or complex health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 3 children staying at the home during inspection. 18 children currently access the service on a rotational basis.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/03/2025 Full Outstanding 01/08/2023 Full Outstanding 11/07/2022 Full Outstanding 23/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s wishes and feelings are at the centre of the home. The staff provide a cohesive and highly responsive approach to children’s care. They use a wide-ranging and creative variety of communication methods to ensure that all children can express their views. These include visual tools, structured direct work and imaginative approaches that actively engage children. Clear processes ensure that children can see how their views have been listened to and acted on. This consistent and purposeful approach ensures that children feel valued and that their voices are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff develop exceptionally positive and meaningful relationships with children. Interactions are warm, respectful and highly attuned to children’s individual communication styles. Staff demonstrate a thorough and intricate understanding of children’s needs and respond with precision. The staff draw on relevant theory to inform their practice. This enables staff to provide a highly effective and adaptable approach to care. The children appear relaxed, confident and secure in the care of staff who know them well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make substantial and sustained progress from their starting points. Each child benefits from comprehensive and personalised planning. Targets are carefully broken down into achievable and developmentally appropriate steps. These targets are systematically reviewed and adapted to reflect children’s progress. Children are actively involved in setting their goals which promotes motivation and engagement. As a result, children are increasingly independent and demonstrate significant progress in areas such as personal care and daily living skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are proactive and creative in identifying opportunities that support children’s aspirations. One child was supported to access a work experience opportunity. This provided meaningful exposure to a future career pathway. This helps children to develop confidence and raises their aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from an extensive and stimulating range of experiences that are tailored to their individual interests and aspirations. Staff are highly creative and forward-thinking in developing opportunities for children. Celebrations and special occasions are personalised and thoughtfully planned. The staff created a themed celebration based on a child’s interests, including a community-based activity followed by a party at the home. Staff went over and above to ensure the experience was authentic, engaging and tailored to the child’s interests. This provided a rich and memorable shared experience, enabling children to socialise with their peers. These help children to develop a strong sense of identity and create lasting memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents speak very positively about the care their children receive. They said that their children are safe, happy and well cared for during their stays. Staff provide consistent and dedicated support to families including offering guidance and advocacy that extends Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 4 beyond children’s time at the home. The service creates opportunities for parents to connect with one another and access informal support. This proactive and purposeful approach helps to strengthen the wider network around the child and ensures that support is coordinated and effective.

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

Leaders and managers demonstrate highly effective communication with external agencies to ensure children are safeguarded. Partnership working is strong, well established and effective. Communication with other agencies is timely, purposeful and child centred. These approaches ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time. Safeguarding practice is robust and responsive to children’s needs.

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

Support plans are detailed and clearly outline strategies and distraction techniques staff can use. This structured approach helps staff anticipate triggers, respond consistently and manage behaviours safely. Positive reinforcement is used well, rewarding achievements and good choices to encourage positive behaviour.

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

One child has made several repeated allegations against staff. A thorough risk management plan is in place with a high staffing ratio. Clear and detailed care plans guide staff practice and steer their responses. All allegations are recorded in line with safeguarding procedures and followed up rigorously. This ensures transparency, accountability and a strong safeguarding culture. Staff respond to allegations with professional curiosity and draw on research and guidance to understand the underlying reasons for the child’s behaviour rather than accepting it at face value.

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

The local authority designated officer (LADO) said ’staff treat every allegation as a new one, they demonstrate curiosity every time, they show no complacency. They are very professional and very thorough with all allegations, staff take the role of LADO very seriously and seek advice where needed, their records are exceptional’.

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

A creative debriefing method was used by staff, involving staff photos and feelings cards. This effectively supported the child to explore and communicate their views and feelings about the adults around them. Key-working sessions are well recorded, with the child’s voice central throughout. Sessions are planned effectively, with clear objectives, and any actions identified are documented and followed up.

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

Staff demonstrate exceptional sensitivity and skill in supporting children through complex emotional experiences. Following the death of a staff member, they recognised a child struggling to understand the concept of death. They researched effective strategies to support children with autism to understand loss and bereavement. Using this knowledge, staff created carefully tailored social stories to provide clear meaningful explanations. They also developed a personalised photo book to support understanding and offer reassurance. This highly individualised approach had significant impact, and the child has a much clearer understanding of what has happened. Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A long-standing, experienced and qualified manager leads the team confidently. Leaders and managers create a culture of high aspiration and positivity. They lead by example, innovate and generate creative ideas to sustain the highest quality care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feedback is consistently positive. A member of staff said, ‘Our managers listen, value our ideas, and genuinely consider staff input, which creates an environment where we feel supported and encouraged to give our best’. Staff love their jobs and have passion for achieving the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have supported staff to take on champion roles. Staff are empowered with a high level of autonomy to lead areas of personal expertise and interest. This has strengthened practice across the provision. One member of staff has taken the lead on developing and delivering training on SMART targets. Regularly reviewing this work to ensure consistency and high standards of practice across the team. Another staff member is supporting children’s moves with a strong focus on developing independence skills and working collaboratively with parents to ensure continuity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recruitment continues to be a sector wide challenge in social care. The service has experienced some staff turnover for a variety of understandable reasons. Despite this, leaders and managers have maintained stability at the home. The children continue to receive consistent, high-quality care. Staff have remained committed and the team has sustained enriching experiences for children. Recruitment is actively being addressed through ongoing workforce planning to strengthen approaches to attracting and retaining skilled staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff regularly seek feedback from professionals and parents. The feedback is carefully reviewed and reflected on during supervision sessions. All feedback is consistently positive. It highlights how highly the service is valued by parents and professionals. It reflects the strong trusting relationships staff have built with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Parents said this in an invaluable service, they are confident in staff to ensure their children are safe, well cared for and happy. The team manager for the children with disabilities service said the home’s contribution to meetings has been ‘invaluable’ and that staff leaders and managers are ‘invested’ in children’s outcomes. Another professional said, ‘Their commitment to maintaining high standards is evident in the consistency of care delivered.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 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: SC409506 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bedford Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christian Weatherley

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Inspectors

Emilja Myers, Social Care Inspector Harkerat Lidhar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC409506 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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