Children's Home run by Bedford Borough Council in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 1 SC409502 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

The home is operated by a local authority and provides short breaks and respite care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time. Children may have physical and/or learning disabilities and complex health needs. The home currently supports a total of 24 children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were staying at the home. The inspector spoke with both the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 18 February 2025

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2025 Full Good 23/08/2023 Full Outstanding 22/11/2022 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children seen during inspection were comfortable at the home, and staff were interacting with them positively. However, the judgements regarding how well children are helped and protected, along with the leadership and management of the home, have limited the overall judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff sometimes fail to record how they gather the views of children who do not communicate verbally. Some records about children expressing their views and feelings do not detail how they have communicated them. As a result, it is not possible to determine whether they are children’s views or staff’s assumptions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There have been no adjustments to the kitchen, which remains inaccessible to all children. Children who use wheelchairs cannot access the kitchen. This limits opportunities for them to develop their independence skills. Plans have been devised for a possible extension; however, no actions have been taken. The manager has not regularly challenged this delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home would benefit from a refresh. One child’s bedroom has marks on the walls. The main corridor has lots of paperwork displayed; the information is child friendly but not at a height accessible for all children. It is also information that the children do not read or show interest in, which takes away from a homely feel.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children participate in a range of activities. They enjoy yoga sessions, trips to the park and arts and crafts. One child helps staff change the themed display board each month.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff support children with their targets. Staff worked closely with one child to help them have their hair cut. They used social stories and incentives as part of this work. The process was successful, and the child had their hair cut, which is something they had previously been unable to manage.

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

Staff do not explore all marks or bruises on children. Body maps are used to show where marks have been identified, but limited actions are taken to address them. For one child, a bruise and its cause were recorded as unknown. The only action taken was to inform the parent. This could result in children being placed at ongoing risk of harm if they have bruises that are concerning.

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

For some children health advice is not effectively recorded and followed. One child arrived at the home with a suspected fungal infection. It was recorded that the school nurse advised no cream or talc to be applied. Despite this, staff applied cream to the area against medical advice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 4 When incidents in the home occur, these are not consistently recorded in sufficient detail, and it is not clear how parents are informed of the full details in a timely way.

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

In a single day, one child got out of their wheelchair twice; the second time, the wheelchair fell on top of them. Records state no injuries were sustained; however, they do not specify what checks were carried out or whether first aid was provided. The first incident was reported to the child’s parents and school; however, the second incident, during which the wheelchair fell on the child, was not.

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

On occasions, when children have hit their heads, records of observations and overnight care do not sufficiently show how they are appropriately monitored. For one child who hit their head on a bed rail in the evening, records do not sufficiently evidence what support was put in place overnight to monitor.

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

Staff use monitoring systems overnight for some children. One child has visual and audio monitoring overnight, and their belongings are kept in a wardrobe that is tied shut. This monitoring is provided in addition to the presence of waking night staff. This level of monitoring is not kept under review. Leaders and managers lack systems to review the visual or audio monitors to ensure that they remain the least restrictive option.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is established and experienced. Despite these strengths, leaders and managers have failed to recognise the shortfalls identified during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight following incidents is very limited; it lacks a clear review of actions taken and patterns identified, and it does not identify any learning. Managers sign incident forms but do not always add any comments or evaluation. Consequently, opportunities to develop staff practice may be missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When incidents or potential safeguarding actions are overlooked, managers fail to ensure that they speak to the staff involved. Incidents are not always discussed with staff or addressed during supervision sessions. Consequently, staff may not be aware of the issues and could repeat them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff generally complete relevant training. However, 3 staff members have missed the deadline for undertaking refresher training on supporting children who require specific assistance with feeding. These staff members have continued to provide feeds. The manager has failed to obtain written confirmation from a health professional that staff can continue to undertake this health task. This could mean that staff who do not have up-to-date knowledge and skills are providing care to children, which could affect their health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff receive a formal appraisal each year that sets out their specific strengths and areas for development. However, there are a small number of staff whose appraisals are out of date for discrete reasons. Leaders and managers are aware of this and are taking steps to ensure that all staff receive an appraisal in a timely way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 5 There has been one concern about staff practice. This issue was explored by the manager, and an appropriate referral was made to the local authority designated officer (LADO). Training for the staff member was identified and requested. However, Ofsted was not notified about the LADO referral.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One of the previous requirements has been met, and 2 have been restated. The 3 recommendations have not been met, and they have been raised as requirements. Overall, the improvements are insufficient and fail to address the issues raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 6

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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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 26 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; 26 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 7 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that measures of control, including the use of overnight surveillance systems, are reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate. 15 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 8 best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all children have access to the kitchen, and appropriately challenge and escalate any delays in making it accessible. 29 May 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)) 29 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that Ofsted is promptly notified if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living at the Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 9 home that they consider serious. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC409502 10

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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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Inspector

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC409502 11 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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