Children's Home run by Bedford Borough Council in Bedford

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 1 SC409502 Registered provider: Bedford Borough Council

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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 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

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2016. They were present during this visit.

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This monitoring visit

At the last inspection in March 2026, shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management of the home, and a compliance notice was served. The purpose of this visit was to establish the provider’s progress in meeting the steps in the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were staying at the home. They were not present during this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

There have been improvements to the internal monitoring of the home. The responsible individual and designated safeguard lead provide regular oversight alongside the registered manager. Leaders and managers have created additional monitoring tools that encourage the leadership team to work together. This collaborative working provides better oversight of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers provided essential training and development opportunities that help staff to meet children’s individual needs. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 2 Leaders and managers have created an additional policy to support staff and help keep children safe. There have been no incidents of physical intervention, no missing-from-home incidents, no complaints and no allegations against staff.

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This monitoring visit

When incidents occur, staff take appropriate action and leaders and managers scrutinise incidents to identify any learning and share this with the wider team.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit identified that the provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notice. No further requirements or recommendations have been raised at this monitoring visit. The requirements raised at the last inspection were not reviewed at this monitoring visit and have therefore been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2026 Full Inadequate 18/02/2025 Full Good 23/08/2023 Full Outstanding 22/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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 has been restated. 15 May 2026

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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 15 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 5 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 they remain appropriate.

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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 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 15 May 2026

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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; 29 May 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 6 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 can access the kitchen and appropriately challenge and escalate regarding this where required.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 29 May 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that notifications to Ofsted are made promptly if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under The Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 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: Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christian Weatherley

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC409502 8 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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