Children's Home run by Bright Path care limited in Salford

Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 1 Registered provider: Bright Path Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 14 April 2026.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children spoke to the inspector.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/07/2025 Full Good 01/05/2024 Full Good 16/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children have positive experiences of moving into this home. Staff build positive relationships with children which helps them to settle in.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children have opportunities to enjoy meaningful activities with those caring for them. Staff support children in their education and to maintain relationships with those important to them.

p.3

Summary of findings

However, poor leadership and management of the home has resulted in shortfalls in staff practice. As a result, children have not received a consistently good standard of care in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The child benefited from a planned and positive move into the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children receive care from staff who spend time getting to know them. Staff speak positively about children and are responsive to their needs. This helps children feel secure and enables them to build trusting relationships with staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

Poor management of medication and a failure to identify that a child had been over medicated meant that staff were unable to take appropriate action to ensure that the child was not at risk of harm. Furthermore, leaders, managers and staff have not demonstrated that a child has been supported to receive their outstanding immunisations.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported to maintain a sense of identity. Family time is promoted, and children are prepared for reunification with their family members. This ensures that children maintain relationships with significant people in their lives.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are supported and encouraged to attend school and are helped to prepare for their examinations. Consequently, children have taken their final-year school examinations.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children engage in activities that reflect their interests. These include attending concerts and going to football matches. These meaningful activities mean that children have positive memories connected to living at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 4 Each child has an individualised risk management plan. However, these do not include details of children's new and emerging risks to ensure that staff know how to respond effectively if an incident occurs. Furthermore, a known environmental risk for one child has not been included in the home's review of premises document to demonstrate that this has been fully considered to keep the child safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

The approach to safer recruitment in inconsistent. Leaders and managers have not ensured that thorough pre-employment checks are completed for all potential candidates prior to them working at the home. Consequently, a staff member has been permitted to work in the home without all necessary references being obtained. Failure to verify the suitability of candidates has the potential to place children at risk from unsuitable adults.

p.4

improvement to be good

Medication is stored securely. However, records are not routinely monitored to ensure that medication is administered and recorded correctly. Consequently, a significant error in the administration of medication was missed.

p.4

improvement to be good

Missing-from-home incidents for one child have reduced. There has been one incident of one child going missing from home. Staff responded well to this. They searched for the child and communicated well with the police to facilitate the child's swift return to the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff have discussions with children about risky behaviour and the negative impact that this can have on their safety and wellbeing. This knowledge ensures that children can make informed decisions about their safety.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has experienced a period of change. Since the last inspection, a new responsible individual and registered manager have been appointed. Although leaders and managers speak passionately about achieving good outcomes for children, shortfalls identified in leadership and management have compromised the quality of care that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring and review systems are not effective. Leaders and managers have not identified errors in medication administration, and core staff training has not been completed for all staff. Additionally, not all care planning documentation for children is up to date.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff supervision does not take place regularly in accordance with the home's statement of purpose. Staff have their performance appraised. However, not all staff have the chance to read, review and sign their records.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not supported to carry out their roles effectively. Essential training is not always completed before staff start work. This means that the ability of staff to deliver good- quality, safe care is compromised. Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 5 Staff rotas do not include details of when the registered manager worked in the home. As a result, it is unclear whether staff were appropriately supported and supervised.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff report that they enjoy working in the home and feel supported by one another. Team meetings routinely take place and are used to promote a consistent and cohesive approach to caring for children. External professionals and family commend the staff for keeping them updated on children's progress and the care that children receive. Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Leaders, managers and staff must ensure that each child has a safety plan that reflects their current risks and provides staff with clear strategies on how to mitigate them.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, the review of premises document must be reviewed to ensure that this reflects known risks for children in the community. 4 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

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)(a)(c)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive regular supervision in accordance with the home's statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that all staff have completed the provider's mandatory training and any needs-led training before caring for children in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that effective monitoring systems are in place to identify gaps in staff training and supervision.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that up-to-date placing authority care planning documentation is on children's files. 4 September 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)). 4 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 8 Leaders and managers must ensure that children's immunisations are up to date.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b)(c)).

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that medication audits are routinely completed to ensure that medication is being administered safely. 4 September 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

p.8

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that employment references are obtained in line with legislative requirements as part of the safer recruitment process. 4 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 9 The registered person must—

p.8

Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (2)(a))

p.9

Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that rotas include details of all staff that have worked in the home. This should include the registered manager. 4 September 2026

p.9

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: 2710542 10

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider: Bright Path Care Limited

p.10

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 17 Victoria Road East, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 5HT

p.10

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Katie Brinkworth

p.10

Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2710542 11 regulates and inspects 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.

p.10

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.11