Children's Home run by Stepping Stones Care Group Limited in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873226 1 Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was newly registered in February 2026. The suitably experienced manager has been in post since October 2025 and registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection since being registered.

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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: 2873226 2

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Summary of findings

The child benefits from staff who understand their needs. Staff provide stability and positive experiences for the child. As a result, the child benefits from consistent care and their independence is growing.

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Summary of findings

Safeguarding practice is effective, promoting a culture where the child feels consistently safe and well supported .

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Summary of findings

The manager understands the impact of staff responses to incidents and ensures that the child’s behaviour is managed in a restorative way.

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Summary of findings

Managers ensure that shortfalls in staff practice are promptly identified. They have systems in place to address any staff learning needs.

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Summary of findings

Managers embed reflective practice. This enables staff to analyse what is working well. When practice is not working, staff adapt their approach to strengthen outcomes for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build warm, trusting relationships with the child. They respond sensitively during challenging moments, helping the child to feel understood. Staff have a consistent approach, which strengthens the child’s confidence and sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are well planned. This planning supported a smooth move into the home for the child. This way of working ensured the child was gradually introduced to routines, expectations and key staff before arrival. As a result, the child managed the move with less anxiety and settled quickly into their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support the child to maintain good health. Staff encourage the child to attend appointments, helping them to understand the importance of self-care. When the child disengages from planned health appointments, staff use creative and persistent approaches to support attendance. When issues arise that could affect the child’s health, such as the use of vapes, the staff work with the child to educate them about the risks. This approach is not yet fully effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s interest in education. The child shows a clear desire to return to school. The manager consistently challenges external agencies to secure suitable educational provision. In the interim, staff are supporting the child to complete online learning. This is preparing the child to return to education. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873226 3 Staff listen carefully to the child’s views about family relationships and future plans. They help the child explore any worries and make sense of complex feelings. This approach gives a message that the child’s voice is important, and it ensures they feel heard during periods of uncertainty.

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of risks to the child. Risk assessments are updated and regularly reviewed. They clearly reflect the support strategies which meet the child’s individual needs. Staff consistently implement support strategies contributing to safe practice.

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

Staff help the child to manage their emotions. They explore information shared by the child to help them understand the reasons behind their feelings. Staff follow the child’s behaviour management plan effectively. Agreed strategies are used by staff to guide proportionate responses. After any challenges staff recognise when the child becomes more settled, and they reduce support in a planned way. This approach promotes greater age-appropriate independence for the child.

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

Staff manage missing from home incidents effectively. When the child goes missing from home they respond swiftly. Staff follow procedures and work collaboratively with other agencies such as the police to support the child’s safe return. Return home interviews are consistently offered. The information gathered from the interviews helps to identify learning to help reduce future risks.

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

The child responds positively to consistent boundaries. This approach helps the child to feel safe and supported. Staff use restorative approaches that help the child reflect on incidents and understand risks. For example, on one occasion, the child chose to write an apology letter, showing their learning from events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a nurturing and child-centred approach. The staff follow this way of working. This approach helps to provide a calm and consistent environment where the child makes good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working at the home. They describe leaders as approachable and supportive. Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions. These sessions are reflective and purposeful, enabling staff to explore their practice and identify their development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders identify shortfalls promptly through regular monitoring, which supports their oversight of staff practice. Children’s written records vary in quality, with some lacking clear purpose, reflection or meaningful evaluation. As this is a new provision, the manager is still embedding consistent recording standards across the team. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2873226 4 provides targeted guidance, clear examples and focused reviews to address any areas for development. This ensures staff understand expectations and continue improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works effectively with partner agencies, such as education, police and the placing authority. Where needed, leaders advocate for additional support and resources for the child, for example access to a therapeutic specialist. When the manager considers a professional’s response to be insufficient, they escalate their concerns, resulting in the appropriate outcome for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873226 5

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10, (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, relation to the use of vapes. 18 August 2026

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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: 2873226 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 9, 18 East Parade, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 5EE

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Inspectors

Sarah Adotey, Social Care Inspector (lead) Mariam Sawaiz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873226 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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