Children's Home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust in Bradford

Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 1 Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust Limited

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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 Bradford Children and Families Trust on behalf of a local authority. It provides care for up to 4 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2026.

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Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of this inspection, and all children were spoken to.

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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 good

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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

Date of last inspection: 21 January 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: On 30 June 2025, Ofsted imposed a condition on the home's registration. This required the trust to notify Ofsted 3 months before it intended to move any children into the home. After the refurbishment of the home, the trust notified Ofsted of its intention to reopen. A monitoring visit took place Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 2 on the 4 February 2026 and Ofsted confirmed that the home was ready to open and that it was safe to provide care for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 4

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Summary of findings

There have been huge improvements both aesthetically within the home and with the new management.

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Summary of findings

Children are settled, happy and safe. The manager and staff create lasting memories for children that they will carry into adulthood. Children enjoy spending time laughing and playing with staff.

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Summary of findings

The manager has created a robust monitoring system. This ensures that the manager can have oversight and ensure that children's care is therapeutic. Any staff development requirements are identified quickly.

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Summary of findings

The staff have been given additional, research-based training to strengthen their skills. Furthermore, multi-agency working is embedded in the home, with positive praise being received from partner agencies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff and professionals consistently describe the home as having undergone a positive reset. They spoke highly of the supportive and enthusiastic leadership, describing managers as a breath of fresh air. Children are firmly at the centre of practice, with managers and staff demonstrating an unwavering commitment to promoting their wellbeing, progress and positive experiences every day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move into the home, their plans are tailored to the children's individual needs and circumstances. Multi-agency working is thorough to ensure that children's transitions are smooth and children have good experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide children with clear structure, consistent boundaries, and nurturing care. This supports children to feel safe and secure. Consequently, children make significant progress from the time that they move into the home. Professionals speak highly of the manager for his constant input to ensure that the children's needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is a key priority in the home. The manager effectively advocates for appropriate educational provision to support children's individual learning needs. Children, who had previously struggled to attend school, are now in full-time education. They thoroughly enjoy going to school and this has led to one child’s social skills developing. They now have friends and enjoy being part of a peer group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote healthy living and encourage children to lead active lifestyles. The importance of health and wellbeing is prioritised, helping children to develop positive habits and make healthy choices. Additionally, children take part in charity fun runs, which make them feel part of their community. Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 5 Children explore their own wishes and make independent choices. They engage positively in a wide range of activities that reflect their individual interests, such as going horse riding, ice skating and playing ice hockey. Children have enriching and memorable experiences. The manager believes that these positive opportunities will stay with children throughout their lives and contribute to lasting, happy memories into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's care is enhanced through consistent and effective communication between staff, children and managers. The manager promotes a reflective learning culture by using evidence-based research to develop staff’s skills. This ongoing professional development strengthens practice and contributes to improved outcomes for children, ensuring that they receive high-quality, responsive care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff champion each child's aspirations and future opportunities. They promote independence and help to inform the children's future planning. The staff embrace new approaches and create a nurturing, extended family environment where children feel valued and supported.

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

Managers and staff demonstrate a strong understanding of each child's triggers and behaviours. Risks are proactively managed, with creative and effective strategies used to help children understand, express and regulate their emotions and feelings.

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

When children are distressed, staff and managers provide safety, security and reassurance. They respond swiftly and appropriately and keep children calm. The manager promotes a restorative approach in a homely, highly personalised environment that helps children to feel valued, supported and understood.

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

There has been a big reduction in incidents in the home, which is linked to the strong, meaningful and positive relationships that children have with staff. On occasions where physical intervention has been necessary, these measures have been proportionate and used appropriately to keep children safe. Records are generally completed well; however, some records have missing information and do not confirm whether the child sustained any injuries or required physical checks.

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

When allegations have been made, they have been investigated thoroughly.

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

Professionals said what a difference they can see in the children and how amazingly well they are developing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly child focused and consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children. He is aspirational for the children and strives to provide them with opportunities and experiences that they may not otherwise have access to. This helps to broaden their horizons and supports their personal development. Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 6 The manager is a strong, reflective leader who consistently models a calm, respectful and child-centred approach. Staff follow his example, creating a positive and nurturing culture throughout the home. The manager ensures that children's views are central to decision-making. He embeds these values within the practice of the staff team and the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and the manager have high aspirations for every child and take genuine pride in their achievements, celebrating each milestone and success. As a result, children are making significant progress in a positive, nurturing and homely environment where they feel valued, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager's oversight is highly effective. Through regular review of children's records and progress, he maintains a clear understanding of their individual needs. Robust monitoring systems ensure that staff provide high-quality, creative and consistent care, enabling children to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, child-focused supervision that provides opportunities for reflection and professional development. Practice discussions and scenario-based learning are used effectively to enhance staff knowledge and to inform their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a wide range of training opportunities that are tailored to the specific needs of the children who they care for. Their knowledge and skills are kept up to date, with the manager identifying additional learning opportunities to further develop practice and enhance the quality of care provided to children. All learning opportunities are linked to credible research, which gives staff a greater understanding of children and their behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home adheres to safer recruitment procedures when recruiting new staff, ensuring that they are safe and suitable to work in the home. Staff are enrolled on the relevant qualification as soon as they have passed their robust probationary period. Furthermore, staff progress is regularly monitored to ensure that they attain the qualification within the necessary time frame.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals was positive, and one said, ‘Staff are excellent, they are enthusiastic and are always eager to tell me what they have been doing. Staff are so full of energy and enthusiasm.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 7

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Recommendation

The registered person should ensure that records of restraint enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge, paying particular attention to staff checking children for injuries and using body maps to map any injuries. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2729358 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 0QL

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Inspector

Angela Ross, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2729358 9 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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