Children's Home run by Lifebridge Group LTD in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 1 Registered provider: Lifebridge Group LTD

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Following the home’s registration with Ofsted in March 2025, in agreement with the provider, a 3-month condition was placed on the registration of this home. After the recruitment of a new manager, responsible individual and staff team, the home reopened to children in April 2026.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2026.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Both children spoke with by the inspector.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection after registering with Ofsted in March 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 2

p.1

Summary of findings

Children make good progress in this home due to the help and support they receive from the manager and staff. This is enhanced through the positive working relationships that the manager and staff have with the children’s family members and the professionals involved in the children’s lives.

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff work hard to ensure the children are safe and protected from harm. However, staff do not always work in a consistent way in implementing boundaries in the home. This may lead to children becoming confused as to what the expectations of the registered manager and staff are.

p.2

Summary of findings

Leaders and managers are aspirational for children. However, this does not translate into the home environment, which does not look homely. In addition, case records do not always reflect how children have been helped. Leaders and managers understand that there are still improvements to be made and are committed to further developing the home and improving the quality of care that children receive.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between the children, their family members, staff and external professionals is a strength of this home. This helps children to make good progress from their starting points.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are fully committed to supporting children to do well and achieve their goals. They understand the importance of spending time with children as a way of building secure and trusted relationships. As a result, both children living in this home have staff in the home that they said they can rely on for help and support. One child described the staff as ‘wanting the best’ for them.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear lines of communication between professionals, the manager and staff, which ensures that children get the support they need in a timely way. Professionals spoke positively about their working relationship with the manager and staff. Equally, family members said that they have positive relationships with staff and that the staff ‘really care’ about [name of child].

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to quickly settle into the home through well-considered moving-in plans. Staff are provided with relevant information about the new child, and this supports the staff to understand and to quickly meet the child’s immediate needs. Children are encouraged to make the home their own when they move in by personalising their bedrooms according to their wishes. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 3 When a child is new to the home, the manager is quick to ensure that they are registered with universal health services. In addition, the manager and staff quickly build positive working relationships with education professionals to ensure that children are supported to make progress with their learning. This has helped one child to re-engage with education after a significant period of non-attendance at school.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have a good understanding of the people who matter most to the children. They work hard to ensure that children can see their friends and family members on a regular basis. For example, for one child, the staff liaise closely with the child’s school to ensure that school events are coordinated in a way that supports the child to see their family. For the other child, the manager and staff work alongside the child and their family member to strengthen family relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s day-to-day experiences are enhanced through them being able to take part in activities that they enjoy. Staff take the children on activities of their choice, such as clothes shopping and going for food treats.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the home environment and external grounds are safe, the home is not as homely and welcoming as it could be. In addition, the rooms are not used in the best way to ensure that children are able to enjoy all areas of the home.

p.3

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

Children have staff in the home that they can talk to about any worries that they may have. In addition, the manager and staff help children to build positive relationships with adults outside of the home. This helps children develop a larger support network and enhances their safety.

p.3

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

Staff have conversations with children with the aim of encouraging children to understand risk and make positive choices. These conversations are kind and caring and help children to understand their behaviours and how they can manage them in a safer way.

p.3

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

Children have individualised, comprehensive and up-to-date plans that address known and emerging vulnerabilities effectively. This helps staff to respond in a timely way when they are worried about a child’s safety. Although the staff have a good understanding of each child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities, they do not always work cohesively to make sure that children have clear and consistent boundaries. This shortfall undermines the hard work that staff do to assist children to make positive life choices.

p.3

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

There are clear procedures in place for the safer recruitment of staff. In addition, when there are concerns regarding a member of staff’s behaviour and conduct in the home, the manager follows safeguarding arrangements to make sure that children are kept safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very child focused. He has high ambitions for the children and works hard to make this home somewhere children feel safe and cared for. The manager is kind and caring, knows the children well and is proud of the progress that they make.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a shared vision for what this home can achieve for children. They are committed to providing care that helps children to succeed. Leaders and managers work closely together and support one another to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. The manager feels supported by the directors and the responsible individual. He has a strong working relationship with the deputy manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good advocate for children. This promotes children’s progress and safety and ensures that children receive support and help when they need it. For one child who was struggling to work with specialist services, the manager advocated for them, and this resulted in a different approach to providing the child with the help that they need.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are proud of their roles and enjoy working in this home. They feel supported by the manager and have confidence in him. One staff member said, ‘[Name of manager] has been supportive and has made me feel comfortable.’ They went on to say that any ideas they suggested have been listened to.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most case records are comprehensive and provide a clear account of a child’s time in the home. However, some case records lack detail and the language used is not helpful for children to understand their experiences of living in this home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff take a consistent approach to managing safeguarding incidents and setting boundaries in the home. 30 September 2026

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming. This includes maintaining the home environment to a high standard for children to enjoy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.7)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s records for each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. They must be written in a way that is sensitive and non-judgemental and enables the child to understand their time at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 6

p.5

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: 2827775 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lifebridge Group LTD

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: York House, Wool Gate, Cottingley Business Park, Cottingley, Bingley BD16 1PE

p.7

Inspector

Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2827775 8 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.7

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 . 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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8