Children's Home run by 313 Capital Partners Ltd Trading As Bright Horizon Children’s Care Homes in Derby

Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 1 Registered provider: 313 Capital Partners Ltd trading as Bright Horizon Children's Care Homes Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a small private provider and is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and one child has moved in. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home and was spoken with.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2025. The manager was absent during the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual, and Ofsted is currently checking that this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 3

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Summary of findings

There have been several significant shortfalls identified regarding the safeguarding of children. The manager has not taken appropriate action to reduce risks to children related to contextual safeguarding and self-injurious behaviours. Neglectful care was offered to one child, who did not receive support to have a living environment that met their needs. Staff recording and reporting is poor. The manager has not addressed staff practice as necessary to improve care for children. There is a lack of effective monitoring from the manager. As a result, these shortfalls have meant that a child came to harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff did not support a child to maintain their bedroom to an acceptable standard. This meant that the living conditions of the child were poor, including rubbish bags, old crockery, broken furniture and old cigarette ends in their bedroom. There was an occasion when the child's bed was broken and the bed not replaced promptly. This meant that, for a limited period, the child slept on a mattress on the floor. The recording of this was poor, with little detail of the circumstances of this, including how the bed was broken. These shortfalls display neglectful care of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff did not consistently implement boundaries for one child. Consequently, opportunities to develop positive relationships and reduce the frequency of incidents were missed. For example, the child would often refuse to let staff enter their bedroom when risks were identified. There was an incident where items of concern were seen in the child's room and removed by a senior manager who had visited the home. These items were removed, and an incident occurred where there was significant property damage, and it was considered that the child could no longer be kept safe. As a result, the child's placement was ended with immediate effect. Therefore, the child did not receive stability of care or a positive ending to the time they lived in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

For one child who lived in the home for some time, there was a lack of progress related to their education, and staff did not support the child regularly to undertake educational activities while appropriate education placements were sought. This impacted on the child's opportunities, and, at times, the child reflected that they were bored. This increased risk for the child. At times, the manager was proactive in seeking support with the local authority when there was a lack of communication identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

There was a lack of progress related to a specialist health assessment for the child. Although staff followed this up on one occasion, progress was not in line with the needs of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff understand the importance of identity for children in numerous ways. Staff support children to spend time with important, connected people, including transporting them Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 4 long distances to spend time with loved ones. The social worker for the child who has recently moved in gives positive feedback about the relationships developing between staff and the child.

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

There are several shortfalls in the safeguarding of children that have left children at risk of and experiencing harm. The previous responsible individual undertook an audit that identified numerous safeguarding shortfalls, and these were then notified to Ofsted. However, these notifications were significantly delayed, which impacted on the regulatory oversight of the home and care being offered to children.

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

One child had several vulnerabilities linked to criminal exploitation and contextual safeguarding. This included substance misuse, unaccounted for funds and short periods away from the home without explanation. Staff did not act when the child shared that they were worried about debts and being targeted in the community. The manager and staff did not view these risks together, and there was a lack of professional curiosity related to comments made by the child. This meant opportunities were missed to safeguard the child. Information was not consistently shared with other external professionals and agencies.

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

When safeguarding concerns arose regarding items a child had in their possession, staff did not undertake room searches in line with the policies of the home and care plans for children. The manager did not ensure staff followed expected procedures nor act when staff practice was not in line with these procedures. This meant that risks increased.

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

Medication practice is not managed safely. There is a lack of recording of medication for one child. When there was an incident where the child had medication in their room, no action was taken to determine the circumstances. Quality assurance of medication practice has not identified shortfalls or the need for action regarding staff practice. Plans are unclear about whether a child should be offered medication daily or on an as-needed basis.

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

The manager and staff did not act following a significant disclosure by a child related to child sexual exploitation. This has prevented external agencies from acting in response to safeguard the child and investigate a potential criminal act.

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

Behaviour support plans lack key information to support staff in meeting children's needs safely. Plans are unclear about the strategies staff should follow to manage risks relating to contextual safeguarding concerns and self-injurious behaviours. Plans are not clear on risk management strategies regarding adaptations to the bedroom of the child who has recently moved in. There were numerous occasions when staff did not seek medical attention for a child following incidents of self-injurious behaviour. After an incident, the child had broken items in their bedroom, and staff failed to take appropriate action to remove these. As a result, the child came to harm. These shortfalls in staff practice display a lack of understanding of safeguarding responsibilities. Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 5 Staff support children to make complaints, including to external agencies. However, the manager has not always fed back outcomes of the complaints to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are several shortfalls in the leadership and management of the home. The manager has not maintained effective oversight of staff practice or ensured that expected standards are consistently implemented. The manager has failed to understand the impact of the quality of care provided to children and the impact on the experiences and progress of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been 3 responsible individuals since June 2026, which has contributed to the lack of stability in the leadership team. However, following an audit by a responsible individual, shortfalls in safeguarding were identified. Senior leaders have since taken appropriate steps to recognise the failures in management decision-making and are in the process of implementing plans to improve the care offered to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are shortfalls in the safe recruitment of staff. The manager was not curious about important information shared from a previous employer when recruiting a new member of staff, nor where there were discrepancies between previous employment dates.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The independent visitor to the home did not identify the shortfalls in the safeguarding of children and need to inform external agencies of the concerns. There was a lack of feedback from professionals gained by the independent visitor. This, alongside lack of feedback from the review of the quality of care, meant that the experiences of children from connected people were not gained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive training. However, it is unclear how learning is consolidated into practice. Staff were unable to meet basic safeguarding responsibilities for the care of a child. There has been a lack of action taken by the manager to address staff practice in this regard. Staff receive supervision. However, these sessions lack detail. Staff in their probationary periods do not receive the more frequent supervision that is expected in line with the home's statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following a child moving out in an emergency, senior leaders sought to review staff practice and consider lessons learned to improve the care of children. However, these actions were not undertaken prior to another child moving into the home, and staff felt there had been a lack of time for reflection. This raises concerns due to the number of shortfalls identified related to the care of a child and a lack of implementation of any lessons learned to improve the standards of care and safeguarding. Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 6

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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.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 7 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

Risk assessments clearly set out how children's needs will be managed by staff.

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Requirement Due date

Staff support children to reduce the risks associated with substance misuse and contextual safeguarding.

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Requirement Due date

Room searches take place when safeguarding issues are identified.

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Requirement Due date

Staff seek medical attention as necessary following self-harm or accidents in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Staff understand safeguarding policies in the home.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 8 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

Staff training is implemented into practice.

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Requirement Due date

Staff's recording is accurate and reflects the experiences of children.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders have effective oversight of all areas of staff practice and the experiences of children.

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Requirement Due date

Staff receive supervision in line with the statement of purpose, particularly for staff in probationary periods.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders have systems in place to drive improvements in the home.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when medication errors occur, investigations take place as necessary and that there are clear recordings of medication administration. 4 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 9 In particular, leaders should inform Ofsted of serious incidents in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(b) (3)(d)) 4 October 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that each child's relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff consistently follow plans for children. 4 October 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; 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 10 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

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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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

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(v)(vii)(viii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure children's bedrooms are well maintained and kept clean and tidy, and, furthermore, ensure that children always have items they need to live comfortably.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans; 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 11 encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff implement appropriate boundaries to support children's behaviour, that staff support children to recognise and understand unhealthy and coercive relationships outside the home, and that staff build positive relationships with children that meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and 4 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 12 to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home's records (except for a child's case records, unless the child and the child's placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that independent visits provide a clear understanding of the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements in the home and identify any steps that should be taken to better safeguard children. Furthermore, feedback should be consistently gained from professionals and family members.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of the information from independent and internal monitoring (including under Regulation 45) to ensure continuous improvement. Feedback should be gained regarding the care of children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2836140 13

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Children's home details

Registered provider: 313 Capital Partners Ltd trading as Bright Horizon Children's Care Homes

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Office 24 Rosehill Business Centre, Normanton Road, Derby DE23 6RH

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Inspector

Lorna Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2836140 14 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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