Children's Home run by Bright Futures Care Solutions Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 1 Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Solutions Limited 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 a private provider and can provide care for one child with social and emotional difficulties. The child moved into the home in February 2025 and was spoken with as part of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted but has recently submitted their resignation. They were not present for this inspection and are currently absent from work. The responsible individual has also resigned but attended the home to support the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 3 and 4 March 2026

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2026 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 3

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Summary of findings

Staff do not have sufficient training and clinical support to provide the therapeutic care as described in the statement of purpose to the child. Several staff members worry about the culture in the home and the way it is managed and the impact it has on their ability to provide positive care. The home is in a poor condition and needs maintenance and personalisation work. The home does not operate within some of the approaches and frameworks detailed in its statement of purpose. The manager has built positive relationships with children’s social workers and education services.

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improvement to be good

The home is not in a suitable condition for the child living there to enjoy. The whole of the upstairs has a strong odour from the carpet being flooded following an incident. The dining table and decorative items have also been damaged and are pending replacements. There are no homely touches around the house and because of this, the home did not feel warm or welcoming. Although work has been arranged, there has been delays in completing this. This means the child is not provided with a homely living environment.

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improvement to be good

The statement of purpose for the home says that a therapeutic approach is adopted within its preferred model of care. Staff in the home have had no relevant training, despite this being identified as being much needed. Although training was agreed, there has been a delay in this being delivered to the team. As a result of this, staff are not fully trained to understand behaviours and promote positive day-to-day care for the child in line with the preferred model of care.

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improvement to be good

Some staff members commented on the lack of clinical support and oversight provided to them and said that they do not have the training or skillset to work consistently well with children with complex needs. Staff have not been provided with the support to help them to develop their knowledge and skills. Several staff members commented that training to support the child needed to be more bespoke to the child’s individual needs.

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improvement to be good

The child in the home was due to go on a summer holiday. However, this was cancelled after an increase in incidents. There was contradicting information as to the rationale that supported this decision. The directors in the organisation said it was a risk-based decision, but there was no evidence to support this. The responsible individual said it was a decision made by the directors as a behavioural sanction because of the increase in incidents. The rationale behind this decision was not recorded, despite a meeting being held between the home’s management team and the directors. Consequences and rewards are not used consistently in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 4 Staff promote a wide range of cultural activities for the child. These cover a broad and fun range of events, festivals and ceremonies. These activities are well celebrated and help the child expand their horizons and understand differing cultures and ways of life.

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improvement to be good

These activities are well recorded in photo albums for the child to access.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the importance of family time and have worked alongside the local authority to promote this. Facilitate family time has been offered and the staff team has a joined-up understanding of the complexities of it. As a result, the child feels able to speak to staff in respect of their feelings about their family.

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improvement to be good

There has been an increase in incidents and the use of physical intervention over the summer period. There has been some positive work completed by managers in terms of analysis of these incidents. Managers have tried to understand the patterns and trends that influence behaviours with a view to a reduction in incidents.

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improvement to be good

Managers have raised with directors the impact that a lack of relevant training for staff around managing complex and challenging behaviours has had in the home. This lack of training has led to some practice issues being identified. Several staff said that relevant training would be helpful to understand the factors that influence the behaviour of the child. Staff do not have the knowledge and skills to manage incidents in a way that would be beneficial to the child.

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improvement to be good

There is management oversight around the use of physical interventions which is completed by the registered manager and by the responsible individual and directors who provide the wider oversight. Despite these levels of management scrutiny, physical intervention reports do not consistently record all relevant information. Staff are led by the child in terms of how and where they are spoken to following any incident of restraint, which allows the child to express their views.

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improvement to be good

Managers have implemented a plan in respect of managing allegations. This plan has been agreed with the child’s social worker, who is satisfied that the plan is keeping the child safe and all allegations are shared and considered. Staff encourage the child to email their social worker directly to raise any concerns they may have.

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improvement to be good

There have been several staffing changes recently, and the team comprises of new and established staff. The safeguarding policy is pending a review and is awaiting publication by the directors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home is unstable because the manager and responsible individual have both recently resigned. A deputy manager is currently covering 2 homes as part of their role and providing day-to-day management oversight Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 5 shared over the 2 homes, which has negatively affected the quality of the oversight provided. A consultant has been employed to support the management arrangements of the 4 homes that make up the provider group, for 3 days a week. Concerns were raised by a number of staff about the negative culture in the home. This has resulted in a number of staff leaving the home. Senior leaders are currently recruiting to the vacant positions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been a lack of swift responses in key areas, such as the physical environment of the home and maintenance. This has had a negative effect on children’s experiences because the home is not adequately furnished and maintained to a positive standard. Quality of care reviews have not considered how this may impact on children’s lived experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The deputy manager facilitates regular supervision with the staff, has completed staff competency checklists and audits the home regularly; staff spoke about the deputy manager positively. However, they are currently providing oversight to 2 homes, which impacts on the time they have to support and provide oversight to the team. Further support is being provided to the staff team by the consultant.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A consultant has been appointed to work 3 days a week to aid with improvements in the home, including the development of a home improvement plan. However, this was not shared with the inspector when requested because the directors had not yet reviewed and agreed this plan. Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 6

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 18 September 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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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

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

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(ii)) 25 September 2026

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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— 25 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 7 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep under review and, as necessary, revise the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (6)) 25 September 2026

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 25 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 8 Specifically, the registered person must ensure all staff have the skills and training to understand the factors that influence children’s behaviours in the home.

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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

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

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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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that understanding is reflected within post- incident decision-making. 25 September 2026

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Recommendations

 The responsible person must ensure that records of restraint are kept and should 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. Records should detail the holds used and the length of time they were used for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59).  The registered person must ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. Appropriate sanctions and rewards for behaviours should be consistently applied. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38).

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 9 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: 2839849 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bright Futures Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite E2, Lancaster House, 10 Sherwood Rise, Nottingham NG7 6JE

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Inspectors

Dan Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2839849 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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