Children's Home run by Bridgebrite Ltd in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 1 Registered provider: Bridgebrite Limited

p.1

Full inspection 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 company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties and may have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke with them about their experiences living at the home.

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 outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/08/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Staff provide a nurturing, stable and supportive home environment. As a result, the child has been able to complete functional skills examinations, secure a college placement, enjoy a range of activities and develop life skills in preparation for independent living.

p.3

Summary of findings

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s individual needs and the strategies required to support them. As a result, significant incidents are managed effectively. Staff work closely with specialist professionals to manage risks and promote the child's safety and well-being. The staff team is led by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. The manager and staff are committed to supporting the child and achieving positive outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived in the home for a long time and benefits from a good standard of care delivered by a stable and experienced staff team. Staff know the child well, remain committed to them and support them through challenges. The home has provided the child with sustained stability. Although there have been some changes within the staff team, consistent routines, clear boundaries and effective communication have ensured that the child continues to receive good quality care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard. The child’s photos and artwork are proudly displayed on the walls throughout the home. The child’s bedroom is personalised and they take pride in keeping it clean and tidy. Staff create a warm, homely environment for the child, enabling them to feel relaxed at home. However, the garden fence needs to be repaired and a broken shed needs to be removed. The manager has plans in place to address these issues.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff actively promote the child’s education. When the child did not have an identified educational provision, the manager secured a private tutor, enabling the child to complete their functional skills examinations in maths and english. Staff also provide alternative education at home to enhance the child’s learning. The manager has worked with a social worker and the virtual school headteacher to secure a college placement for the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to develop life skills appropriate to their age and abilities. There are clear plans in place to support them as they prepare for independent living. The child is encouraged to develop skills such as budgeting, cooking and household chores. The child is supported in caring for the home's pet to help them develop a sense of responsibility and independence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 4 Staff actively support the child's relationships with people who are important to them. They work hard to build positive relationships with family members and facilitate meaningful family time. As a result, the child now enjoys unsupervised time with some family members, helping them maintain and strengthen important family relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff complete purposeful one to one sessions with the child, guided by a clinical psychologist. This is helping the child with emotion regulation, making sense of their life experiences, current circumstances and identifying future goals. As a result, the child has developed a positive outlook on their future. All one-to-one sessions carried out with the child by staff are completed sensitively and demonstrate that the home's therapeutic model of care is embedded into practice.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to take part in activities that reflect their personal interests including gem art, animal care, trampolining, going to the gym and playing football. These experiences help the child develop social skills, build friendships, engage with local groups and develop a stronger sense of belonging in their local community. Staff work with the child to create memory books that capture their memories, celebrations and achievements during their time at the home.

p.4

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

The child has developed positive, caring and trusting relationships with staff. These relationships help the child to feel safe and secure in the home. The child identifies staff as trusted adults and confidently approaches them when they have and worries or concerns. Staff respond warmly and sensitively, helping the child to feel listened to and valued.

p.4

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

The manager ensures that staff receive training that is tailored to the specific needs of the child. As a result, staff understand the child’s individual needs and the strategies required to support them effectively. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans clearly identify these needs and guide staff practice. The manager closely monitors practice to ensure that staff follow agreed plans and provides guidance or challenge where needed.

p.4

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

There are clear plans in place to support the gradual reduction of restrictions associated with the child’s deprivation of liberty order. The manager works with the child’s professional network to identify when plans need to be reviewed or adjusted to maintain the child’s safety. This helps the child adapt to the changes in a structured and supported way. The child’s social worker said, ‘The staff identify when step down plans need to be adjusted to mitigate risk and work with all professionals on safety plans.’

p.4

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

Staff manage missing-from-home incidents effectively. Detailed protocols guide practice and staff take proactive steps to locate the child and support their safe return home. Staff remain persistent in their efforts and work effectively with partner agencies. Following incidents, staff complete meaningful direct work with the child to increase their understanding of risk-taking behaviours, relationships and personal safety. Managers Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 5 and staff work closely with the child's network to implement strategies that reduce risk and promote safety.

p.4

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

Staff respond appropriately to significant incidents and follow safeguarding procedures effectively. They report concerns to relevant agencies, including the police, when required. The manager maintains effective communication with the child's professional network to ensure that appropriate support is sought and concerns are escalated appropriately.

p.5

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

Staff manage incidents of self-harm and low mood well. They provide emotional support and first aid and recognise when concerns require escalation or additional medical intervention. Staff reflect on incidents with the child and sensitively explore feelings, triggers and safer coping strategies.

p.5

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

Physical intervention is rarely required. Staff focus on de-escalation strategies and positive relationships to manage situations. When physical intervention is necessary to prevent harm, staff use it appropriately and in line with their training. Staff meet the child and reflect afterwards to promote understanding, explore feelings and identify alternative ways to manage difficult situations in the future.

p.5

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

Staff complete regular, meaningful direct work with the child, helping them to understand risks associated with exploitation, healthy relationships, sexual health and risk-taking behaviours. Staff also undertake independent research to strengthen their knowledge and improve the quality of support they provide.

p.5

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

The child has access to specialist support from a range of professionals, including exploitation workers, missing-person coordinators, looked-after children's nurses and mental health services. Staff actively encourage the child's engagement with these services and ensure that professionals receive relevant information. When concerns arise, staff work with professionals to arrange multi-agency meetings. This promotes a coordinated and proactive response to the child's needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is led by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. The manager and deputy are highly motivated and ambitious in their vision for the child. They have high expectations of staff and are committed to improving outcomes for the child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager celebrates staff achievements and rewards positive practice within the staff team. This helps maintain staff morale, particularly during challenging times. Staff feel fully supported by the management team and they enjoy caring for the child and working in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains strong oversight of the home's operation. Management monitoring is evident throughout records, plans and reports. Through careful review and scrutiny of documentation, managers identify shortfalls promptly and take action to Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 6 address them. This ensures that staff understand expectations and follow the home's reporting and recording procedures. As a result, the home continues to operate in line with regulatory requirements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers follow safe recruitment practices. This ensures that staff are appropriately vetted before caring for the child. New staff complete a structured and comprehensive induction programme, supported by regular reviews of their progress. Experienced staff support new team members to develop their understanding of the child's needs, the home's expectations and key procedures.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places a strong focus on staff development to improve outcomes for the child. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision that promotes professional development and strengthens practice. Appraisals are held annually and provide an opportunity to reflect on the past year and highlight staff achievements and goals for the upcoming year. The manager has also successfully supported the professional progression of staff, including supporting the previous deputy manager into a management role.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings take place regularly and additional meetings are arranged when required. These meetings provide opportunities to discuss challenges, review strategies and strengthen safety planning. As a result, staff have a clear understanding of the support arrangements in place for the child and provide consistent care.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have developed good relationships with the child’s wider professional network. Professionals say that the manager and staff communicate effectively, keeping them fully updated on the child’s challenges and progress. The child's complex safeguarding social worker said, ‘Staff are amazing, they support the work we are doing and ensure work in the home is repetitive so [name of child] takes it in’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the garden fence is repaired, and the broken shed is removed to provide a clean and homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.7

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: 2832299 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bridgebrite Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Crows Nest Business Park, Office 1 Ashton Road, Billinge, Wigan, Lancashire. WN5 7XX

p.8

Inspector

Renée Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2832299 9 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.

p.8

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 .

p.9

Inspector

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9