Children's Home run by Brighter Days Residential Ltd in East Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 1 Registered provider: Brighter Days Residential Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2026.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was registered with Ofsted in June 2026 to provide care for up to 2 children. The home has not yet received its first full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following information received by professionals that raised concerns about the conduct of the registered manager and staff practice in the home.

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This monitoring visit

There were no children living at the home at the time of this visit. Therefore, the inspector was unable to speak with children or directly observe staff practice. The inspector considered records relating to children who had previously lived in the home, spoke with staff, the registered manager and relevant professionals and considered information relating to the concerns that had been raised.

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This monitoring visit

The inspectors found that some aspects of the concerns raised were supported by evidence considered during the visit. There remain shortfalls in practice, particularly in relation to responding to a child’s changing needs and risks, partnership working, placement planning and management oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Since registration, there has only been one child living in the home. They moved out before the inspection took place. During this brief period, the child’s needs and risks increased. The provider determined that they could no longer safely meet the child’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 2 needs. The child experienced an unplanned ending to their placement, with limited opportunity to prepare for leaving the home or experience a planned transition. An unplanned placement ending creates further disruption and instability in their lives.

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This monitoring visit

The provider could not demonstrate that they can recognise emerging difficulties, respond dynamically to a child’s changing needs and collaborate constructively with partner agencies to prevent avoidable placement disruption. As a result, the child did not experience a planned and well-managed move at the end of their time in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager needs to use information arising from incidents, complaints, professional feedback and placement disruptions to improve the quality of care. There is insufficient evidence that learning from the recent move for this child has resulted in any changes in practice.

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This monitoring visit

Records of incidents involving the child were detailed. However, the child’s care and risk management planning did not consistently change in response to the emerging concerns. For example, arrangements for the child to spend time independently in the community continued despite increasing concerns about their safety. The registered manager sought agreement and direction from the placing authority about changes to these arrangements. While it is important that the home works collaboratively with placing authorities, this did not result in sufficiently timely changes to practice in response to the child’s escalating risks.

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This monitoring visit

There was evidence that the registered manager advocated strongly for the child. The manager repeatedly sought additional support from the professional network and challenged other agencies when they considered that the child was not receiving the support they needed. The placing authority also recognised that the child required additional support in relation to their mental health needs that the home was not equipped to provide.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback during the inspection from professionals was unfavourable about aspects of the registered manager’s communication. Managers should appropriately challenge other agencies when this is necessary to promote children’s welfare. However, professional disagreement should not impede effective communication, information- sharing or collaborative decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

Staff were also unsuccessful in setting clear expectations for the child. Staff said that when children are initially given greater freedoms, it can subsequently be difficult to introduce new boundaries when concerns increase. Staff failed to consider the impact of increased free time for the child. As a result, they did not adapt and implement change dynamically to help minimise risks.

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This monitoring visit

There are positive aspects of the registers manager’s leadership. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager. Some staff have additional needs, and the manager has taken these into consideration when supporting them at work. This includes Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 3 ensuring that staff can take appropriate breaks and have flexibility, where possible, around the shifts they work. Staff value this individual support.

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This monitoring visit

Senior staff also have previous experience of working with children, and they bring relevant experience to their roles. However, the arrangements for progression into senior positions are not sufficiently transparent. Staff have progressed from support worker positions following supervision and appraisal process. There is no policy or clear procedure setting out how internal promotions are managed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that communication and engagement with external professionals and agencies is conducted in a professional, respectful and collaborative manner. 15 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;

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv)) 15 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 5 In particular, the registered person should ensure that each child’s background, history, individual needs and known risks are fully understood when planning and providing their care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that changes in children’s needs, circumstances and risks are identified and responded to promptly, and that staff are supported to adapt their practice and approach accordingly to ensure that children receive consistent and appropriate care.

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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.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when a child’s placement is ending, appropriate planning takes place in partnership with the child’s placing authority and other relevant professionals.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that decisions to end a placement take account of the child’s needs, circumstances and welfare, and that children are appropriately supported and prepared for their move from the home, including when a placement is at risk of an unplanned ending. 15 October 2026

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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 15 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 6 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

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is a clear, fair and transparent process for appointing and promoting staff to senior positions in line with the company’s policy.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Brighter Days Residential Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One, Bell Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1JU

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Inspectors

Chido Mangave, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2872019 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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