Children's Home run by Brighter Horizons Care & Support Limited in KnowsleyOfsted inspection, 24 Jun 2026

Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 1 Registered provider: Brighter Horizons Care & Support Full inspection 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 provider. It is registered to provide care for one child who experiences social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in May 2025. The manager also registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children's home

The child living in the home was not present during 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 requires improvement to be good

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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

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: 2822481 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 3

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Summary of findings

Staff provide a caring environment for children. Staff have developed positive relationships with the child, their family and professionals. However, there are inconsistencies in staff practices, which affects staff practice overall and their response to missing-from-home incidents.

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Summary of findings

Children's plans are child centred. These plans include children's individual needs and vulnerabilities. This helps staff to provide children with the care and support they need.

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Summary of findings

Staff support children to see their families. This ensures that children spend time with people who are important to them.

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Summary of findings

Since the last inspection, there have been 2 serious safeguarding incidents. However, there has been an overall reduction in safeguarding incidents. This demonstrates that staff are helping the child to stay safe.

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Summary of findings

Staff support the child to engage in activities they enjoy.

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improvement to be good

The child is making progress from their starting point. Staff build positive relationships with the child. Staff talk to the child about things that matter to them. Staff are a good advocate for the child.

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improvement to be good

The child was not spoken to, as they were spending time with their family. However, inspectors read a letter from the child to the staff team. The child thanked staff for their care and support. The child's parents and social worker were positive about the care and support staff provide for the child.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child to see people who are important to them. The child spends time with their family and friends. These relationships help the children feel valued and promote their identity. Staff work hard to improve the relationship between the child and their parents. This has had a positive impact on their relationship.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the importance of education. Staff encourage the child to engage in educational activities. Despite some difficulties in attending formal education, staff encourage the child to engage in activities that they enjoy. Staff are creative and develop educational opportunities for the child. The registered manager challenges education providers. This advocacy has directly led to the child attending a local college placement. Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 4 Staff considered the child's needs when they moved into the home. This helped the child to feel valued by the adults who care for them. This helped the child settle.

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

Staff understand the child's specific risks and vulnerabilities. Staff work hard to keep the child safe and help the child to understand the risks they may be exposed to.

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

There has been a high number of incidents when the child has been missing from home. Staff follow the child's plans and encourage the child to return home. However, on 2 occasions, staff safeguarding practices were compromised by gaps in planning for the child.

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

Despite these shortfalls, missing-from-home incidents have decreased. This demonstrates that staff are reducing risks in relation to the child.

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

Staff spoken to demonstrate an understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Staff talk to the child about risks and educate the child. This helps the child make safer decisions.

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

The registered manager monitors and reviews safeguarding incidents. The registered manager and staff reflect on incidents and discuss these in staff meetings. This helps the registered manager and staff to reflect on previous incidents to identify any learning to improve staff safeguarding practices.

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

The registered manager and staff work well with relevant safeguarding professionals. There is a strong multi-agency approach in place to manage the risks in relation to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are shortfalls in the registered manager's monitoring and review systems. For example, some parts of children's plans include contradictory information. This could impact on staff providing children with consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Although the registered manager reviews safeguarding incidents, there have been some incidents where there are gaps in effective management oversight. The responsible individual and registered manager accept there is a shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers and staff work proactively and positively with other agencies and professionals. They have effective working relationships with family members and social workers to support positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The provider's therapist provides specialist support for staff. This helps staff develop their caring practices. Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 5 Staff are positive about the support that they receive from leaders and managers. They value the opportunities that they have to develop their skills and knowledge. They have access to a range of training opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive support through supervision and regular team meetings, led by the registered manager or other senior leaders. Supervision records demonstrate that staff practice is reviewed and actions are agreed, which supports staff to develop in their roles. Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 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 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

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 effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children's risk management plans include children's risks and strategies for staff to manage. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 7 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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 7 September 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 7 promotes their welfare.

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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

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered manager must have effective monitoring and review systems in place to provide continuous, consistent improvements to the child's care. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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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: 2822481 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Brighter Horizons Care & Support

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 22 Welton Green, Liverpool L24 0SJ

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Inspectors

Shane North, Social Care Inspector Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2822481 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 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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Inspectors

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