Children's Home run by Bristol City Council in Bristol

Unique reference number SC034184 Inspection date 30/01/2013 Inspector Diana Waters Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 08/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This home is one of a number of children's homes operated by a local authority. The home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people of either sex with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The purpose of the home is to provide young people with life and social skills to enable independent living.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress .

p.3

Progress

The overall effectiveness of this service was judged ‘good’ in October 2012. One recommendation was made at that full inspection and has been partially met. This inspection identifies satisfactory progress for this service since then. There is one repeated recommendation and two new recommendations from this interim inspection.

p.3

Progress

The previous recommendation to provide a comfortable and homely environment specifically related to improving some external areas and individual bedrooms. It has been partially achieved. Improvement to the fencing is complete, blinds, plants and pictures enhance the ground floor and stairway, and some bedrooms have been individualised. Other improvements to bedrooms are planned, and replacement drawers for the kitchen and a panel for the boiler room are awaited. Therefore this recommendation has been repeated. No new members of staff were reported to have been employed in the home since the last inspection. Therefore the vetting of staff working with children in the home was not inspected on this occasion.

p.3

Progress

Notifications to Ofsted have been made as required when relevant significant incidents have occurred. Other interested parties have also been quickly informed. Specific plans connected with these notifications do not yet appear to be sufficiently robust to consistently ensure young people’s safety.

p.4

Progress

Visitors to the home are recorded in its daily log book rather than a visitors’ book. This may not have a direct impact on the care provided to young people, but makes it difficult to easily monitor visitors to the home and to children in the home. A recommendation is therefore made to use a discrete visitors’ book.

p.4

Progress

No complaints have been made since 2011 and low level concerns are addressed by the manager. No physical intervention has been recorded since 2007. Any bullying is generally appropriately managed by the staff team and manager. In specific situations, as risks heighten contingency plans are implemented. Sanctions are rarely given, however consequences for poor behaviour are not robustly recorded.

p.4

Progress

Suitable procedures are in place for young people who go missing, which are linked to young people’s individual risk assessments and behaviour plans. The home has developed an excellent working relationship with the local police. This includes police awareness of young people who present as vulnerable or at risk, and close scrutiny and early reporting ensures a consistent response. The home’s contact with young people whilst they are in the community is regular and supportive. However, young people do on occasions fail to respond to staff interest and concern.

p.4

Progress

The manager and the consistent and stable staff team continue to provide warm and positive relationships to young people. They maintain a resilience and strong commitment to working with young people, their social workers, education providers, and relatives to prepare young people for independence. They celebrate significant dates for young people and generally their relationships are positive. Young people and staff comment favourably about living and working in the home. Young people report: 'It is all great living here;' 'It’s better than it was and it’s all ok;' and ‘I'm doing well preparing for being independent.' Several young people graded the home as 9 or 10 out of 10.

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 provide a well maintained, comfortable and homely environment, by completing specific improvements to bedrooms and the kitchen (NMS 10)  ensure unchecked visitors are adequately monitored when on the home’s premises. Use a discrete visitors’ book to better facilitate this (NMS 4.8)  encourage children to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home of any sanctions or disciplinary measures used. (NMS 3.18)

p.4

About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.6

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

p.6