Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Requires improvement

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.

p.2

The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Records lack sufficient detail and are not always up to date. Written risk assessments do not reflect all the known risks that staff are aware of and are incomplete. Incidents requiring physical intervention are rare, yet when they do occur the records are incomplete.  Poor monitoring of record keeping has led to the failure of the manager to notify Ofsted of some significant events. On one occasion, potential learning has been lost following a serious incident.  The home does not yet provide an environment that is homely throughout. The bathrooms are in need of modernisation and some internal doors require repair or replacement to be fully effective in the event of a fire.  The staff group are not supported to develop and reflect through regular team meetings.

p.3

The children's home strengths

 Young people say that this is a good home. They are able to readily approach staff and recognise that the manager and staff team care about them.  The manager and staff team are nurturing in their approach. Consistent boundaries inform young people on expectations of behaviour. The strength of relationships between young people and the staff team leads to greater discussion and fewer sanctions.  Young people receive continuity of care from a stable staff team that has worked together for many years. The skills, experience and qualifications of the staff team contribute to placement stability for young people.  Consultation with young people ensures that they are involved in decision making. This occurs for their personal care plan, the development of the home and wider consultation for the local authority’s improvement plan.  All young people are engaged in education and supported to develop interests through activities in the home and participation in community

p.4

The children's home strengths

events.  The stable staff team is supported well by the registered manager and two assistant managers. Team cohesion is strong and there is great pride among them and a willingness to continually improve.  Leaders and managers have an improvement plan and the redecoration of young people’s bedrooms is complete.

p.4

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must— (2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 30/09/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure— (2)(a)(i) that staff 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. In particular, ensure that written risk assessments are up to date and action is taken in response to learning from incidents. (2)(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health, in relation to internal fire doors. 31/08/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must— (2)(b) ensure that staff work as a team, through providing regular team meetings. (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 31/08/2016 16: Statement of purpose The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)) 31/08/2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all the matters listed. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)(c)) 27/07/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

36: Children's case records The registered person must maintain records ('case records') for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 31/08/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if a child is involved in or suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)) 27/07/2016

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  No more than half of the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night, at the home should be from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)

p.6

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.7

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.7

Recent inspection history

04/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.7

Recent inspection history

06/01/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.7

Requires improvement

Young people like this home and are centrally involved in its development. To promote participation and engagement, staff take action and avoid delay. For example, a house meeting with young people to discuss decoration and colour choice of each bedroom was held and within 10 days the decorating was complete. This encourages young people to feel valued and have their voices heard. The bathrooms are in great need of improvement. This work is scheduled, but yet to be started. In addition, some aspects of the house that do not look homely are subject to the development plan such as the removal of railings and unnecessary signs outside the property. Generally, the house is pleasantly furnished, decorated and welcoming. The garden provides outdoor seating and play space with football goals, a trampoline and a lawn. Young people are encouraged to have an interest in gardening, with courgettes and strawberries growing. The pond is full of newts

p.8

Requires improvement

and visiting wildlife includes a fox and her cubs. Young people have discussed the regular visits by the fox and agreed that it is interesting to observe but as a wild animal, food should not be provided. Young people are regularly consulted on matters about themselves, in the home and more widely in the local authority. House meetings gather young people’s views on the food, activities and house rules. From these meetings, the manager provides a response to young people’s requests to let them know that they have been listened to. This improvement is in response to a recommendation made at the previous inspection. Recently, a young person assisted in collating questions for young people in all the local authority children’s homes towards an improvement project. This city-wide consultation identified that most young people feel positive about the care that they receive from the local authority. They said

p.8

Requires improvement

that they would like improvements to Wi-Fi and computers and for the staff to spend less time in the office. This home offers young people the chance to experience stability. Often they have had disruption in their lives prior to living in this home. The manager and staff provide a nurturing environment where they are attentive, and sensitive, to individual needs. Young people benefit from this level of care, form attachments and develop their capacity to build relationships. Young people say that they like the food and identify key staff with their signature dishes. The egg challenge is a shared event where staff and young people try to identify the difference between a free range egg and one that has been mass produced for the supermarkets. This fun mealtime is a shared experience between young people and staff, resulting in laughter and informal learning. Staff work hard to engage young people with their education, particularly when

p.8

Requires improvement

many young people have had poor experiences in education and for some, long absences from school. As a result, all young people are engaged in mainstream school or alternative provision. Young people are encouraged and supported to take exams and some now have plans to start college in September after successful interviews. Links with children’s mental health services ensure that support is directly available to young people and staff. Agreed protocols on partnership working with health and emergency services have significantly contributed to improved outcomes for young people. They are able to enjoy much improved emotional and psychological health compared to six months ago. Young people recognise their own progress and improved behaviour. For example, enjoying free time out with friends, having a mobile telephone and spending more time at the house engaging with staff. Young people are encouraged to do

p.9

Requires improvement

activities and join clubs. They enjoy cycle rides, playing pool, going for walks and attending drama groups.

p.9

Requires improvement

Risk management is understood well by the staff team and reviewed through daily discussion. The area that requires improvement is in relation to the written documents and record keeping. For example, a safeguarding incident was appropriately reported to the police and social workers. The staff are able to report the outcome of the incident yet are unable to locate the records confirming this. Similarly, risk assessment documents lack content. They fail to support the staff team’s knowledge, and strategies implemented by them, to safeguard young people. Young people have made significant progress in reducing their high-risk behaviours of going missing, criminal activity, using alcohol and self-harm since the previous inspection. These behaviours do still occur but are far less frequent for each young person. Multi-agency meetings produce coordinated support plans. These assist young people in reducing the behaviour that puts them at such risk.

p.9

Requires improvement

After they have been missing from the home, young people are warmly welcomed back by staff who express concern for their well-being. An independent person is available to young people on their return to the home in addition to the police checking that they are safe and well. Young people are provided with a range of adults to talk to in order to reduce the pull factors of going missing from the home. Incidents of young people going missing overnight are reported and managed according to safeguarding procedures. However, the manager has not always recognised the need to notify Ofsted of ‘serious’ events as required by regulations. Young people have good relationships with the staff team, enabling them to talk about the worries or concerns that they may have. The skill of the staff team to de-escalate frustration and upset has led to fewer incidents of disruptive behaviour. The strength of these relationships plays a key role in behaviour

p.9

Requires improvement

management at this home and results in fewer sanctions. Although records of physical intervention and sanctions are few in number, they fail to provide detailed accounts. For example, no body map to indicate any injuries sustained through an incident of self-harm and lack of analysis to consider the effectiveness of any sanction. A local police officer regularly visits the home to meet with young people and staff. This level of engagement is excellent, responding to incidents at an informal level, avoiding their escalation and preventing unnecessary criminalisation of young people. For example, when young people have upset with each other through social media, discussions with the police calm down these situations. The police officer promotes e-safety among young people and ensures that hurtful information is deleted from mobile phones and computers to stop bullying. Protective measures against the risk of fire include firefighting equipment and fire

p.10

Requires improvement

drills. Some internal doors are not fully effective to prevent the spread of fire and are in the process of being repaired or replaced. Staff contribute to a safe environment for young people through their knowledge and training on health and safety matters, food hygiene, first aid and fire safety.

p.10

Requires improvement

The registered manager has been in post for 12 years. He is suitably experienced for the role with qualifications in social work and management. To maintain his professional development he completes regular training and is studying towards the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. Good care practices provided to young people are not supported by comprehensive records. It is difficult to locate information and often the records are incomplete or out of date. Staff often struggled to find the information required during this inspection. This is evidence that record systems require improvement. Greater attention is needed to keeping accurate records that meet the regulations and most importantly, create a record for young people that they may wish to access now or in the future. The manager’s monitoring of records is ineffective. Where the manager has monitored the one record of physical intervention, it was not completed by

p.10

Requires improvement

speaking with the young person within five days as required and the absence of a body map was not addressed. After a serious incident of self-harm, the manager has not fully considered the learning points from this event. The local authority has appointed a new independent person to visit monthly. The quality of this monitoring is much improved from previous inspections and has the potential to assist with the drive for improvement at this home and wider within the local authority. There are no staff vacancies in the team, this ensures continuity of care for young people. With increased supervision of young people and holiday cover, some temporary staff contribute to the team. On one occasion, two temporary staff were on duty with one permanent staff member and this balance needs to be redressed. On this occasion there was minimal impact on young people as they say that they know these adults well and enjoy their company.

p.10

Requires improvement

Staff say that they are trained and supported well to do their job. They are proud to be part of this team, most members of which have worked here for over 10 years. ‘We are a good team. We support each other and look out for one another’ said a member of staff. Although a long established team, they continue to be passionate and child-focused. One member of staff has recently been appointed as the ‘best practice champion’. She is enthusiastic to reduce the use of institutional language in direct practice and records. Conversely the statement of purpose is a priority for review as it frequently refers to a ‘unit’ not a ‘home’. The manager is a strong advocate of research and welcomes student social workers on placement. This encourages fresh thinking and promotes challenge among the team. Staff say that they can readily speak to the management team and receive monthly supervision. Team meetings have not occurred each month,

p.11

Requires improvement

failing to provide a regular forum for team development and decision making. Social care professionals report good working relationships with the manager and staff team. A social worker said, ‘I am impressed with how the team manage the complex needs of (a young person) in the residential environment.’ The manager advocates a multidisciplinary approach to meeting young people’s individual needs. This ensures that staff and young people have access to all the resources and support that they need to do well.

p.11

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

p.13

Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.13

Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . 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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

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

p.14

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.14