Children's home run by Positive Cycle Limited in Bristol, City of

This monitoring visit

Due to serious and widespread concerns identified at the recent full inspections, this home has been subject to a restriction, preventing any other young people from being admitted to the home. The purpose of this visit was to monitor whether the restriction on accommodation had been adhered to. In addition, this visit was to monitor whether significant improvement has been made at the home, in order to meet the compliance notice issued at the previous full inspection. The inspector found that the registered manager has not yet implemented effective systems to monitor the care practices, records and running of the home effectively. Entries in the sanction book from 30 September 2016 have not been signed by the registered manager to confirm that they are an accurate record. Inappropriate restrictions in the home have occurred as a sanction, with the registered manager’s knowledge. Young people have been denied access to the

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This monitoring visit

lounge for at least one day, as a sanction for failing to stop using the computer when requested by staff. This restrictive practice is inappropriate and denies young people the opportunity to have communal space in the home. The registered manager reports that she monitors health and safety matters through reading the weekly checks of the environment that staff complete. There is evidence of the manager auditing these reports, although the checks have not been developed to include the searching for sharp objects or blades that could be used by young people for self-injurious behaviour. This addition to the checklist has been overlooked, despite some recent bedroom searches that resulted in the finding of items that may be used to self-harm. The registered manager has failed to consider the recent incidents of self-harm or how practices in the home need to be adapted to reduce such risks. A requirement to submit to Ofsted a report reviewing the quality of care, covering

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This monitoring visit

the period from January to June 2016, was made at the full inspection on 10 August 2016. The registered manager submitted this report, covering the period January to July 2016, on 18 October 2016, four days after the date specified in the compliance notice. The report lacks in-depth analysis and fails to reflect on the 17 safeguarding incidents of a young person regularly going missing and the difficulties in managing their behaviour. Placement plans produced by the registered manager are inadequate. The plans fail to include key aspects of the young people’s needs, such as support regarding self-harm, specific behaviours and health needs. The placement plans also fail to include permissible visiting arrangements with family members. Risks and personal needs for each young person are specified in the care plan from their placing authority. The registered manager has failed to transfer this significant information

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This monitoring visit

into a placement plan, leaving staff without clear written guidance on how to deliver care on a day-to-day basis. Risk management is poor as the registered manager fails to recognise safeguarding concerns and the need to escalate them with other agencies. An initial risk of sexual exploitation was included in referral documentation from the local authority to the registered manager in August 2016. The registered manager has continually failed to establish the background to this information, in order to assess the current level of risk to young people. The manager and staff team lack curiosity in order to establish the safety and well-being of young people. An incident in which a young person was exposed to domestic violence and injuries was not reported promptly to other agencies, and consequently no action was taken to ensure the safety of young people or of the adults involved. This incident was not reported directly to the social worker. They were notified at a later date

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This monitoring visit

through a weekly summary report. Weekly summary reports evidence the decline in the emotional well-being of young people. It is reported that there is an increase, for one young person, in incidents of self-harm, a reduction in college attendance and a presentation of low mood and loss of motivation. At the time of this monitoring visit, young people in placement had been missing from the home since the day before. Young people are failing to make progress in this placement. The registered manager has made progress to address the casual staffing arrangements, as reported in the previous full inspections. Four residential care staff posts have been recruited to, subject to satisfactory checks. These contracted posts are full time, and, in addition, an advert for a full-time registered manager has been on display. The closing date for the registered manager’s post was on the day of this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

A proposed new rota has been established by the registered manager and the deputy manager. The working patterns are designed to provide greater consistency for young people and include far fewer sessional staff. However, the registered manager and deputy have not accounted for additional staffing requirements at the weekend, when young people are not in education. This shortfall was identified by the inspector during this monitoring visit, and requires the registered manager to adapt the proposed new rota. Until permanent staff are appointed, the care of young people is delivered by sessional staff, most of whom have primary employment elsewhere. This impacts on the consistency of care afforded to young people, with between 11 and 14 different members of staff having provided care each week since the previous inspection. Agency staff have been used regularly most weekends since August 2016, but this has not occurred since 8 October 2016.

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This monitoring visit

An area of improvement has been the consistency of a particular member of staff, working every weekday, to provide support to young people in their education. This has been beneficial to young people, although is not sustainable in the longer term. The registered manager has applied greater rigour to the recruitment procedures and ensures that all staff have satisfactory checks before they commence working with young people. An example of this is when the registered manager received a reference that referred to a different person from the applicant half way through the document. The manager sent this reference back to the referee as it was unacceptable. This demonstrates a good awareness of safer recruitment procedures. Profiles of all the staff have been compiled, detailing the training that they have completed, their strengths and weaknesses. This audit informs individual and team training needs. The deputy manager maintains a spreadsheet of all staff training.

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This monitoring visit

To assist with updating practice in line with current research, the registered manager has joined a national forum for children’s homes and liaised with another provider in the area. This has included a visit to another children’s home. This level of contact begins to address the isolation of a sole private provider. There have not been any new admissions to the home following the issue of the restriction notice. Due to the failure of meeting all aspects of the compliance notice and continued concerns about the safety and welfare of young people, the restriction notice will be extended, and Ofsted will consider the enforcement powers available.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event 27/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care 14/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard 14/10/2016

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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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. out in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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

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