Children's Home run by Bristol City Council in Bristol

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Young people clearly have a great time when they come to this home. They are encouraged to try new things, take on exciting challenges and have fun. The staff know all of the young people very well. Relationships between the manager, the staff team and young people’s families are strong, supportive and successful. Young people’s achievements are celebrated. Achievements are visible in both the young people’s rooms and on the ‘celebration wall’, where sharing, making friends, helping out and eating without support have equal standing alongside trips out and involvement in activities. Young people are safe, and feel safe when they stay. Risks and health needs are understood by all of the staff and dealt with sympathetically. A key feature of the approach that the managers adopt is that of encouraging total communication. For

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

example, this month is ‘Makaton month’, where signs and symbols are displayed so as to encourage everybody who comes to the home to expand their knowledge of how the young people communicate. The young people were observed making active choices through the use of signs, symbols and body language. This level of involvement is evident throughout the service. Young people are treated with respect and dignity and their stay is tailored to their individual needs, likes and challenges. The environment is warm, encouraging and supportive, with positive well-humoured relationships between staff, the manager and the young people. One parent commented about the staff, ‘The world would be a better place if there were more dedicated people like yourselves.’ One young person said ‘I like it, I like the food, I like football.’ There have been four physical interventions since the last inspection, which were all appropriate and necessary. The manager’s review of these incidents

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

demonstrates an ability to improve practice in order to avoid similar situations occurring in the future. There has been one record of a consequence being used that was appropriate and restorative in nature. Since the last inspection, three young people have stopped using the service, two because they reached 18 and the other so that they could attend a different resource. All of these young people were helped to move on successfully, and their time at the home was recorded with photographs and good wishes to help them remember what they achieved. Four young people have begun using the service since the last inspection, and all have care plans that clearly identify their needs, risks and what the young person wants to achieve during their stay. These care plans are centred on the young people. For example, a child who is prone to running off has one-to-one staffing when he is out in the community, and a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

perimeter check is made by staff each time he goes into the garden to play. This was seen in practice during the inspection and keeps him safe without removing him from activities that he enjoys. In response to the recommendations made at the last inspection, the manager has put together presentations for each of the young people that are regularly updated by their key workers. These presentations clearly demonstrate the progress that each child or young person is making, and are stored on memory sticks so that both the child and their family have a lasting record of achievements. The development plan for the home now contains ideas that have been generated by the whole staff team, including the development of a sensory garden, developing the use of Makaton and improved use of technology. This is a marked improvement from the last inspection and clearly involves the whole staff team. There are some minor improvements that could help make the plan more effective

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in terms of accountability and timeframe, but overall it sets out achievable goals. One member of staff has been recruited since the last inspection. There were some omissions on the personnel file relating to a disclosure and barring certificate and a gap in employment history. The manager took action to address this during the inspection. However, a recommendation has been made to ensure that all of the vetting checks are clearly accessible on the personnel file held at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This short break centre is operated by a local authority and is registered to provide short break care and accommodation for up to five young people who have a learning disability and/or physical disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/08/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/12/2015 Full Requires improvement 05/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, the registered person should ensure that up-to-date DBS checks, reasons for gaps in employment and risk assessments are clearly identifiable on staff personnel files. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards 2015’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 that 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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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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, 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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