Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC061232 1 SC061232 Registered provider: Bristol City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

 This local authority children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The manager was registered for the original children’s home in September 2017. The young people then moved with the manager and staff and the manager was re- registered for the home’s present location on 24 July 2018.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2017. Since then, she has acted to remedy the shortfalls found during previous inspections and the home has steadily improved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with the staff. Consequently, they continue to make good progress in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have significant healthcare needs have received very good support to help them to manage their conditions. Staff have supported some young people to undergo major surgery, which otherwise would have been even more stressful for Inspection report children’s home: SC061232 2 them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people receive a healthy diet and continue to be fully involved in food choices. The registered manager and staff have access to professional therapeutic and sexual health advice to help inform their practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational outcomes for the young people are generally good. Some young people are full of enthusiasm for their planned college courses. They are looking forward to new learning opportunities and a greater degree of independence. Other young people, who had not attended school for many years, are now attending alternative education projects. This opportunity for learning will help to improve the young people’s life chances.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been 70 incidents when one former resident went missing to be with her friends and family. Staff worked extremely hard with the young person’s family and other agencies to improve communication and to keep her safe. When it became clear that the staff were unable to manage this young person’s safety in the community, the home’s managers brought her placement to a planned end. The staff continue to keep in touch with her to provide support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have, from time to time, been at risk in the community are safeguarded well. The staff and registered manager work with placing social workers and other agencies to ensure that appropriate action is taken to protect children from unsuitable adults. There are no current concerns relating to the present group of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

During the inspection, discussion took place about the need for all the homes in the group to have access to a detailed and useful incident reporting form. This home has developed its own form, but there is no space on it for management monitoring. One of the local authority’s senior managers undertook to take this forward for all of the homes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are consulted regularly about the home. They told the inspector that they are making good progress and have no concerns. Three young people’s questionnaires are all very positive about the quality of care which the home provides.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home installed a ‘Pod’ in the garden to provide independence accommodation for one young adult. The work is still underway to prepare this accommodation. The manager is aware that she must make an application to Ofsted for a variation before the Pod can be occupied.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made great progress with this home and her ambition and strong leadership have had a significant impact on the young people and staff. She informed the inspector that she is leaving her role soon to work on other projects with the local authority. There are effective deputising arrangements to guide the home through the transition period before a new manager can be appointed. Inspection report children’s home: SC061232 3 At the previous inspection, a requirement was made to ensure that young people receive sexual health advice and services promptly. This requirement has been met in full.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A second requirement was made regarding first aid training. All staff completed their first aid training in September 2018, so the requirement is now met. Staff have also recently completed training in trauma and behaviour management.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation was made regarding staff supervision. Although all staff were supervised in January, there are still some gaps for the present month, so the recommendation has been repeated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Not judged 21/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) In particular, ensure that staff supervision is carried out at regular intervals to help staff to meet the young people’s needs. Inspection report children’s home: SC061232 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Director of Legal Services, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC061232 5 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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Inspector

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