Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home is registered for up to two children, aged up to 18, with social and emotional difficulties. There is currently one child living here.

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in January 2020 and the current manager has submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2567722 2 Assurance visit report: 2567722 3

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The care of children

Staff provide nurturing and consistent care based on warmth and patience. Staff have promoted the child’s time with family members, by transporting her, being with her and reassuring her before and after she sees family members.

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The care of children

Staff have an in-depth understanding of the child’s complex behaviours that enables them to respond to her needs. However, on some occasions, staff have called the police and have struggled to manage some of the controlling and violent behaviours. Further work is required to ensure that staff have clear guidance and further training to enable them to assist the child further with positive behaviour.

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The care of children

Staff are creative and skilled at gathering the child’s views and feelings. They use games, art, YouTube, media and social stories to engage with her. This enables the child to talk about feelings of rejection and helps her to improve her personal care and learn strategies to reduce abusive behaviours.

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The care of children

The home is modern and welcoming with lots of nice furnishings. Staff ensure that the child enjoys activities of her choice including games, dancing, walks and fun on the trampoline.

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The safety of children

The child living at this home is kept safe. Staff have worked tirelessly to follow her and stay with her when she is missing from the home and engages in aggressive and high-risk anti-social behaviours. Staff ensure that return home interviews are requested and recorded.

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The safety of children

The manager has strong oversight of all safeguarding incidents and keeps meticulous records. There has been one low-level complaint from a neighbour that was effectively responded to. The child was supported to restore the relationship and helped the neighbour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The safety of children

Physical restraint is used as a last resort and is of a low level. There has been one incident of restraint recorded. The record is comprehensive and meets regulations.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is passionate and dedicated to providing good-quality care to the child living at this home. Staff spoke positively about the improvements the manager has made and of his support.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has effective systems in place to monitor and review significant incidents to improve the quality of care provided in the home. The manager ensures that regular team meetings take place to reflect on practice, and minutes are clearly recorded. Assurance visit report: 2567722 4 A social worker shared positive feedback about the progress the child has made living at this home because of the care and dedication of staff. Senior managers ensure that regular multi-agency risk management meetings take place to promote the child’s welfare.

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Leaders and managers

Managers do not ensure that recruitment processes include all the necessary checks to prioritise the safety of children. Managers did not verify all recruitment records for a new agency worker, including gaps in employment, reasons for leaving and references, to include a record of the outcomes.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

(xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(v)(xi)) 18/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 18/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 2567722 5 employ an individual to work at the childrens home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bristol City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2567722 6 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, 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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