Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 1 Registered provider: Bristol City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to two children between 14 and 18 years, irrespective of gender, who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 8 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a smart, modern house which has undergone a positive transformation since the new manager arrived. Staff have created a comfortable, colourful home for the children. There are photos of the children’s sporting achievements and summer events on the walls. Staff cook family meals and encourage the children to join in a range of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and show interest in their plans. They respond to the children in a nurturing way to support them to build their emotional and physical resilience. For example, one child was unable to eat with the adults and took his meals to his bedroom. He is now able to join meals in the kitchen and sometimes cooks for everyone. Staff consider the wider issues that affect the children, for example the political situation in their countries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children regularly attend education. Staff are advocates for the children. The manager supports staff to go with the children to meetings with other agencies. For example, staff pursued additional educational support for one child during his exams in recognition that English is not his first language.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Other professionals have positive relationships with the home. The manager and staff work with other agencies to carry out the home’s therapeutic model. For example, one child’s resilience has grown during his time at the home. He no longer takes medication for anxiety or shows daily signs of trauma. His language skills and his engagement with adults have increased. His sleep patterns are more settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are comfortable and relaxed in front of adults. Interpreters are available for some meetings, but children are happy and confident to hold a conversation in English. For example, children talk passionately about their sports and interests to adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise that these children live far from their family homes. They help the children and their families to keep in contact. For example, staff and agencies are working towards introducing a family member to one child, if it is safe to do so.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers have updated the placement process. This has led to the successful introduction of the current children who live in the home. Safeguarding concerns have significantly reduced. There have been no incidents, missing episodes or restraint episodes reported. There have been no complaints or safeguarding concerns recorded. Staff receive training and support in supervision and team meetings to identify risks and remain vigilant about the safety of the children. Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 4 Staff are curious about how the children spend their time and who they spend it with. They make sensitive enquires about new friends and undertake checks on their addresses. Staff remain curious about who the children speak to on their phones and how they save and spend their allowances. However, this approach could be strengthened further as currently, staff do not have up to date awareness of e-

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff remain alert to any change in the children’s behaviour or activities. The manager and staff make sure that consistent boundaries and routines are in place to make the children feel safe. Staff use a variety of incentives to promote positive behaviour and increase the children’s independence skills. For example, staff arranged extra sports sessions to encourage one child to attend college on a regular basis.

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good

The manager has high aspirations for the children, the staff and the home. He arrived in June 2021 and has addressed most of the requirements raised during the monitoring visits effectively. However, there are areas for development in respect of staff supervision and training.

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good

The manager values the staff and what they achieve for the children. He has arranged for staff to have access to sessions with a psychotherapist to promote their mental well-being. This has reduced sick leave and increased staff stability. There are no agency staff working at the home. However, supervision sessions and appraisals require development as they do not include comprehensive goals for staff to support the statement of purpose.

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good

Leaders and managers support staff to gain skills and experience to meet the children’s needs. For example, they arrange for staff to undertake shifts in other homes to broaden their experience. However, staff have yet to undertake a full range of specialist training to help them meet the children’s needs.

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good

Staff uphold the principles of equality and diversity. They support the children to follow their individual faiths and celebrate the important events in their cultural calendars. For example, the children’s guide has been translated in recognition that English is not their first language. Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 5

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager pursues further training and development of staff. 15 December 2021

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Recommendation

 The manager should ensure that staff take account of e-safety guidance as part of their risk assessments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bristol City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, College Green, Bristol, Bristol BS1 5TR

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Inspector

Justine Hosking, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2586752 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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