Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 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

This home can provide care for up to three children who have experienced trauma in their early years, have social and emotional difficulties and may be at risk of exploitation. The home is owned by the local authority, which has a number of other homes in the local area. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 3

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improvement to be good

Children like living in this home. They view this as their home, as they were part of all decisions taken in furnishing and decorating the home, as well as choosing the home’s name. Consequently, the home is welcoming and provides children with a comfortable and personalised home.

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improvement to be good

Children say that they get on well with the staff, who listen to them and respect their views and opinions. The majority of interactions between staff and children are positive. However, on one day of the inspection some staff were observed communicating with a child through their bedroom door or by text rather than in person. This approach does not help children to develop socially appropriate communication skills and requires review. The child’s care plan does not clearly state how this is to be managed by staff.

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improvement to be good

Children’s plans are written in an accessible, nurturing and caring way. Children’s wishes and views are a core part of these plans. However, these plans do not consistently provide clear strategies for staff on how children’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Children are making progress at different rates. Children’s education attendance has not been consistent, however this is improving and children not in full-time education now have college placements for September 2022.

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improvement to be good

Engagement in activities is variable. Some children really enjoy activities, however, others can struggle to engage. Staff are working on this, but they are not using positive interventions consistently, such as rewards devised with one child to support them. One child is planning their holiday to Spain, which includes learning Spanish with the staff who are going with them.

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improvement to be good

Children feel safe at the home. Staff receive regular safeguarding training, which they demonstrate in their day-to-day care of the children. Safeguarding events are identified and addressed swiftly and effectively. These actions are comprehensively recorded.

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improvement to be good

Risk is appropriately managed. Risk assessments clearly identify the risks and action to be taken to mitigate and reduce the level of risk. However, where the desired outcome is recorded, there is a lack of consistent guidance for staff on how this will be achieved. The same shortfall is evident in guidance to be followed should a child go missing, which could lead to inconsistency of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 4 Incidents are very well managed, and records of these events are of a high standard. The reports are well written. They tell the story of what happened and are reflective, with actions clearly stated to avoid reoccurrence. No restraints or sanctions have been used. Behaviour support plans are current and provide appropriate guidance for staff.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment practices are appropriate and have been followed for all new staff.

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good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the service and areas for improvement, but they have not identified all the areas for improvement found at inspection.

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good

The manager is appropriately experienced and qualified for their role. They advocate effectively for the children and the staff. An example of this is when a child told staff, including a senior manager, they did not like staff from their home going to work in some of the local authority’s other homes and staff from other homes coming to care for them. The manager raised the issue, and this is no longer happening.

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good

Staff said they feel well supported by the manager. They see him as very approachable and open to their ideas and input into developing the home. Staff praised the manager for his support throughout a difficult situation which led to two of the team being dismissed. The investigation into this matter and the recording were both of good quality.

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good

Staff receive appropriate training, which supports them to meet the needs of the children in their care. Where required, specialist training is sourced. Staff also use the team meetings as a training forum. Currently, records of staff training do not consistently reflect all the training the staff receive. Lack of up-to-date records makes auditing staffing training difficult.

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good

Staff supervision requires improvement. Supervisions are reflective and review staff practice. However, there is a failure to consistently set actions when required and when actions are set, they are not reviewed. This does not aid in the development of staff. In addition, the records do not consistently reflect the discussion held.

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good

The independent persons visits, and reports require improvement as they do not consistently gather feedback from children and parent. In addition, the independent person does not consistently state in each report if the children’s wellbeing is promoted or if they are effectively safeguarded.

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good

The registered manager carries out a review of the quality of care as required. This does not contain a clear action plan to aid in the development of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 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 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

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Requirement Due date

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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s care plans, risk assessments and missing person protocols provide clear guidance for staff on how the child’s identified needs will be met, what effective strategies are and how desired outcomes will be achieved to ensure consistency of care. In addition, develop a clear protocol on how staff develop relationships with, communicate, engage and supervise children who spend a lot of time in their bedrooms. 31 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that. training and supervision records are up to date and suitably detailed. 31 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 6 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 31 August 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when records have been devised to capture a child’s daily routine and rewards earned, staff should use these consistently and ensure records are completed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the six-monthly report on the quality of care includes a clear action plan to support the home development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 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 for children’s home: 2656731 8

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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 BS1 5TR

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Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2656731 9 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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