Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report for 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 old.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home, having moved there in April 2021 and July 2023. Another child lived in the home between and August 2020 and July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2023.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 14 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2586752 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2586752 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home develop positive relationships with staff. These relationships contribute to children making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly attend education and do well academically. Staff support children in their learning and advocate for them to receive additional support when this is required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to pursue their individual interests and both children regularly attend sports clubs and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves in and out of the home are well planned and supported. Before children move into the home, their needs are carefully considered alongside the needs of children already living there and the skills of the staff team. Children visit the home and spend time with staff before moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was supported well to move on from the home once they turned 18. Before their move, this child began to withdraw from the support on offer at the home. Staff were flexible and empathetic in their approach and, through their persistence, were to provide this child with a positive and planned move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of promoting children’s identities. Children are supported to attend places of worship and to celebrate important holidays. Staff also have good knowledge of resources and services in the local community to support them in meeting the individual cultural needs of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, the recording of children’s journeys through their time at the home and the collection of photos and memorabilia from important experiences could be more thorough.

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

Children told the inspector that they feel safe at this home and can speak with staff about any worries or concerns that they have.

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

This home currently has a low level of incidents and safeguarding concerns. There have been no missing-from-home episodes and restraint is not currently used.

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

Staff have a good understanding about the risks and vulnerabilities of each child and when incidents do happen, these are responded to effectively. Appropriate safeguarding procedures are followed, and staff take prompt action to make sure children are safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2586752 4 Staff use the positive relationships they have with children to talk to them about risks and support them to develop strategies to reduce these.

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

For example, one child planned to travel to visit family abroad. Staff were able to explore this with the child and plan with them ways to keep themselves safe while travelling. As a result, this child was able to have a safe and positive visit to see close family members.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run by a proactive and child-focused manager and staff and children spoke positively about his support and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel well supported by the manager and deputy. Supervision takes place regularly and is of good quality, with staff able to use these sessions to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of children’s needs and risks and records are detailed, with good evidence of management oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, one child’s updated documents regarding their health and care needs had not been provided in full by the placing authority. As a result, there are some gaps in the information known about this child’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children know how to make a complaint. When complaints are made, these are managed appropriately and in a timely way, with lessons learned and actions clearly documented. Inspection report for 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, The 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d)) 7 December 2023

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and 7 December 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2586752 6 that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(c))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure photos and memorabilia of children’s time in the home are collated regularly, with children’s input wherever possible. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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: 2586752 7

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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

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2586752 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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