Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 1 SC061232

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Registered provider: Bristol City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by Bristol City Council and provides care for up to five children with social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023. The previous registered manager resigned in September 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/10/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they enjoy living at the home, feel cared for and get on well with staff. They said staff help them with school and staying in touch with people who are important to them. Children enjoy activities with staff, they helped one child get back into horse-riding, and another child regularly enjoys going bowling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff interactions with children are kind, caring and warm and they are responsive to the children’s needs. One child has been helped to become more independent and another child is being supported with plans to return to his mother’s care. All children are supported to build their independence skills so they can transition smoothly into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are skilled at building strong relationships and offer children lots of support. Children have made good progress and are settled, they are supported to attend education, prepare for exams, and make plans for their future. If there are challenges in education, children are supported to address these. For example, staff sat with one child whilst they completed their exams. This helped them overcome their anxieties and feel more comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals share that children are making good progress. They praised the positive and strong relationships that staff develop with children. This helps children to feel comfortable and understood. Professionals said staff are very helpful and there is effective and regular communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moving in and out of the home is well planned. When children move out more quickly than anticipated, managers and staff take learning from this. Some children benefit from a pod in the garden which is a self-contained living space. This gives children the opportunity to develop more independence and gain skills, which then help them to move on into adulthood at the right pace for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have memory boxes which contain photos so they can remember their time living here. However, these are not consistently collected and updated. Staff have not thought enough about how to collect these, so they capture the children’s memories in a more meaningful way.

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

Children said they feel safe and happy living here. They have built positive relationships with staff, so they can confidently share concerns or worries. Staff respond well to children, so they feel listened to and supported.

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

Staff understand and know how to manage risk and are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children. Children are helped to understand decision making Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 4 about risk, so it is clear why decisions are made. Staff support children and talk to them about how to keep themselves safe and the risks they could be exposed to, which has helped the children become more confident in approaching staff when they are worried.

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

Staff regularly share safeguarding risks, so they can be vigilant and ensure children are as safe as possible. Safeguarding reports and risk assessments are thorough and clear and support staff to understand children’s needs and help them keep safe. However, this quality is not consistent and as some records do not show how decisions are reached and how risks are mitigated.

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

There is effective multi-agency working between professionals and staff. Communication and addressing risk are a priority. Staff arrange professional meetings and work closely with external professionals and agencies to develop plans for children. Staff understand why children go missing and they are proactive locating children and returning them safely home.

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

The staff are sensitive and understanding when children need a more delicate approach due to trauma they have experienced. They are considerate of children’s emotions and work creatively in attempts to build relationships in a meaningful way for each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are committed to achieving the best for children that live in the home. They have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development and there is clear vision for the home. For example, they recognise the quality of the environment needs improving and they have plans to decorate throughout the home, extend the lounge area and add a conservatory. Two of the children are happy with their bedrooms but would like to paint them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said they enjoy working at the home and are well supported by leaders and managers. New and improved governance and monitoring systems are now in place. Managers use these to inform their oversight of pertinent issues and any safeguarding incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular staff meetings and supervision where safeguarding issues are discussed and reflected upon. This enables staff to feel more confident in their decision-making. However, managers and leaders recognise there are some gaps in recording and the quality of it continues to be an area of development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and has a strong understanding of their needs and specific risks. They advocate for them when that challenge is needed. Multi agency working is effective ensuring the right decisions are made for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 5 The registered manager is developing the independence toolkit for children. He plans to develop staff knowledge so they can better support children leaving care but also use the skills of experienced team members to support this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 6

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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

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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that management oversight and decision making is consistent and evidenced across records. 6 September

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 6 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 7 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home environment is homely and welcoming and not unnecessarily institutional. Ensure that children’s bedrooms are kept to a good standard of cleanliness, repair, and decoration.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that photographs 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: SC061232 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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Inspectors

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC061232 9 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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