Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 1 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

This home is registered to provide care for up to two children. The home is owned by a local authority, which has several other homes in the local area.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 5 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/06/2022 Full Good 11/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at this home was seen and spoken to as part of the inspection. Since the previous inspection, four children have lived at this home at different points. The overall experiences of children and the progress they have made is mixed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child initially made excellent progress during their time here. Staff established positive and trusting relationships with them, which helped them settle quickly after moving in. Prior to moving to this home, the child had not attended school for a significant period. Managers and staff advocated for the child and worked effectively with education professionals to remove barriers to this child attending school. As a result, this child began attending school regularly and building positive friendships. However, staff were not able to meet this child’s complex needs safely in the longer term, and managers made the decision for the child to move out after an increase in significant incidents at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For another child, staff supported them well to access different activities and opportunities in the community, for example going for regular bike rides and swimming. However, staff found it difficult to meet their needs and support them to make consistent progress. As a result, this child’s moved out more quickly than planned, following an increase in significant incidents at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was supported to have a well-planned move from the home. Staff and managers worked efficiently with professionals and the child’s new carers to share information and ensure a positive move for the child as far as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have taken learning from the unplanned endings children have experienced. This has included reviewing their admissions processes. Moves into the home are now carefully and thoroughly planned. Children’s individual needs and risks are considered in detail before they move in, alongside the skills and experience of the staff team. Managers complete robust consultations with professionals who know the child well and with family members. Moves to the home are child focused, and children can meet with staff, visit the home and receive information about the home before they move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child had lived at the home for a short period of time. Staff have not yet provided this child with a consistent standard of care. Managers and staff have not taken swift enough action to establish age-appropriate routines or activities for the child when they are not in school. The child has begun to form positive relationships with some staff, but the manager acknowledges a need for greater routine and structure for them moving forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are clean and tidy. However, some minor repairs and cleaning are needed to address damage in communal areas caused during recent incidents. The home manager has arranged for this work to be completed in the near future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 4

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improvement to be good

For two children, the end of their time living at this home was characterised by a significant increase in serious incidents. Leaders and managers worked well with other professionals to review and adapt the strategies in place to support children. However, staff struggled to meet the complex needs of these children and keep them safe during these periods. These incidents also impacted negatively on other children living at the home.

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improvement to be good

When children go missing from home, staff generally take appropriate action in line with their care and support plans. However, one child has spent extended periods of time out of the home, which has reduced opportunities for staff to build trusting relationships with them and provide them with age-appropriate care and supervision. The manager has recognised a need for greater clarity and planning in respect of the time the child spends out of the home visiting family and friends and has begun to progress this with the local authority.

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improvement to be good

When restraint is used, this is in appropriate circumstances and to prevent serious harm. However, restraint has not always been effective in de-escalating serious incidents. Managers have identified these patterns by using clear monitoring systems and additional support, and training has been provided to staff as a result. When there are concerns about staff practice, managers take swift action. Appropriate safeguarding processes are followed, and where appropriate, staff are provided with additional support and training.

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improvement to be good

One child currently has unrestricted access to a mobile phone with the internet. Managers and staff have not taken prompt enough action to explore and understand potential concerns about their phone and internet use. Measures specified in the child’s care and support plans to reduce risks have not been progressed, and guidance to staff is not clear or specific enough. Staff have not yet spoken to the child about keeping safe online and in the community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and child-focused manager. The manager has a strong understanding of children’s individual needs and risks, and he has a clear vision for the development of the home and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at this home and say that they feel well supported by colleagues and by visible and approachable managers. Feedback from professionals and a family member was generally positive regarding the communication from managers and the quality of care provided to children by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are open to feedback and have taken comprehensive action to address the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. The manager has worked to Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 5 improve communication and relationships with external professionals and has, at points, advocated strongly for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems are in place and management oversight is robust. Reflective practice is a strength of this home. Staff are frequently given the opportunity to reflect on their own practice individually and as a team. Regular team meetings take place with input and support from a therapeutic practitioner. Managers also use team meetings to share information and reinforce expectations of staff. However, the manager acknowledges that improving the consistency of care that the staff provide the child who currently lives in the home is an ongoing area of development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(b)) 22 May 2025

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 22 May 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 7 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. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that appropriate routines and clear expectations are in place for children who live in the home, that children’s plans contain clear guidance for staff on these matters, and that staff apply these consistently.

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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: 2567722 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: Bristol City Council, Director of Legal Services, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR

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Inspector

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2567722 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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