Children's home run by Bristol City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 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 owned by a local authority and is registered to provide care for up to 3 children. There are currently 2 children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 2800489 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have created a nurturing home for children, characterised by warmth and love. The environment is homely; there are photos of the children and personal items around the home that reflect a sense of belonging. Both children rated the home 10/10 and said they were happy living there.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home. The practical and emotional support from staff ensures that when children move on from the home their endings are positive. The staff are committed to continuing support for children once they move on, and this is frequently provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have moved into the home and were present during the visit. The children were welcomed sensitively by staff, who met with them to help prepare them for the move and relieve any anxieties. Before children move in, the children living at the home are consulted about their feelings. This helps to address any worries and ensure that stability for each child is a priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate about children’s education and support both children to attend school. They work collaboratively with education professionals. The staff are currently exploring post-16 planning for one child, who has excellent attendance at school. For another child, who experiences barriers to education, the staff have prioritised their emotional wellbeing while advocating for a timetable that the child feels able to manage. This has resulted in improved progress in their attendance and engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience a range of fun activities in line with their individual hobbies and interests. Staff have nurtured their love of music and art, and this supports positive self- expression, and examples of children’s artwork is on display in the home. One child has been on holiday to a seaside resort, and another child was taken to a theme park. Photos of children’s experiences are captured in colourful memory books.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have meaningful discussions with children about things that are important to them. This includes emotions and feelings around family and education as well as targeted areas of support. Staff support one child with the use of alternative communication strategies that support their understanding, although not all staff are trained in this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend quality time with people who are important to them. Staff liaise with parents and carers to promote meaningful and safe contact. They understand the importance of these relationships for children and support them with their feelings around this. One professional said, ‘They have gone above and beyond to support my child to see their family.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 4

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

Children feel safe and happy living at the home and say that staff help them.

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

The home has enjoyed a settled period. When incidents have occurred, staff have encouraged the use of effective strategies to support children to manage their emotions and feelings. Staff know children well and help them to live alongside each other and manage their own conflicts and difficult feelings. This restorative approach supports children to maintain positive relationships with each other.

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

Staff understand the risks for children. Plans in place effectively address known vulnerabilities and set out clear guidance for staff. These are regularly updated and show that risk is reducing for both children. However, one child requires support with their health needs. This is understood by the manager and staff team, but the child’s records do not clearly capture the expectations on staff to provide this support.

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

One child had several periods of being missing from care prior to moving to the home. The risk has significantly reduced. This reflects the support from staff to provide the child with feelings of safety and belonging. The collaborative working with external agencies has ensured a joined-up approach that provides a stronger understanding of potential risk.

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

The manager carries out safer recruitment for permanent staff. On one occasion, the manager had not obtained information relating to gaps in employment for a staff member before they started working in the home.

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

When safeguarding concerns arise, immediate action is taken to safeguard children. Information is clearly recorded and shared with relevant professionals and external agencies. Staff support children sensitively throughout.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recent changes to the management of the home have been sensitively supported and managed to minimise impact on the staff and children. The new manager of the home is passionate and highly committed to the children and staff. He knows the children well, understands their individual needs and has high aspirations for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they enjoy working at the home and describe the manager as approachable and caring. The manager provides staff with supervision that is supportive and reflective. The staff also benefit from regular team meetings that are child focused and informative. The manager shows patience and commitment to supporting staff to overcome any barriers in their role and helping staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that training opportunities are available to staff. He has arranged targeted training for staff around the needs of the children. However, there are gaps in completion of training that supports the emotional wellbeing and communication needs Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 5 of one child. In addition, the home’s workforce plan does not reflect the current skills of the team and their future training and developmental needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. He understands the home’s strengths and areas of development and has established systems to ensure effective and improved oversight. He places significance on the professional development of staff and uses reflection and learning to drive practice improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive and professional relationships have been fostered by the manager. Professionals are complimentary about the support for children, with one saying, ‘The support my child receives and the positive relationships with staff have been instrumental in them making progress.’ Another said, ‘I feel lucky and blessed to have found the home. They are brilliant.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that full and satisfactory explanations for any gaps in employment are consistently obtained and recorded as part of the recruitment. 31 January 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support staff to gain the skills and experience that enable them to support each child with their emotional wellbeing needs. This should include training in the use of social communication tools to support the child’s understanding. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5).  The registered person should ensure, where necessary, that a child’s relevant plan includes a strategy for a particular type of care and support to meet a child’s health needs. The care staff will need to understand the purpose of any such care and how it is to be executed, with the plan detailing the specifics and the expectations of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15).  The registered person should support staff to gain the skills and experience that enable them to support each child with their emotional wellbeing needs. This should

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Recommendations

include training in the use of social communication tools to support the child’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 7 understanding. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5).

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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: 2800489 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

Carly Parry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2800489 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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