Children's Home run by Yellowbird Homes Limited in Bristol

Inspection report for children's home: 2833177 1 Registered provider: Yellowbird Homes Limited

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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 privately run and provides care for up to 3 children who have been through childhood trauma and experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children's home

This was the home's first inspection since it was registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. All were seen and spoken to.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2833177 2

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Summary of findings

Children are making progress and are kept safe by an experienced staff team who are proactive and nurturing. Staff ensure that children are not impacted negatively by other children who may be struggling to settle into the home.

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Summary of findings

There is good multi-agency working. Leaders have involved partner agencies at an early stage so that all can proactively support children, particularly around keeping children safe.

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Summary of findings

Staff promote education and learning well. Staff support children to attend and become aspirational about their futures.

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Summary of findings

Leaders are reflective and continually review and evaluate the quality of care, identifying areas in need of improvement so that children get the best possible care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered with Ofsted, 3 children have moved into the home and no children have left.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager demonstrates a strong understanding of children's individual needs and has carefully considered these and children's views prior to any moves to the home. Prior to moving into the home, children have had opportunities to visit and, where possible, choose their preferred bedroom. Children are supported to personalise their bedrooms, which promotes a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress from their starting points. One child has fully engaged with the opportunities and support provided by staff. As a result, the child is aspirational about their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They take practical steps to overcome barriers. For example, for a child with a lengthy journey to school, staff ensure that they are well organised and prepared each day, including providing breakfast to eat on the journey. Consequently, the child has excellent attendance and is preparing for their exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For children who are reluctant to attend education, staff are persistent and think creatively to encourage children to engage with their learning. They talk to children about the barriers to learning and liaise effectively with education professionals to develop individual timetables. This flexible approach supports children's engagement and readiness to learn. Inspection report children's home: 2833177 3 Children are helped by staff to access appropriate health services and are involved in decisions about their healthcare. Staff work with health professionals and respect children's views, including where alternative approaches to medication are being explored. Staff show persistence in gaining health support for children. They take creative steps to improve engagement, such as arranging for a community dentist to visit the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to maintain relationships with those people who are important to them. Staff have arranged activities, such as swimming trips, for the child and their family members. This has meant that children have positive, shared experiences with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a range of social and recreational opportunities. Staff encourage participation in activities that children enjoy, as well as introducing them to new experiences. One child is due to take part in football trials for a local football club.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spoke positively about living at the home. They said that they enjoy living here. Feedback from professionals is consistently positive, with many highlighting that staff go above and beyond to meet children's needs.

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

Children are kept safe by a staff team that understands and manages risks well.

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

When children struggle to make safe decisions and place themselves at risk, staff are proactive in identifying potential risks, including unsafe locations and individuals. Staff work collaboratively with partner agencies to share information and develop plans to reduce harm. Staff engage with the police to implement warning notices for individuals and locations that present risk.

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

Staff demonstrate strong professional curiosity and persistence when children go missing from the home. They actively search for children, including visiting known locations. When staff have reason to believe a child may be present at a location despite reassurances to the contrary, they return and continue their enquiries. This approach has resulted in the child being located and encouraged to return home, reducing the likelihood of them remaining in unsafe situations.

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

Staff maintain a positive and nurturing approach, which enables them to de-escalate incidents effectively without the need for physical intervention.

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

Staff support children to explore and discuss their worries and fears. This is complemented by targeted learning opportunities. For example, children have completed online resources and taken part in quizzes to increase their awareness of risks in relation to online activity, health and relationships. Staff have also worked in partnership with a local charity to deliver sessions on knife crime. One child participated in this learning, developing a better understanding of risk and how to respond in emergency situations, including the use of a bleed kit. Inspection report children's home: 2833177 4 Safer recruitment practices are generally followed. However, oversight of agency recruitment processes is not sufficiently robust. In one instance, a referee indicated that they would not disclose safeguarding concerns. This was not fully explored by either the agency or the manager, which weakens safeguarding assurances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home has an experienced and child-focused leadership team that demonstrates high expectations for themselves, staff and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited staff with relevant experience of working with vulnerable children. The impact of this experience is evident in the team's response to children's needs and the quality of support provided. The manager has taken effective steps to ensure that the needs of one child have not had an adverse impact on others living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A key strength of the home is the strong leadership and effective multi-agency working. The manager advocates well for children and ensures that partner agencies are engaged at an early stage to provide coordinated support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff share a clear commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children. They report feeling well supported by the manager and speak positively about the leadership team. Leaders are described as visible, approachable and consistently available to provide guidance and practical support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a comprehensive programme of training, including both online and face-to- face learning, alongside input from other professionals. Where additional learning needs are identified, the manager responds promptly to ensure that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager considers a range of information when assessing referrals from placing authorities. However, the rationale for decision-making, particularly in relation to risks in the local area, is not always sufficiently clear or well documented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has updated the home's location risk assessment. However, recent information relating to emerging risks is not presented clearly, and the potential impact on children is not clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have begun to implement reflective practice to review the progress of children moving into the home. This has supported the identification of learning and informed improvements to admission processes and care planning. Inspection report children's home: 2833177 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

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; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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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)(b) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to reference checks. The registered person must follow up with the referee if the referee has not shared or will not share any concerns regarding suitability or safeguarding concerns while the applicant was in their employment. 24 July 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2833177 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these. The information should be clear and show how this may impact on children living at the home, along with clear strategies to manage those risks. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. Specifically, they should include in that assessment findings from the home's assessment of the suitability of

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Recommendations

the location of the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 children's home: 2833177 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Yellowbird Homes Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Suite 16, Enterprise House, Telford Rd, Bicester, Oxon OX26 4LD

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2833177 8 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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