Children's Home run by Bristol City Council in Bristol

Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 1 Registered provider: Bristol City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 2 children with emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 25 November 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/11/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children make positive progress from their individual starting points across a range of developmental areas. Families and professionals speak highly of the care provided and recognise the home's positive impact on children's progress, development and overall wellbeing. Children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, including holidays abroad, which support their personal development and help to strengthen positive, trusting relationships with staff. Areas for improvement are regarding safeguarding arrangements for a vulnerable child when the child is away from home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their friends and family. When it is safe and appropriate, staff work with relatives to maintain and strengthen positive relationships. Any concerns about the time children spend with their families are addressed to safeguard children and promote positive experiences. The manager has identified that communication and relationships with family are crucial to providing a sense of stability and to developing trust with the children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and presented to a high standard, creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for children. Children's bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual tastes and preferences, helping them to feel settled and at home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop age-appropriate interests and hobbies and have positive experiences. One child regularly takes part in activities that reflect their interests, including surfing, trips to London and an overnight stay in the Brecon Beacons. Another child enjoyed a holiday abroad earlier in the year and is due to travel again before the start of the new school term.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, there is limited evidence that these experiences are captured at home through photographs or memory books. Improving this would help to promote the children's sense of stability, identity and belonging, while also recognising and celebrating their achievements and positive experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the cultural needs of children in ways that are sensitive and responsive to their identities and family histories. Staff have developed a recipe book that enables individuals to share, explore and try recipes from different cultures and countries around the world, thereby encouraging cultural awareness and celebrating diversity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of meeting children's educational needs. They build positive relationships with education professionals, sharing important information about children's education, home life and wellbeing. Since moving to the home, the children have made progress in their educational attainment, and plans are in place to further develop this next term. Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 4

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff take appropriate action and follow the home's missing-from-care procedures when children go missing. They actively search known locations, remain at places that the child is known to visit, and promptly notify relevant agencies. When children return, staff ensure that they are welcomed back in a caring and sensitive manner. However, there are occasions when staff lack sufficient information about a child's whereabouts or the people they associate with while away from home. This raises concerns about the child's safety and wellbeing and may increase their vulnerability to harm. Staff regularly attend multi-agency meetings with relevant professionals to share information and discuss child-related risks. This collaborative approach supports effective inter-agency communication and helps to build a comprehensive understanding of each child's needs, vulnerabilities and potential risks, enabling better-informed planning and

p.4

improvement to be good

decision-making to promote their safety and wellbeing.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children talk with staff about sensitive subjects, and staff respond with empathy and care. Staff adopt a non-judgmental approach while reiterating the importance of healthy boundaries, friendships and relationships. However, one child spends a long time away from home, which limits the ability of staff to build trusting relationships and provide age-appropriate care, supervision and guidance.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff demonstrate an understanding of the risks that internet use can pose to children. Appropriate online safety measures are in place for one child; however, similar safeguards have not been implemented for another child, leaving them potentially vulnerable to exploitation and other safeguarding concerns.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff receive regular training to ensure they have the skills and knowledge required to meet children's needs. Specialist training is also provided to address current and anticipated future needs, such as bereavement support.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children are in good health. They are registered with the appropriate health professionals and receive support to attend appointments that meet their health needs. However, leaders and managers have not identified or provided specialist support for one child to help them stop vaping. This means the child is not receiving the targeted intervention needed to address this health concern, which may negatively affect their long-term health and wellbeing.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of the children's needs and is proactive and ambitious in ensuring they are met. The manager carefully monitors staff practice. Where inconsistencies in care have been identified, they have been addressed promptly with staff, and appropriate support and guidance have been put in place to promote continuous development and improvement. Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 5 The home is fully staffed. If agency or bank staff work in the home, the manager requests workers with whom the children are familiar. Staff receive mandatory and additional training recognised as providing specific support to the children in the home. All staff hold the relevant qualifications or are working towards them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the manager, receive regular supervision and attend team meetings. While important topics are raised in supervision, there is limited evidence of reflective discussion, analysis of incidents, or exploration of how practice could be improved. Supervision is not effectively used as a tool for learning, reflection, staff support and professional development. This would help to maximise supervision as a supportive and developmental process while improving outcomes for both staff and children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from external professionals indicated positive relationships with the manager and the home. One professional stated, '[Name of home] are one of the best children's homes I've worked with, and I can't fault their approach.' One parent said, 'The home is doing an amazing job. My child is making progress in all areas of their life.' Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 6

p.5

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

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)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have appropriate oversight of what children are doing online. Staff must take action to ensure that children are protected from harm when using the internet and their mobile phone.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that the staff have sufficient information about a child's whereabouts or the people they associate with while away from home to keep them safe from harm. 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, in line with individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and wellbeing. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to help children understand and, where necessary, work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and wellbeing, such as the use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and vaping. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 35 paragraph 7.18)

p.7

Recommendations

 For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. In particular, experiences should be captured in the home through photographs or memory books. Improving this would help to promote the children's sense of stability, identity, and belonging, while also recognising and celebrating their achievements and positive experiences. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.7

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: 2850975 8

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Bristol City Council, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR

p.8

Inspector

Darren Wickens, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding, and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children's home: 2850975 10

p.9