Penarth's Headlands Children's Home has made improvements since an unfavourable review by the Welsh Government's care watchdog, but there is still more progress to be made.

A report published this week, details the findings of a second inspection of Gelert West carried out by Care Inspectorate Wales.

The inspection of the converted house that accommodates six young people, which is adjacent to the main school campus, was carried out in August this year to follow-up on the non-compliance notices issued at the last inspection in 2019.

Previously, inspectors issued two non-compliance notices and noted four areas where the Headlands needed to improve management of Gelert West, which were that they:

• Must not provide care and support for a young person unless the service is determined as suitable.
• Headlands must notify Care Inspectorate Wales of "events taking place at the home"

The 2019 report said that Gelert West had not "ensured that the service is always provided in a way which ensures that young people are protected from harm and abuse" and had not ensured there was a "suitable provider-assessment" in place.

This inspection found that these issues had been rectified, but that action was required in the following areas:

• "The responsible individual must provide a report for each service visited and meet with staff and individuals."
• "The quality of care review does not meet the requirement of the regulation."
• "The service has not prepared a personal plan to reflect how a young person's care and support needs will be met on a daily basis and has not been completed with the young person or their representatives, taking account of individual's views, wishes and feelings."

The review also found that although the home takes action to manage risk of infection, the labelling of food stored in the kitchen fridge was not as required by the food standards agency.

But inspectors did find that young people have tailored care and support to reflect their individual needs, access to health, education and activities that reflect their interests and that the home is furnished and decorated pleasantly in a way that meets their needs choice and receive care and support to reflect their individual needs and enhance their well-being.

"At the last inspection, we issued two non-compliance notices. These were in relation to improvements required to the home's assessment of young people and how they could achieve their personal outcomes; and for the service to ensure young people are safe from harm," reads the report.

"From our review of records, provider assessments have been completed as required by regulation although a more detailed assessment and a review would ensure the service was able to meet the needs of young people and provide updated and accurate information.

"Personal plans as required by regulation were not in place and the home's care plans did not fully reflect the regulation requirements.

"The service provider uses the outcome star model to assess and monitor young people's well-being, which includes young people conducting a self-evaluation of their own progress. It is not clear how this model informs the behaviour support plan or replaces the requirements of a personal plan.

"Risk assessments are in place and provide guidance to care staff on how to respond to mitigate any potential risks to young people. The manager told us these were updated monthly although this was not consistently undertaken."

The improvements required are not considered immediate or significant risk to the young people using the service, so the provider is expected to rectify this by the next inspection date.