Children's Home run by St Hill Establishments Ltd in Kingston upon Hull

Unique reference number SC385633 Inspection date 31/05/2011 Inspector Fiona Parker Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/08/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is run by a private company. The home is registered to provide a service for up to five children or young people, male or female, aged between 10 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The home provides placements in line with local authority care plans. Young people are supported and cared for until such a time they can return to family, move to alternative specialist placements or can live independently. The staff team continue to provide emotional support to young people following their move to independence.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a three-storey building. There are two bedrooms for young people downstairs both with en- suite facilities and three further bedrooms upstairs. The home is close to a city centre and a range of diverse local facilities and services.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make significant progress in all aspects of their lives. Young people benefit from tailored and individual care which incorporates their holistic needs. Comprehensive assessments inform plans including assessing the impact of past experiences on presenting behaviours. Young people consistently and explicitly express views of how well they feel cared for. It is significant young people with differing needs and many years experience of being looked after report, individually, this is the best home they have lived in. Young people feel safe and are protected by pro-active practice to safeguard them. There is a significant reduction in the majority of risk-taking behaviours which is recognisable to all involved parties. Young people remain in contact with the staff team after leaving and many express a wish to stay in the home as adults.

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Overall effectiveness

The staff team are excellent role models and demonstrate to young people consistent and warm relationships between themselves as well as towards young people. Young people are respected and fully understood as individuals. The staff actively challenge any discrimination young people may face. Importantly young people report they are not judged on their behaviours or anger. Young people report staff do not give up on them. A real positive aspect is that the staff team continue to support young people in specialist alternative arrangements on a voluntary basis.

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Overall effectiveness

The management team have actively sought to address shortfalls over a period of time and the staff team feel consulted and included in the decisions. Young people are consulted daily about events in the home and encouraged to make their own choices and increase their own responsibility for their futures. There is one recommendation relating to updating the Statement of Purpose to ensure this is accurate for young people and interested parties.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the Statement of Purpose is clear, in particular this accurately reflects the staff working in the home. (NMS 13.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives, as such individual young people's progress is clearly noted by family and involved agencies. Young people feel valued, worthwhile and that they are individually important. This sense of belonging and interest enables young people to settle and significantly reduce some presenting difficulties which impact upon their health and welfare. One young person said, 'no matter how much I pushed staff away they were there for me'. Excellent outcomes such as reducing substance misuse clearly benefit the health and physical appearance of young people. Young people make good use of the time, energy and attention staff can provide. As result young people grow in confidence which raises their self-esteem and improves their emotional resilience to the challenges of life.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to understand dynamics and roles in relationships to increase their resilience and combat their vulnerabilities to negative influence. One young person wrote a sticker which read '(name) is the best she has ever been'. Through tailored discussions young people develop a strong sense of their family histories and culture. Thus developing an understanding of how experiences and events impact for them in the present. Young people benefit from sustaining important relationships with significant people, supporting their long-term family ties.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to increase their independence outside of the home and engage in skills and activities which are important for the future. Such is the homely environment, young people maintain frequent contact when they move on, and as a result benefit from consistent emotional support and advice when they need this. Opportunities to express wishes, fears and concerns are frequent, staff are patient, and warm. An independent reviewing officer comments 'they provide the right balance of care'. Young people can and do, independently access supportive agencies, for example, counselling services or advice on sexual health and substance use.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Educational outcomes are very good, young people are motivated, attending colleges and workshops. Young people achieve good results, for example, moving into more able groups. Young people value the opportunities and have aspirations for their future to continue learning and to achieve further recognised qualifications in preparation for work.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people report extremely positively about their relationships with all staff members. Young people's comments include 'staff sat up at 2am with me if I needed to, I did not feel I could do this in other children's homes. I've been in a few and this is the best one by far'. Another young person said 'this is the best home I have been in, they help me and understand me'.

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Quality of care

Young people are consistently positive about the support and care they receive. Staff members genuinely care and respect each individual young person. Young people both benefit from and recognise the strong commitment and high aspirations staff hold for them. As a result relationships are excellent and young people are fully supported to make good progress. Consulting and negotiating decisions, listening to young people's views and feelings is integral to daily practice. Young people fully understand their views are important and they will be listened to. As a result they are actively involved in their plans and reviews. An independent reviewing officer comments 'they (staff) are well prepared for meetings and provide good detailed reports'. Staff clearly explain the reasons why any requests or action cannot be taken in ways which are meaningful to young people. Where decisions are delayed within other agencies staff are proactive in supporting a conclusion. Should further support

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Quality of care

be required, staff support young people to access independent advocates.

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Quality of care

Close and persistent liaison with specialist agencies ensures young people receive additional services, including health services, assessments and provision, where this is necessary. Thorough and detailed plans outline comprehensive assessments for each young person. Plans accurately reflect young people's needs, starting points and chart their progress. Staff are proactive in updating plans to enable young people to fully benefit from the progress they have made. Staff appropriately challenge any discrimination based upon historical information. This makes young people feel cared for and important. Education is highly valued and excellent links with a number of learning and training providers exist, creating a range of opportunities. As good parents, staff attend open days and parents evenings to support young people. Young people are very positive about the activities and outings they enjoy and feel this has opened new horizons for them in comparison to

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Quality of care

The home is large with spacious rooms including spacious individual bedrooms. Young people choose decorations and personalise their rooms. Young people have their own keys to rooms but are not concerned about their possessions or uninvited entry. External security measures are employed which young people can easily and freely access. It is acknowledged there are a few areas that are looking tired and worn, however, plans are already underway to decorate and replace some carpets to improve the overall appearance of some areas.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people say they feel safe, very well cared for and consistently report staff understand them. Young people benefit from positive and respectful relationships which have successfully supported young people to reduce risk-taking behaviours, consequently promoting their welfare. Staff are vigilant to risks and work consistently as a team to employ individual strategies to encourage young people to take appropriate responsibility. Consequently young people have progressed in recognising their vulnerabilities and make positive choices to keep themselves safe and avoid negative influences. Staff are well-informed on their safeguarding responsibilities and employ procedures, where required, to safeguard young people. Staff are guided by thorough up-to-date risk assessments, regular reviews ensures information is current, therefore offering appropriate responses to needs. Effective

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Safeguarding children and young people

multi-agency approaches and protocols ensure tailored responses to individual needs and risks. Where risk-taking behaviours require specialist responses the staff team are pro-active and persistent to achieve an individual outcome.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The overall ethos and person-centred approaches results in very few restraints and sanctions. As young people settle, absences significantly reduce and young people express their needs through discussion and negotiation with staff members. Young people recognise the challenges they have presented and are able to reflect on the support they have received. For example 'when I broke something they did not call police, they know its not good for me to get arrested, they understood I did it in anger, I got sanctioned to pay back but they did not call the police, they are very understanding'. Young people are not concerned about bullying, 'can't name an argument, got on well with all the others'. Where young people's presenting needs may inadvertently impact upon other young people, young people report they receive very good support from staff to develop techniques to minimise any impact. Good attention is paid to safety and equipment checks to maintain a healthy

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Safeguarding children and young people

environment. Frequent fire drills ensure young people can safely exit the home and they understand the importance of this.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . This home is efficiently and diligently managed and good arrangements exist for monitoring the quality of care. The registered manager and deputy manager maintain a close day-to-day overview of each individual young person and the daily running of the home. Any identified shortfalls are promptly addressed. This ensures high standards are maintained, in addition to fully contributing to young people's explicit sense of belonging. Independent monitoring visits routinely contribute to improvements including ascertaining young people's views on their care and experiences. The previous recommendation to improve the risk assessments is met and overall continued improvements have consistently been achieved. This is demonstrated by the improved judgements over the course of inspections. The registered manager communicates and notifies agencies, including Ofsted of

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Leadership and management

significant information. Thereby ensuring young people are protected by multi- agency decision making. Records are diligently maintained and securely kept.

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Leadership and management

Future goals are specifically set out in a clear development plan for the service. Young people and interested parties are suitably informed on the aims and objectives of the home, although the Statement of Purpose is not up to date on all staff information. All staff are suitably qualified or about to complete the qualification this month. Regular training ensures staff remain skilled in child protection, physical interventions and core training areas. Staff are extremely positive about working in the home and the relationships they build with young people. They report their strengths as 'giving security, no tensions or differences in team' and 'this is a home not an institution, we are friendly and open'.

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Leadership and management

Economic conditions have presented some challenges over the last year, as a result plans were drawn to respond to a decrease in placements and reduce the staff team, in line with changes. Ofsted were informed of the position. All have remained committed to maintaining a service for young people. Currently the financial position is stable and the quality of care and outcomes for young people are extremely well met.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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