Children's Home run by Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull

Unique reference number SC034313 Inspection date 16/05/2011 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/11/2010 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

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people of either gender from ages 14 to 17. The aim of the home is to support young people to become independent and help them with the transition to adulthood. The home also offers an outreach service to young people who have left care and may need additional support. One of the six beds is designated for emergency admissions with the aim to find young people admitted in an emergency an appropriate placement within 28 days.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from well planned care which is personalised to meet their individual needs and reviewed regularly. Individual risk assessments are completed and consistent plans are in place to promote independence and measure achievements from the young person's starting point. One young person said, ‘The staff listen to you and treat you with respect. I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been here. I am a lot calmer.’

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Overall effectiveness

Contact arrangements with parents and other people important to young people are promoted and well organised. The concentrated efforts made with the parents of young people and the outreach support offered means that young people are involved in making decisions about their future.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are clearly relaxed, happy and confident. They make good progress in relation to their starting points and their achievements are recorded, celebrated and built upon by the committed, caring and enthusiastic manager and staff team. One young person said, ‘I’ve changed loads since I’ve been here. I used to be missing all the time, out all night and never used to go to school, now I don’t go missing and my grades are higher.’ .

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Overall effectiveness

There are areas for improvement in some aspects of the provision. These relate to the registration of the manager, completion of indoor and outdoor refurbishment, young people’s records and staff training. The provider and manager understand the home's strengths and areas for improvement and are developing plans to address these.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that an application is made in respect of registration of the manager (Regulation 7.1) 10/06/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that repairs are made to the outside facias of the building and internal decoration is completed. (Regulation 31.2) 12/08/2011

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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 effectiveness of sanctions to include young people's comments is recorded (NMS 3.18)  ensure recorded outcomes are monitored to ensure effectiveness of sanctions and to establish any patterns (NMS 21.2)  ensure all staff receive appropriate training in first aid and fire safety (NMS 18.1)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good . Young people’s starting points are clearly assessed and recorded on their admission to the home. Strong individual plans and support enable them to build their confidence and achieve their potential. The key worker system and the ‘Let’s Talk About It’ sessions where discussions with young people are clearly recorded provide opportunities for growth and development. One social worker stated, ‘When he arrived at the home he was being very negative and aggressive and not communicating with anyone. He’s calmed right down now, he’s really calmed down. It’s how the staff have listened to him.' Staff are aware of young people’s aspirations and strengths and provide avenues for them to progress. For example young people interested in joining the army have been encouraged and supported by staff through a fitness regime which includes the use of orienteering.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s physical and emotional health needs are promoted well. They participate in planning and shopping for meals for the home and are encouraged to eat healthily. Menus reflect the cultural diversity within the home and young people are able to follow their religious dietary needs. Their health plans are linked with their care plans and good links are made with community provision to enable the young people to maintain that support when they move in to independence. There is strong preventative work regarding sexual health which benefits all young people in the home. For example, arrangements are made with a local agency for young people to take care of a virtual baby to experience the responsibility of parenting.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people all attend either school or an appropriate college course. Their educational needs are assessed on admission and the home works in partnership with the young people and education authorities to identify the optimum provision for them. For example programmes are developed to help young people pursue their ambition, such as becoming a hairdresser. Young people who have experienced long periods out of school have had the opportunity to attend courses to enable them to continue their studies while planning for the future.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s contact arrangements with their parents and past carers, where appropriate, are promoted and supported. Very good arrangements are in place to enable young people to maintain that contact. Staff will transport young people to venues that are comfortable for young people to meet others in and stay and support them during that contact if needed. In addition, young people can use the private young people’s telephone or electronic social networking sites if they wish.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have clear exit plans which work on their transition in to independence. They work with staff to learn about doing their own laundry, planning and shopping for food, and budgeting. Good individualised plans enable the young people to work together with the staff and their social workers to plan an appropriate place for them to move on to, whether it be with a family member, supported lodgings or independently. One young person said, ‘ I’ve changed loads since I’ve been here. I used to be missing all the time, out all night and never used to go to school, now I don’t go missing and my grades are higher.'

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people benefit from the constructive, supportive and positive ethos within the home. The enthusiastic, professional and caring staff team provide an atmosphere where negative behaviours are appropriately challenged and deflected and positive behaviours are encouraged. The home makes good use of circle sessions to get young people together to address any issues and enable them to learn positive social and life skills. In addition, the authority is investing in specialist training and support for staff in the use of restorative practices which further enhances young people’s experiences and skills. One young person said, ‘Great here, miles better than when I was living with my parents. Staff are great and I get on with all of them.’

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Quality of care

Young people know what is expected of them and that their views are important in the running of the home. One young person said, ‘Its safe here, if don’t do nowt wrong don’t get in to trouble.’ House meetings are held where young people discuss issues as wide ranging as leaving the toilet seat up and music choices, as well as offering support to each other.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a detached house in a residential neighbourhood. Young people have their own bedroom which they are able to personalise to their own taste. The manager has worked hard within the community to promote positive relationships with the neighbours which are beneficial to the young people. The house is in need of repairs and redecoration and the manager has secured funds to undertake this work as well as improving the garden for young people’s use. There is a large lounge, communal dining area and a well-used computer room for all of the young people to utilise. A further room is to be provided for the young people and they have asked for it to be a games room. Young people are provided with bus passes in order for them to access activities within the local community. The home is close to local services and leisure facilities.

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Quality of care

Equality and diversity provision within the home is very good. The Statement of Purpose states that the ‘team will take responsibility for informing themselves of any cultural, religious, racial or language differences without losing sight of individual needs & circumstances. They will work towards countering negative views of individuals and will contact relevant people to obtain necessary information and resources.' The motivated and caring staff team clearly put this in to practice when two unaccompanied asylum seekers were placed in the home on an emergency basis. The home already had a Pashtu version of the young people’s guide available for them, having had a previous young person who spoke Pashtu in residence. Links were made with the local mosque and a previous resident from the same culture who were able to offer immediate support and provide advice on dietary and cultural needs. One young person said, ‘I think it’s good different people coming in, different

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Quality of care

religion and to learn about their culture. I learnt about Allah and the Koran and they showed us how to pray. I would be too busy to pray like that myself.’ In addition, young people’s negative views regarding negative stereotyping are carefully and respectfully challenged and alternative ideas explored.

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Quality of care

Young people are informed how to make a complaint on their admission in to the home, in the young people’s guide and on a notice board. Details of independent advocates, including the Children’s Rights Director are provided to them. No complaints have been recorded and one young person said, ‘I’ve never made a complaint, don’t need to.'

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Quality of care

There are good procedures in place before a young person is admitted to the home. These are clearly detailed in the Statement of Purpose. Initial referrals are made via a social worker and will be agreed subject to suitability & viability. The home also has provision for an emergency placement for a 28 day period. The potential impact on the other young people already in the home is considered wherever possible when admitting young people in an emergency. Staff are not always fully informed as to the needs of the incoming child as with the recent brief stay of the two unaccompanied asylum seekers. This means that potential issues with the existing residents cannot be fully informed which could have a detrimental effect on progress.

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Quality of care

Young people’s records are comprehensive, kept electronically and provide a good record of staff intervention and young people’s views. They are updated on a daily basis and reviewed together with the young people. Views of those important to them are incorporated in to young people’s plans. A social worker said, ‘The staff are really positive and efficient, for example they led a core group meeting I couldn’t attend. So that we didn’t have to cancel and the young people’s issues were addressed, they did the minutes and circulated them within a day. It’s made a real difference for her’. A young person said, ‘It’s great, I like it here, it’s my longest placement. I know my plan and what is going to happen and they talk to me about it.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people said they were happy and felt safe within the home. One social worker said, ‘Since moving there she’s come on a lot. She has more self esteem and enjoys the environment. Safety is paramount to them and they do it really well.’ There are close links in place with the local safeguarding children board and safeguarding procedures are available to all staff. Staff are very clear on these safeguarding procedures and would know what to do to protect a child, one staff member said, ‘whether they are friends or colleagues I come here to work with kids, my first priority is how safe the kid is.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

An excellent and robust anti-bullying risk assessment and policy is in place. None of the young people reported any bullying issues. Young people are further safeguarded by individual crisis management plans which address all risks they may encounter and specific outcomes for that. For example, contact with a mentally ill parent, excess alcohol use, cannabis misuse and sexual behaviours. These also include whether restraint could be used with a young person and in what form.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviours are demonstrated and encouraged by the caring and committed staff team. All staff are trained in therapeutic crisis intervention and work to maintain positive behaviours by the use of one-to-one sessions, circle time and restorative practices. A consequences system is in place and restraint is used rarely and within strict guidelines. One young person said, ‘I don’t think anyone’s been restrained here; I’ve never seen it or heard about it.’ However, there is no record of the effectiveness of any sanctions/consequences or restraints used and the young people’s views about them. Excellent missing person procedures are in place which are linked to the local safeguarding board and police procedures. One young person said, ‘Last time I went missing they tried to get in contact with me and I know they were driving round ages trying to find me, I feel cared for and I don’t go missing anymore I'm just late sometimes.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

Robust recruitment & vetting systems are in place for new staff and monitored through the safeguarding children board and local authority designated officer processes. All staff files are kept centrally within the local authority but the job descriptions and person specifications are available in the home in the manager’s electronic folder. The comprehensive detail ensures the correct calibre of staff is appointed and young people are safeguarded.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Checks of the fire alarms, smoke detectors and emergency lighting take place regularly. Fire Drills occur monthly and there are clear guidelines in place. However the recording system does not show who was present and the time of inspection although there is a comments box which can show that detail. In addition, a number of staff members need to attend refresher fire training sessions. The premises are in a safe condition and in the process of being redecorated. Professional technicians and engineers regularly service the fire, electrical and gas appliances.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are satisfactory . The home is managed effectively by the experienced, professional and committed manager with the support of senior care officers. However, the manager has been in post for twelve months without an application having been made to become the registered manager. In addition he is also the manager of another home and his hours are not recorded on the staff rota.

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Leadership and management

At the last inspection the manager was asked to ensure that records of the use of control, restraint or discipline include the effectiveness of the use of the measure. In response an events form was developed which is planned to enable the manager and link workers to monitor any events occurring in the home. However, this does not look at effectiveness of the intervention, is not clearly monitored or signed by the manager and there is nowhere for the young person to comment or sign. This will be a further recommendation.

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Leadership and management

All other recommendations were met. The private telephone used by young people is repaired and is available to them in a separate private cubicle with a range of contact numbers for independent advocates, including the Children’s Rights Director, clearly displayed.

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Leadership and management

Both the needs of the young person concerned, and the likely effects of his/her admission upon the existing group of residents are discussed in a pre-admission planning meeting and all decisions recorded. These are now logged on the local authority system as well as in the home’s records which enables all professionals involved with the young person to understand their needs upon admission. Records show that the pre assessment planning meeting for the unaccompanied asylum seekers was unable to take place as this was an emergency placement. However the most recent planned admission to the home was clearly assessed and recorded.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose was updated by the provider in May 2011 and clearly reflects the ethos and values of the home and staff team. The aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose are fully met with staff providing a stable, cohesive and structured environment for young people to grow and develop.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from high staffing levels and the focused one to one and key worker sessions. The committed, experienced and motivated staff team receive strong staff support and a good formal supervision processes. The majority of the staff hold the NVQ at level 3 award and are undertaking further training. However, although the provider is committed to innovative practice in the development of restorative practice not all staff training needs are being addressed fully.

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Leadership and management

The manager has monitoring processes in place to ensure the needs of young people within the home are being effectively met and the quality of care is maintained. This includes whether social workers have visited when they should and monthly visits by a designated person in accordance with the regulations. As all of the systems in the home are now held electronically, guidance is offered to monthly rota visitors to ensure this is carried out. An electronic system is now in place where visitors have recorded that they have not been able to sign the log but they have seen the information. Young people’s records are stored electronically and are clear, up to date and available for them to read and comment upon if they wish. All required notifications are made in a timely fashion.

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Leadership and management

Young people have a close and positive relationship with the home’s manager who knows them well. One young person said, ‘If I had a complaint I would go and tell (the manager)’. The experienced and enthusiastic manager has identified the areas of development within the home, is building upon the strengths within the staff team and is working towards implementing improvements to the fabric of the building.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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