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

Unique reference number SC034746 Inspection date 14/07/2011 Inspector Lynne Busby Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/01/2011 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 owned and run by a local authority. The home is registered to look after a maximum of six children.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The judgement for this full unannounced inspection is good overall. Good progress has been made since the last inspection. The recommendations from the last inspection have been mainly complied with. Young people say they were happy in the home and that 'staff look after us brilliantly'. Young people say they are listened to and staff are always available to talk to if they have any concerns. Staff are positive about their roles and are enthusiastic and motivated and provide a child- centred approach in practice.

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Overall effectiveness

This is a busy home accommodating young people with complex needs. During the inspection there were numerous visitors to see the young people. Those spoken to were positive about the home and progress made.

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Overall effectiveness

The shortfalls identified during this inspection relate to updating and signing and dating records, The monitoring of records by the manager and ensuring staffing fulfil and meet the needs of young people at night.

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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 records are signed and dated by the author. (Regulation 28 (1)(c)) 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 all staff receive appropriate training in basic food hygiene and fire safety (NMS 18.1)  ensure there are up-to-date records of training for all staff (NMS 18)  ensure the manager regularly monitors all records kept in the home in line with regulations (NMS 21.3)  ensure the number and employment of staff, can fulfil and meet the individual needs of children resident in the home for example waking night staff. (NMS 17.1)  ensure when disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them if possible in the records of the home (NMS 3.17)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good . Young people's health is promoted by staff. Young people say that appointments are made for them to see the doctor, opticians or dentist and they can see the doctor in private if they wish. There are health care assessments in place which are completed by the looked after children nurse. The home has resources available to use to discuss with young people about smoking cessation. Young people can also access sexual health and drugs and alcohol information from appropriate organisations. There is a robust medications system with records kept on administration, storage and a stock control of all medications held.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people say they are fully involved in the menu planning but do not always choose a good diet. This is something which is being further developed to ensure young people make healthy choices. When young people have special dietary needs staff will cater for them and source ingredients to ensure their needs can be met. Young people help with cooking and shopping. Young people working towards independence they have their own budget and are supported to complete a menu and shop.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to develop life skills such as budgeting and cooking. Plans are individualised and are completed by the young people with the support of staff, which is good practice. There is a flat attached to the home which is used for preparation for transition to adulthood. This is a strength as it provides facilities for young people to have their own space.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff promote education and encourage young people to attend school and college. They work closely with the education co-ordinator to ensure young people have access to alternative provision, mainstream education and college. Staff support young people to achieve their educational goals for example young people moving back into mainstream education. Staff attend personal education plan meetings and parents evenings which gives them an opportunity to advocate on behalf of the young person. Therefore, young people’s education is promoted and they have good opportunities to achieve.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people have a leisure plan which they have completed which identifies their individual interests and hobbies. A particular strength of the home is that staff ensure interests are maintained when a young person is accommodated in the home. Young people say what is good about the home is 'relationships with staff and indoor and outdoor activities'. Young people play pool, go to the gym, cinema and play rugby. In addition young people's views are taken into consideration for activities in school holidays and plans are made for a few nights away with the young people. Young people are encouraged to take part in school trips. Therefore, activities meet individual needs and promote hobbies in the wider community.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Contact with family is promoted, where appropriate, by staff. This ensures young people have an opportunity to develop contact with family and friends. Young people are clear about why contact is not possible. Some family members would like more updates on young people's progress. This is being followed up by the manager.

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Quality of care

Young people are able to come and look round, stay to tea and have an overnight stay before moving into the home if it is a planned placement. There is a planning meeting which involves the manager to discuss the placement and whether its is appropriate to admit the young person. Documents indicate that this takes into account the young persons needs and compatibility with the existing group. A decision record is also made if a young person has been placed in an emergency.

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Quality of care

Young people are not always moving into the home with the required information. However, this has been addressed through the independent reviewing officer and the staff. The manager is aware of this. There is care programme that identifies young people's needs and how they will be met on a day-to-day basis but these are not always signed and dated. Young people say they can attend their reviews if they wish some saying 'I like to say what I want'. When young people choose not to attend staff advocate on their behalf and young people say that staff inform them of the outcome. This is good practice and ensures young people are kept fully informed.

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Quality of care

The group of young people are more settled and staff have worked hard to build up positive relationships. Staff promote mutual respect and young people say 'It’s very good and all the staff are nice to all the kids'. Young people are consulted about the how the home is run through the residents meeting, reviews, and the 'lets talk about it' system. This is where young people can have their say and it is recorded. This is a good system but is the early stages and some discussions are not always recorded. This does not fully evidence the good work undertaken. Young people are clear about how to make a complaint and say that they can talk to any staff if they have concerns and are listened to.

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Quality of care

There have been two complaints from the neighbours since the last inspection. Procedures have been followed by staff and one has been resolved and one is still being dealt with and appropriate records are kept. All complaints are taken seriously and acted upon to provide a resolution.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a home that is well maintained and is comfortably furnished which they are proud of. Young people all have their own rooms which they can personalise.

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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 are protected because staff demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people’s safety. There is a robust response made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse and links with the Local Safeguarding Children Board are good. All staff have been appropriately recruited and undergone suitable Criminal Records Bureau checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say there is no bullying now and they get on together, although there has been issues with bullying in the past. Staff do not tolerate bullying and it is challenged. For example there had been some racist remarks made which were appropriately confronted by staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff are able to set and maintain safe, consistent and understandable boundaries. This has been beneficial for some young people where improvements have been observed from their starting position when they where first accommodated at the home. Behaviour support plans are used. They contain, individualised details for staff to follow when managing young people's behaviour. Sanctions are relevant and reflect the age and understanding of the young people. Physical restraint is rarely used as the staff use de-escalation techniques. Young people say that sanctions are fair and when they have been restrained this has been conducted safely.. A record sheet has been developed to record young people's views following a sanction or restraint but these do not always record if a young person has been offered an opportunity to comment. Young people say that sanctions are fair and when they have been restrained this has been conducted

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Safeguarding children and young people

safely. This does not fully demonstrate that young people are listened to and their opinions sought.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Incidents of young people going missing, although these have reduced with the present group of young people. The staff have good links with police, the community support officer regularly visits and also conducts 'safe and well' checks when young people return home. The manager attends regular meetings with the police to discuss any concerns and develop strategies to reduce the incidences of young people going missing. Therefore any incidences of young people going missing are acted upon by staff who follow a robust procedure.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The staff and the manager give a high priority to ensuring that the young people's welfare is safeguarded and that they reduce unnecessary risks to young people. Good quality written risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each young person during their known and likely activities. These have significantly improved and are individualised.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in an environment that is safe. The fire safety check records are up-to-date and accurate but not all staff working at the home have received up-to- date fire safety training to enable them to minimise the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. There is a fire risk assessment which is regularly reviewed to ensure it is up-to-date.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are satisfactory .

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Leadership and management

The provider meets the aims of the Statement of Purpose which outlines the functions of the home and is accessible to young people and their families. There is clear information available to young people in the children's guide and young people confirmed they received a copy when they were accommodated in the home. Policies and procedures are available to staff.

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively managed and the staff are experienced and motivated and enthusiastic to provide good outcomes for the young people. There is adequate staff on duty in the daytime to meet the needs of the young people. However, staff said that due to the needs of the present group waking night staff are needed but this has been difficult to resource. Therefore, this is not fully meeting the requirements of the agreements made at the time of placements and impacts on meeting young people’s needs at night.

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Leadership and management

Staff are well supported through regular supervision and annual appraisals. The organisation is committed to providing staff with a range of training. Most staff have National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. In addition there is a training programme and staff can request to attend any suitable training. This ensures staff have the competency required to meet the needs of young people. There is a record of training completed but this is not up to date and does not clearly identify when training requires updating such as basic food hygiene.

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Leadership and management

The home has a clear monitoring systems in place which enables young people to enjoy good standards of care. A monthly visit is undertaken by a designated person who reports on any improvements required and who seeks the views of young people and parents. In addition the manager monitors records. However, this is not clear as records such as restraints and sanctions are not signed by the manager. This does not indicate they have been reviewed and any emerging issues identified to enable staff to reflect on future practice. There is a written development plan which is currently being reviewed and identifies the strengths and areas for improvements required in the home.

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Leadership and management

Appropriate action has been taken to address the previous recommendations this has improved outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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