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

Unique reference number SC385633 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 25/02/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 19/08/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress at this home. This is confirmed by other professionals who work with the home and consider that young people’s progress ‘amazing’. They no longer go missing, indulge in alcohol or substance abuse and are committed to their education placement.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are well supported by experienced and caring staff who provide nurturing care. There are good, trusting relationships between staff and young people. Care plans are highly individualised and take into account the specific complex needs of the young people placed.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff have a good understanding of the vulnerabilities of young people and implement good safeguarding practices. Young people feel safe and are safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people’s behaviours are well managed; they are responding to the consistent approach provided, which promotes their well-being.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has already taken steps to address some of these.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls identified at this inspection relate to, ensuring young people eat healthy 3 of 11 and nutritious meals; ensuring the most recent statement of special education needs is available; to refurbish the kitchen; the appropriateness of some sanctions and ensuring young people gain the necessary skills required to make a successful transition to adulthood. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

The 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, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home mainly provides placements for the local authority it is situated in. Young people receive care until such a time they can return to family, move to alternative specialist placements or can live independently.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2014 Interim good progress 09/12/2013 Full adequate 07/03/2013 Interim good progress 10/09/2012 Full good

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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 young people are provided with wholesome and nutritious meals which are suitable to their needs and are sufficiently varied (Regulation 13 (a)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 30/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure a copy of young people's statement of special educational needs is available in their records (Regulation 28 (1)(a) and Schedule 3 12) 30/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

31 ensure the home is reasonably decorated and 01/09/2015 5 of 11 (2001) maintained with particular reference to the kitchen requiring refurbishment (Regulation 31 (2) (e))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) the imposition of any financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum for reparation shall not be used. (Regulation 17(2) (g)) 30/09/2014

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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 young people are supported to: develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food; develop financial capability, knowledge and skills; know about entitlements to financial and other support after leaving care, including benefits and support from social care services. (NMS12.1 e,f,g) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people have made very good progress in many aspects of their lives since their admission to the home. Social workers commend the progress they have made and consider they have developed in maturity and their engagement with staff has significantly improved. The incidence of risk taking behaviours, indulging in substance abuse and alcohol has ceased. This promotes the welfare of young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people benefit from the proactive approach of the staff team who make sure that they access all the relevant health professionals to ensure that their health needs are addressed. However, there are a number of days where records do not demonstrate that young people eat healthy and nutritious meals. This is particularly pertinent for those young people with specific health needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people feel that they are listened to. They are encouraged to attend their child care review meetings and are consulted prior to their meeting to ensure they understand what is being said. Monthly house meetings are held and young people are encouraged to share their views.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people’s life opportunities are enhanced by their attendance at their education placement. For some young people this is a significant improvement and they say that they are committed to attend their new education placement to commence in the new academic year. Young people are achieving well and receive a number of certificates praising their attendance and their listening skills as well as certificates of achievements. This positively impacts on their self-esteem. However, those young people who have a statement of special educational needs, the most recent report is not available in the home. This does not ensure that staff are able to target support.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people support the recycling the home engages with; this helps them to develop social responsibility. They use the local amenities such as the local gym and shops.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people’s contact arrangements are set out in the care plans. Family and friends are made welcome in the home and parents say that staff always treat them well and keep them informed of any issues. They consider that their children are well looked after. Young people are transported to friends and family; although this is very supportive it does not allow young people to develop skills they require, such as travelling independently on public transport.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are learning some independence skills. They are involved in some meal preparation; they consider that they are able to prepare basic meals. They maintain their personal space and go shopping with staff. However, due to personal circumstances of some young people there is a need to develop skills required to 7 of 11 make a successful transition to adulthood. The limited time spent in the home is not allowing for this which could compromise this transition.

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Quality of care good

Young people feel well looked after by staff who provide supportive and nurturing care. Social workers speak highly of the commitment of the staff team who ensure young people’s welfare is promoted. Young people with complex needs who are very demanding of staff are well supported.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s behaviours are well managed. Some present extremely challenging behaviours and staff are skilled in diffusing situations and outbursts have reduced. Each young person has an individual crisis management plan. This identifies triggers to unwanted behaviours and has guidance in place setting out how these are to be managed.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s views are central to how the home operates, and in their care planning. For example, there has been good negotiating with young people to ensure staff know their whereabouts at all times; this promotes their welfare. The home has also introduced a ‘staff member of the week’ which young people are involved in choosing. This enables staff to reflect on their practice.

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Quality of care good

None of the current group of young people has made a complaint. Records demonstrate that complaints made have been dealt with to the satisfaction of the complainant.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s individual needs are clearly set out in their care plan with guidance in place to ensure that these needs are addressed. This ensures a consistent approach is maintained. Some young people are involved in drawing up a daily planner; this ensures that they feel in control of how they are spending their time and are able to have a good understanding of expectations of staff. For example, they have a limited time that they can spend on electronic gadgets, which they understand, but are able to have a say when they wish to engage in this. This approach leads to harmony and avoids conflict.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from the proactive approach of the staff team who support their education. For example, the manager will challenge the school when they wish to reduce young people’s timetable but will offer their support by going into school if necessary, to support the placement.

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Quality of care good

Young people are from a White British background and live in a predominantly White British/European city. However, needs relating to their individual identities are well attended to. 8 of 11 Young people benefit from accessing a range of services to help meet their complex needs. For example, the child and adolescent mental health service support young people with their emotional needs. An individual from this service offers advice and guidance to the staff team to help them manage some of the complex behaviours presented. They consider, ‘..a very child centred cohesive team approach. Showed really good capacity to multi-agency working’. The youth offending team works with some individuals to help them understand the impact of their criminal behaviour. An independent visitor engages with their young person, taking them out to restaurants or the cinema. A range of health service professionals work on specific areas such as

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Quality of care good

sexual health; healthy lifestyle and smoking cessation.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy participating in a range of meaningful activities. Some go horse- riding; bowling, the cinema, swimming, some spend time with friends and the home is actively working to identify an appropriate youth group to enable young people to develop relationships with peers outside the home.

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Quality of care good

The home is located on the outskirts of the city close to all amenities. It is undergoing a redecoration programme and some bedrooms have been completed, resulting in comfortable, attractive space. However, the kitchen is shabby and requires a total refurbishment.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are safeguarded by staff’s good understanding of their vulnerabilities. Prior to admission, some young people had a propensity of going missing and engaging in risk taking behaviours. Measures have been put in place to ensure that staff know their whereabouts. For example, young people are able to stay out at night with identified friends or family but there are agreements in place for staff to do welfare checks. Although during the school holidays the number of nights spent away from the home is excessive, both staff and young people agree during school term this will significantly reduce.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The current group of young people do not go missing. There are detailed and individual protocols in place for staff to follow in the event of a young person going missing. The home has good practices in place for when young people fail to return when expected. For example, they will search locations where they think young people are and are proactive with the Police in raising their concerns when they consider young people are at risk. The Registered Manager is part of the police liaison group with managers from other homes within the city. This group shares intelligence which helps to keep young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Risk assessments are in place to address a range of known and likely behaviours, environmental hazards and activities with strategies in place to minimise the risk. 9 of 11 The home adopts a policy of rewarding good behaviours but there are occasions when young people are sanctioned. The majority of these are appropriate but there are a few where they are issued monetary sanctions which are not for reparation. This does not comply with regulation, although does not negatively impact on the welfare of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are protected by all health and safety checks carried out regularly including fire evacuation procedures held both during the day and at night. This ensures both they and staff know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management good

The recently appointed manager was registered by Ofsted in June 2014. She holds National Vocational Qualifications level 4 in children and young people and management. She is to enrol on the level 5 qualification imminently. She has 14 years’ experience in working in children’s homes; six of which has been spent as the deputy at this home. She leads a sufficient number of dedicated, qualified staff who provide good nurturing care to the young people who they have developed trusting relationships with. Staff feel well supported and have good access to training and supervision. As a result, morale has been boosted and staff consider that they receive good direction and are valued. Professionals working with the home consider that they are, ‘consistent, friendly, reliable and have a professional approach’.

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Leadership and management good

The manager recognised a number of the shortfalls identified at this inspection. For example, young people’s diets and developing young people’s independence skills. Measures are being taken to address these issues. Strengths of the home are recognised as the commitment of the staff team to the young people. They are good role models and provide intensive support to young people. Particularly to those young people who require constant supervision, who are fully occupied throughout the day. Staff provide outreach support to young people who have moved on from the home. This is good practice; particularly for those young people who have reached adulthood and have no other services involved with them. A number of who maintain contact with staff years after they have left the home.

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Leadership and management good

The manager is proactive in accessing journals and information to ensure that she keeps up-to-date with practice developments which are shared with the staff team. The team also benefits from having amongst them, staff who are undertaking relevant university courses which also enhance the knowledge and skills of the staff team.

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Leadership and management good

Social workers speak highly of the progress young people have made. Some young people have had numerous placements that they have failed to engage with and made a positive choice to come to this home. Social workers say, ‘The home has gone over and above what is expected of them, I am amazed how St. Hill House has 10 of 11 engaged with them’.

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Leadership and management good

The home enjoys good relationships with their neighbours.

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Leadership and management good

Young people’s files are generally in good order. A daily record is kept of how young people spend their day although there is no clear overview of what young people actually eat. However, these do formulate a good history for young people to access in future years.

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Leadership and management good

The requirements raised at the last inspection related to Regulation 33 and 34 reports. The home is visited monthly by an independent person. As part of the Registered Manager’s monitoring she has sent out questionnaires to parents and social workers and given them to the young people. Young people consider that they are very well cared for; unfortunately parents and social workers have not returned these. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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