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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people live in positive and homely environment that is ambitious for them to succeed. The delivery of their good quality care and protection is motivated by the strong, nurturing staff team whose supportive approach results in a number of thriving adolescents.  Young people feel safe. Their significant vulnerabilities are identified and protected by robust risk management strategies. Effective strong multi- agency working together practices with social care and safeguarding professionals promote their safety and welfare.  Listening to young people‟s wishes and feelings is integral to their good care and protection. This makes them feel valued.  Good education and health interventions support young people to make better choices to help them to improve their life chances.  The skilled and experienced staff team get good support and training that informs their practice and helps them to drive forward improvements that

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

(a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child‟s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv to vii)) 29/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children‟s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence.

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Requirement Due date

(2) Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a notice under paragraph (1) must—

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Requirement Due date

(a) be given no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI; and (b) specify with respect to the proposed absence— (i) its length or expected length; (ii) the reason for it; (iii) the arrangements which have been made for running the home during the absence; (iv) the address, name and qualifications of the person who will 31/12/2015 be responsible for the home during the absence; and (v) in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment is to be made. (5) The registered person must notify HMCI of the return to duty of the person in day-to-day charge of the home not later than 7 days after the date of that person‟s return. (Regulation 48 (1)(a)(b)(i to v) and (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

(b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4) (b)) 31/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

(a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person‟s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. In particular, take prompt action to repair the damaged roof. (Regulation 44(4)(a) (b) and (5)) 31/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

(a) the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

(b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

(c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2) (a) (b) (c)). In particular, ensure robust analysis of care practices with respect to evaluating the impact of the quality of care. Also make provision to ensure the correct relevant plans for young people are in place and any outstanding documentation is promptly chased to ensure 31/12/2015 continuity of care.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)). In particular, evaluate their views to inform service improvements. 31/12/2015

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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

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child‟s assessed needs as recorded in the child‟s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children‟s home is registered to provide a service for six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

Young people enjoy some superb relationships with the consistent and attentive staff that like and know them well. This enables young people to trust the staff and talk to them about their concerns, worries and high risk behaviours. A young person said, „My relationships with the staff are great. I like all the staff‟ and „I can come and speak to them about stuff when I have got a problem.‟ Young people feel cared about through these positive interventions and the open dialogue promotes their safety and welfare. Listening to young people‟s wishes and feelings is integral to their care and is acted on where possible. Their views are made known during their regular interface with staff, which values them. A social worker said, „(Name of young person) has formed excellent relationships with staff and she clearly feels safe and valued.‟ Similarly, the staff‟s relationships with families stimulate their co-operation in their child‟s care. Social workers said, „The home

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good

works actively to manage and protect the children‟s sense of identity and belonging even when the issues are complex and the family relationships can become abusive‟ and „(Name of the home) staff have developed a positive relationship with the family and I know that this has taken lots of patience and perseverance.‟

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good

Despite this concern, young people live in positive and homely environment that is ambitious for them to succeed. The delivery of good quality, care and protection is motivated by the strong, nurturing staff team. Their supportive approach results in a number of thriving adolescents. A young person said, „It‟s an unbelievable home.‟ Another young person said, „Everything is going well here. I like this place. This is where I want to stay. This place has changed me. I am doing really well here.‟ Their social worker concurs with this view. She said, „With staff support (Name of young person) has turned her life around.‟

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good

Contact is actively promoted. This helps young people to maintain their bonds with family and significant people. One young person said, „I can see my mates and family when I want.‟ Young people who have moved on from the home maintain contact with staff as their source of support. A social worker said, „(Name of the young person) maintains contact with staff at the home and I believe this reflects how important the relationships have become to her.‟

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good

The staff team understand the value of a good education and promote young people‟s right to one. The staff team‟s effective relationships with their educational partners help to counter barriers to young people‟s learning. This gives them a fighting chance to achieve their potential. Consequently, all young people attend educational provisions that meet their needs. A young person said, „I always attend. I love college.‟ Another young person said, „I want to go back to school.‟ All young people have sat GCSE examinations. Their individual successes were celebrated and awarded at a casino themed evening which was held at the home. The event gave the young people opportunities to dress up, have fun and feel good about their achievements.

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good

Young people‟s good health is promoted and their specific health needs are addressed in consultation with them. This includes talking to those young people who are addicted to „legal highs‟ to improve their health outcomes by using a range of protective strategies. Although early days, young people have good engagement with drugs workers and want to cease their harmful behaviour, but this is not without challenge. A psychologist provides informative support and advice to ensure consistent and effective strategies are implemented. A social worker said, „They sought regular advice from psychologist and used strategies and consistency across the staff group which has proved very successful.‟ Young people attend their routine health appointments, which have led to some improved outcomes. A staff member referring to a young person‟s previous poor dental hygiene said, „His teeth are lovely now‟, since they started to regularly use their

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good

Young people are suitably entertained by their choice of activities. A young person said, „I do a lot of socialising with my mates.‟ Other young people appreciate the distraction of engaging in activities that deter them from unsafe behaviours in the community. One young person said, „We went to the cinema yesterday, they just see what you want to do. If they can‟t do, they will do something else.‟ A social worker said, „(Name of the home) are very good at entertaining her and keeping her occupied.‟ Young people enjoy day trips out, watching sports, meals out or stay in playing board games and artwork. They enjoy pampering evenings too and movie nights, all of which help them to unwind and enjoy their spare time.

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good

Young people benefit from learning independence skills that will help them when they move on. For example, preparing meals, organising their own space and learning to take responsibility for their behaviour. A social worker said, „They continue to support (Name of young person) with skills to prepare her for eventually living alone.‟

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good

Young people‟s care plans identify and meet their diverse needs. A social worker said, „Staff have a great understanding of what is important to the young people as individuals in their care.‟ Young people are enabled through their plans and staff support to reintegrate back into the community and embrace their personal identity. This makes them feel proud of who they are. However, the written placement plan for one young person has not been updated to identify their current placement as a children‟s home and not a foster placement. Although inaccurate, this omission does not pose a negative impact on young people‟s care and welfare.

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good

Since the last inspection, one placement was made of a young person with similar risky behaviours to an existing young person living in the home. Consequently, their missing episodes and drug misuse escalated. This resulted in another move for one of them. Such placements that are made without a clear rationale have not been in the best interests of the group dynamics. There have been no further incidents of this nature.

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good

Young people‟s safety and welfare is promoted. Their significant vulnerabilities are identified and protected by robust risk management strategies. A particular strength is the awareness raising and management of child sexual exploitation (CSE) concerns. A member of staff said, „CSE training has recently helped to ensure I kept a child safe when he was receiving calls from an unknown male. This training gave me the confidence to protect and safeguard the child appropriately. I was able to question my practice on the training and reflect, in order to learn.‟ Another said, „We work closely with the CSE team, police protection unit, social workers and family.‟ These collaborations help to disrupt the potential for dangerous people causing significant harm to young people. This increases their sense of safety. A member of the multi-agency group said, „It‟s brilliant. Everything gets discussed.‟ Young people say they feel safe and rate their safety as „eight‟ and

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good

„nine‟ out of ten. One said, „I feel safe around this house and everything.‟ A social worker said, „They definitely go above and beyond keeping her safe and well cared for.‟

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good

The number of missing from home incidents has reduced. A missing from care professional said that missing events were „Not a huge amount, it‟s quite settled.‟ A social worker said that a young person, who regularly went missing, „Has not been missing for several months.‟ On the occasions that young people go missing, staff follow the agreed police protocols. They go out searching for young people and attempt to contact them on their mobile phones. A social worker said, „They go out looking for her. She agrees to answer her phone.‟ However, „return home‟ interviews are not yet established. This does not currently present a negative impact on young people‟s welfare, but hinders them from talking to an independent person about their reasons for going missing.

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good

A restorative approach to behaviour management helps young people to understand how their negative behaviours impact on others. Staff use their good skills of engagement and behaviour management strategies to effectively de- escalate most situations. Although challenging at times, staff interventions are supporting young people to address some of their difficulties. This is done with minimum use of physical intervention. This is linked to the strong and trusting relationships that avoid the excessive use of these measures. Although sanctions are few, not all of them are recorded. This does not provide a clear audit trail of the effectiveness of the measures used to improve outcomes.

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requires improvement

This is a well-managed children‟s home. The Registered Manager has been in charge of the home for two years. She has several years‟ experience in caring for children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. She has a social work qualification and is working towards the Level 5 leadership and management award. The Registered Manager is well respected by the team and young people. A member of staff said, „She is head and shoulders above the rest.‟ A young person said, „(Name of the Registered Manager) speaks the truth!‟ The Registered Manager took up a six month temporary post in early October 2015 and interim management arrangements are in place. Ofsted has not been given notice of this absence. This is a breach of the regulations. The young people are aware about the Registered Manager‟s temporary absence. They are getting to know the interim manager who has the suitable credentials and aptitude to assume the role.

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requires improvement

He has a child focus and solid plans to implement his good practice and build on the current strengths possessed by the home. The stable staff team remain buoyant and motivated to work together to achieve the best outcomes for the young people. A staff member said, „You can‟t ask for a better team to be honest.‟

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requires improvement

Young people‟s progress is measured through the monitoring systems, team communication and some strong relationships between staff and the young people. Their needs are clearly understood by the manager and staff team. They have maintained good levels of resilience during some very difficult and challenging times. However, not all serious notifications of incidents resulting in police intervention have been notified to Ofsted. This impedes Ofsted from undertaking their regulatory duties.

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requires improvement

Independent visits regularly take place at the home. Young people and other people involved in their care are consulted, but the information is integrated in the narrative about the young people which could get lost. The visitor does not confirm that young people are effectively safeguarded and that the conduct of the home promotes their well-being. In addition, the lack of urgency to address issues, such as repairing the roof raises questions about how seriously the action points are taken by leaders and managers.

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requires improvement

The internal monitoring report to Ofsted shows that the Registered Manager has a good overview of care practices in the home. However, the report contains insufficient evaluation and does not include the opinions of young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff. It is therefore not clear how the manager has taken into account their views so that service improvements can be made.

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requires improvement

A number of children's records, such as updated personal education plans, have not been provided. The Registered Manager has not pursued this with sufficient rigor. This comprises the home's ability to provide continuity of care.

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requires improvement

Staff care for young people in a supportive and caring environment. They feel well supported, through supervision, daily handovers and team meetings. A staff member said, „I feel the home is in a very positive position where staff are very happy and this has a knock on effect with the positive environment that is created for the children.‟ Staff confirm that their mandatory and bespoke training is relevant and specific to meeting young people‟s diverse needs.

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requires improvement

Professional stakeholders are highly positive about the quality of service and protection afforded to the young people by this home. A social worker said, „(Name of the home) is a warm and fun environment and staff genuinely care‟ and „I receive regular updates and communication is excellent.‟

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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