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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are provided with a very good quality of care and protection. This is irrespective of them receiving short breaks, shared or long term care. Consequently, they are safe and continue to make good progress and thrive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a serious concern regarding the conduct of a staff member has been robustly and decisively acted upon by the provider. This promotes children and young people‟s welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An extensive decoration programme has commenced throughout the home. Full and careful consideration ensures a neutral colour scheme in all of the rooms that meet children and young people‟s need for controlled stimulation. This also allows the use of bedrooms by either gender, which gives more flexibility when planning the children and young people‟s short breaks. Some bedrooms are adapted to provide a safe environment particularly to those children and young people who present with more challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team ensure that the young people who live at the home long term have well decorated and personalised bedrooms. This ensures that their needs are prioritised. It also enables them to have their own separate personal space particularly given the number of other children and young people who visit for their short breaks. Children and young people enjoy a range of activities at the home, with a number of rooms offering stimulation as well as relaxation. In addition, the home has the necessary equipment and adaptions to meet the children and young people‟s complex physical and health needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people who live at the home on a longer term also have a number of regular weekly activities that they attend and participate in. This enables them to socialise with others. Two of the older young people have gained in confidence, recently taking part in a dancing show with many photographs taken of these activities. Staff use these in the preparation of life story books with the children and young people. Some staff members have attended life story work training as they recognises the importance of this work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical activities, together with a healthy eating programme have resulted in huge benefits for the children and young people. One has lost weight, which is helping her mobility; and another‟s long-term health problems have improved resulting in a reduction in medication and improvements in her breathing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people who are cared for longer term continue to make progress in other areas. The staff team work with them to develop their decision-making skills, independence and self-care skills. A social worker spoke of how, „the huge progress is ongoing and every time I see them they are doing something different.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person‟s sleep pattern has improved and he is also making progress in respect of toilet training which the manager said, „Will offer him some level of independence and dignity.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact with families is well facilitated in the home environment by the staff team. This makes for a relaxed and informal environment for children, young people and those close to them. The manager and staff team have worked closely with one child and his family. This has resulted in them developing a careful introduction plan to enable him to have short breaks when the family were described as being „at crisis point‟.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager works in partnership with educational professionals to support the children and young people‟s educational needs and to challenge when necessary. This has resulted in improved communication between the home and school. The staff team also attend the children and young people‟s local schools with one member remarking on the importance of links with the teachers. She said, „I really wanted to see her at school as it is important to see her in different environments.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An emphasis has been on looking at ways to improve the children and young people‟s communication skills. They are encouraged to express themselves through many techniques such as picture exchange communication system (PECS) cards. Some staff have also attended makaton training. This has resulted in improvement in the children and young people‟s communication skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people‟s weekly meetings take place, which is an opportunity for staff to listen and respond to their views, wishes and feelings. The manager is developing practices in this area so that he can quickly respond to the children and young people‟s feedback following their meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is committed to improving the service. He has attained a further qualification, which enables him to offer a more reflective and focussed approach to care practices with the whole staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement regarding independent monitoring is carried over to the next inspection, as this is not yet resolved. One of the two recommendations has been addressed with respect to some documentation. The second, to incorporate the views of staff and social workers so they inform service developments is pending the imminent receipt of the manager‟s review report to Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No further requirements or recommendations have arisen as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority home is registered to care for and accommodate up to eight children and young people at any one time, of either gender, with learning disabilities. Some children also have physical disabilities and complex health needs. The vast majority of children and young people have short breaks at the home. Three young people are currently accommodated on a long-term basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

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— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 29/04/2016

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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 oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with: each child; the home's staff; each child's family/carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care and protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), teachers, clinicians and other health professionals etc. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 54, paragraph 10.23). Specifically consult with staff and social workers to inform the management review of service improvements.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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