Children's Home run by St Hill Establishments Ltd 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 are settled and happy living at this home. Their strong, trusting relationships with staff help them to discuss any concerns and worries in their lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people’s good care and support, delivered by a child-focused, resilient and motivated staff team, help them to thrive.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe and say they feel safe. With the exception of one incident, missing from home episodes have significantly reduced.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have educational placements and excellent attendance. The home and education providers are in regular contact to ensure that young people continue to engage and prosper in their studies.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff receive good management support, with good opportunities to develop their practice through ongoing training and development.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Despite some identified internal and external monitoring shortfalls, the home can demonstrate that young people enjoy good quality care, experience new things and make good progress.

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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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6: The quality and purpose of care standard

6. (1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— (a) understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, that children receive personalised care that recognises and promotes their ethnicity and racial identity, so their holistic needs can be met 31/05/2016

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are met

5 In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or a relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans 31/05/2016

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are met

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must – take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children's home; (Regulation 25(1) (a)). In particular, specifically, comply with the fire risk assessment by removing door wedges from the kitchen and dining room areas. 31/05/2016

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are met

The registered person must ensure that all employees- undertake appropriate continuing professional development (Regulation 33(4)(a)). In particular, specifically, review the training needs of the staff team with respect to promoting children's needs arising from all aspects of their personal identity and external safeguarding training (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 31/05/2016 A notification made under this regulation— must include details of— the matter; (Regulation 40(5)(a)(i)). Specifically, include the antecedents to incidents in all notifications sent to the regulator. 31/05/2016

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are met

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)) 31/05/2016

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are met

In order to complete a quality care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children (Regulation 45 (2) (c)). Specifically, the prompt identification and resolution of any shortfalls in documentation. 31/05/2016

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are met

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)) 31/05/2016

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is run by a private company. It 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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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/08/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Young people live in a substantial house that provides a safe place for them to settle and plan their future lives. An ongoing decoration programme has improved the overall ambience of the home environment. This includes new fixtures and fittings that contrast bright and calming colours, in private and communal areas. Young people’s involvement in the decoration of their rooms showcases and values their individual personalities.

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Good

Not all young people’s ethnic origin is clearly identified in their plans, which does not help the team to promote fully their cultural identity and heritage. In spite of this significant omission, young people benefit from good individualised nurturing and support. Consequently, they have demonstrably thrived from their starting points. The responsible individual said, ‘We got him the care he needed. No one got him that before.’ The manager said, ‘X is making amazing progress. Their confidence has grown; they have 100% school attendance. The stability of the home is good for x.’ Young people’s life chances are enhanced by these positive interventions. One young person admitted to the home was quickly discharged once it became evident that the placing authority had not sufficiently briefed the home about the risks posed by them. The home has since learned lessons so that a further incident is not repeated.

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Good

Young people express satisfaction living at this home. They are well established and happy there. Some exceptionally good relationships have been nurtured over time between the young people and staff, which has developed trust. The positive relationships have also been highly instrumental in enabling young people to disclose sensitive issues to the adults. Adults show genuine care for them. This means that young people know who they can talk to in times of crisis and difficulties, and they feel believed. On a daily basis, young people’s opinions are listened to with some negotiations that mimic a good parent and child relationship.

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Good

Young people develop educationally, taking into account their assessed learning and ability levels. Their excellent attendance in school and college improves their learning outcomes, no matter how small. The manager’s challenge to a school over the 21 hours of education provided to a young person, as opposed to the expected 25 hours, has been referred to Ofsted. The regular contact between the home and education providers maintains young people in a structured educational routine that allows for flexibility and monitors their progress. This helps them to aspire.

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Good

Young people enjoy their leisure time. They visit places of interest and engage in activities such as swimming, martial arts, youth club and drives out, as well as their interests indoors. This provides young people with opportunities to socialise in the community and to develop their abilities, confidence and discipline.

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Good

Young people’s health needs are well attended to by primary health and specialist services. Close working relationships with health specialists on matters such as speech therapy, autism, child and adolescent mental health, and sexual health issues raise staff awareness and help young people get the right support. Effective work with the learning disability services ensures that young people's needs are understood and met.

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Good

The staff ensure that contact arrangements are adhered to and supported. This promotes young people’s connections with their blood ties.

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Good

Young people have acquired useful skills that help them to develop independence skills. It is not untypical for young people who have moved from the home to stay in touch with the staff team. Their correspondence to the home shows their appreciation of the staff team and keeps it updated with their personal journeys. A young adult who used to live at the home said, ‘The staff did care for me well. They make you feel welcome. All of the care homes that I have been in have not been good, apart from (name of the home)’ and ‘(name of staff member) helped me get back on my feet again’.

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Good

Young people are safe at this home. A social worker said, ‘They [the staff] have some innovative practices and have really got to know x and the use of their relationships is keeping x safe.’ Young people confirm that they feel safe. One young person rated their safety as ‘22 out of 10’. The safeguarding measures implemented by the staff team, such as the positive mutual relationships, close supervision and vigilance, protect young people’s specific vulnerabilities. Consequently, a marked reduction in young people’s known risks, supported by sound, individualised risk management plans, balances their safety with their need for independence.

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Good

Effective missing person protocols ensure that staff know what to do if young people were to absent themselves from the home. This includes reporting the young people missing to the police and other professionals, combined with staff actively going out looking for them. However, the young people’s increased knowledge about keeping safe, coupled with their stability and positive influences, means that missing incidents have significantly reduced. This is an encouraging improvement, because staff know where the young people are. Although there are no current child sexual exploitation concerns, those young people who are deemed to be vulnerable to significant harm are protected by the proactive measures taken by the manager. This is to ensure that young people’s profiles are lodged with the police and the multi-agency child sexual exploitation forum so that the young people remain on the safeguarding ‘radar’.

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Good

Staff act as positive parental role models for the young people. A care leaver said, ‘(name of staff) is like a second dad and he will say it how it is.’ The team’s nurturing, patient and consistent support help young people to reflect on their negative behaviour. This enables them to understand the concept of socially acceptable behaviours through improved self-regulation and by adopting alternative coping strategies that diffuse behaviours. Firm and effective boundaries and routines have led to no physical interventions. A staff member said, ‘I am firm but fair.’

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Good

Health and safety checks on the fire, electric and gas safety equipment protect everyone. However, some of the fire doors are wedged open, which does not comply with the requirement for them to be kept closed and would not sufficiently protect in the event of a fire.

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Requires improvement

Overall, this is a well managed children’s home that provides young people with good, nurturing care. Although there are deficiencies that need improvement, these do not negatively impact on young people’s safety and welfare. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2014. She holds an appropriate management qualification at level 4 and is currently undertaking the level 5 diploma. She has over 15 years’ relevant childcare experience, which endorses her suitability to manage this home. The manager and staff team are very child-focused and their practice is non-judgemental. They have developed an aspirational culture where the young people have made measurable progress. The responsible individual said, ‘You can tell that caring is in their [manager’s and staff team’s] blood’.

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Requires improvement

The home fulfils its statement of purpose. Its states, ‘The ethos of (name of the home) is stability, consistency and transparency. We strive to promote the development of meaningful relationships between staff and children which are based on the core values of mutual respect and good parenting, abiding by the values of dignity, independence, privacy, choice and fulfilment.’

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Requires improvement

An established staff team is well motivated and conscientious. They clearly enjoy caring for the young people and supporting them into adulthood. The responsible individual said, ‘I have complete confidence in (name of the manager) and the team. They pull together, they really do. They are just a lovely bunch of people. It’s not just a job, it’s a vocation.’ A member of staff said, ‘I love it here.’ Another said, ‘We’ve all known each other for so long, we are really just like family which is why I get up and come to work. Every day is different.’ Staff feel well supported and driven, through regular supervision and training. This supports the delivery of good quality care and support to young people. Practice could be further improved by having external safeguarding training to improve their awareness and ensure an independent perspective on current research and practice. Furthermore, diversity training would raise awareness in the staff team

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Requires improvement

and enable them to promote all young people’s needs robustly, irrespective of their race and culture. Monitoring arrangements ensure that young people are safe, make progress, learn skills to prosper and live in a much improved physical environment but, combined, they lack sufficient rigour. For example, the manager’s review of care practices has missed opportunities to improve documents so that safeguarding information can be accessed in an efficient and timely manner. Similarly, room searches conducted for safeguarding purposes do not include all items removed, which renders them inaccurate. The area local risk assessment does not evaluate the safety of the local area as a result of indicated factors. The manager’s review report has not ascertained and considered the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff to inform service improvements. The independent visitor reports on the home’s performance, but omits to state whether children are

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Requires improvement

safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes their welfare. Although this is implied in the report, the regulation requires that a direct statement to this effect is made. The home is well regarded by other professionals. A social worker and independent reviewing officer commented positively about the team’s commitment to young people and the positive way in which they interact with parents, even where challenges exist. This ensures that everyone can contribute to young people’s changing needs. However, the current system for raising concerns when professional partners do not respond is not effective. This is because the manager has not escalated the issues in a timely manner to the next level for impact. This does not make for prompt and decisive action. Significant events are reported to the regulator and demonstrate management response. However, the content of one notification has overlooked significant

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Requires improvement

safeguarding information which was the antecedent to the event. Although the manager has provided subsequent updates, the key information has impeded Ofsted from promptly carrying out its regulatory duties.

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Requires improvement

The one requirement and recommendation raised at the last inspection, in relation to the submission of independent visitor’s reports by the visitor and return home interviews, have been suitably addressed. This demonstrates the home’s capacity to improve.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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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