Children's home run by Horton Establishments Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, City of

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:

 Children and young people are making good progress. This has been made possible by the nurturing care provided by the committed staff team.  Children and young people are well supported with their education. There is effective communication with schools that ensures all pertinent information is shared.  Children and young people are safe.  Children and young people experience a range of interesting and exciting activities.

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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 registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed (Regulation 23(2)(b)) 01/12/2015

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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

 Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (The Guide to the Quality Standards. Page 54, Paragraph 10.20)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for two children or young people with learning disabilities or emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

16/07/2013 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

The girls who live in the home are making good progress. They are cared for by a committed staff team who provide warm nurturing care so they thrive. Staff support the older young person to take pride in her appearance, for example, having her hair styled; this has resulted in her developing a positive self-view and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman. In the short space of time that she has lived at the home staff have been vigilant in ensuring that she eats healthy foods and is encouraged not to snack on junk food. The resultant considerable weight loss has impacted significantly on her confidence and improved her self- esteem. One of the girls said, ‘I like to try different foods since I have come to (name of home), I have tried at least one new dish a week, some of them I like, others I didn’t.’

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good

Children and young people’s daily routines are clearly set out. These are written in conjunction with the girls and are child friendly. These plans ensure a consistent approach to their care is maintained which provides for stability.

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good

Both girls are excellent school attendees. All achievements are celebrated and they both have a number of certificates which are prominently displayed. There are effective links with schools. One assistant head teacher stated, ‘(Name of home) support the school fully with the key worker where possible or other (name of home) staff known to the child attending education open afternoons, plays, sports day and Christmas lunch to name but a few of the events that the staff support the child by sharing those important events. (Name of the manager) and the (name of home) have been a stable influence on this young person and their emotional well- being.’ This demonstrates the importance placed on the girls’ education and school life. The girls’ health needs are well attended to. A recent hospitalisation and recuperation has been well managed. However, pain relief medication was not administered as prescribed as a second signatory was not available to authorise

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good

this controlled drug. Records indicate that this did not impact on the welfare of the young person as she continued to do her exercises throughout that period. The girls’ views are sought in all areas of their lives. They can access a children’s rights organisation if they have a complaint. House meetings are generally held around the meal table. Although following a disruptive time a formal meeting was held with them to discuss the issues. This resulted in both girls sharing their views and coming to compromises. This has led to a more harmonious time. The girls’ heritage and religion is well understood and valued by staff. They celebrate British festivals and customs. ‘Esmeralda’ and her accomplice ‘Norbit’, the tooth fairies still occasionally visit the home. This demonstrates that the staff value the girls’ childhood. The girls enjoy a range of exciting and rewarding activities. The home has an activity co-ordinator and each of the girls has an activity planner. Activities include,

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good

horse riding, swimming, rock climbing, they are both avid rugby league fans and one is a season ticket holder for a local super league team. One of the girls participated in a charity bike ride and raised £150 for an animal welfare organisation. This helps to develop social responsibility. The home works hard to ensure that contact with significant family members is a rewarding time for all. The appointment of a family co-ordinator has helped to develop effective relationships between the home and family They have taken on the responsibility for organising this and parents are very positive about the care provided. One stated, ‘She (his daughter) has been really happy at (name of home) the staff are amazing, we love them for that.’

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good

The girls are safe, they say they feel safe. There is no involvement in child sexual exploitation. They are safeguarded by individual risk assessments which identify potential dangers relating to their behaviours and activities with strategies that help to minimise the risk.

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good

Prior to admission one of the girls had the propensity of going missing and putting herself at considerable risk. This behaviour has ceased. The girls may leave the home without permission but quickly return. These incidents are few, although there was an occasion while on holiday they hid from staff causing alarm. Good missing person’s protocols advise staff what action to take in the event of them going missing.

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good

The staff have a good awareness of safeguarding issues. This view is supported by the assistant head teacher who states, ‘Through our working relationship with (name of home) our practice has improved especially our professional vigilance, for example, we now have installed safeguarding software on our intranet.’ Another view from school state, ‘It is the best practice I have ever known and we have nothing but praise for their efficiency, professionalism and thorough approach to all areas of their safeguarding practice.’ There continues to be episodes of challenging behaviours. Behaviour management plans support staff in managing these incidents and ensures a consistent approach is maintained. There has been an isolated incident of extreme behaviour where a member of staff was seriously assaulted and resulted in the police being called. The use of a restorative justice approach has prevented the young person from

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good

being criminalised. This demonstrates the commitment the staff have to the well- being of the young person. Restraints used are low level holds to prevent situations escalating. Staff recognise that the girls’ behaviours can be very challenging but a comment on a behaviour management plan states, ‘She is usually very well behaved, well-mannered and a pleasure to care for.’ The girls are safeguarded by robust recruitment practices which ensure only suitable people are employed.

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good

This is a well-managed home; the Registered Manager was appointed in January 2014. He is awaiting for his level 5 qualification to be verified. He leads a diverse team of committed staff who provide good quality care enabling children and young people to maximise their potential. The good gender balance provides positive role models for the girls. The girls continue to make progress in all areas of their lives. Monthly reports clearly reflect how they have made progress; these are of good detail and also reflect incidents of concern which allows action to be taken to speedily address these. A social worker states, ‘I am pleased to say that I have been very impressed with the staff group and the service that they are providing to the young person. The home manager has a very good oversight of the young person and how to progress her plan.’ Staff have good training opportunities to enable them to have the necessary skills

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good

to meet the complex needs of the children and young people. The home is well staffed, this enables the girls to partake in separate activities if they choose. The Registered Manager is the only person with supervisory responsibilities and there has been an odd occasion when a member of staff has not received their supervision due to the demands on his time. The Registered Manager does not have a deputy so there is no effective management when he is away from the home. This lack of a management structure leaves staff sometimes unsupported. However, the Registered Manager is always ‘on call’ but this arrangement is unsatisfactory as it could compromises his health and wellbeing. The Registered Manager recognises the strengths and weaknesses of the home. A development plan clearly sets out how the home is to progress. The Statement of Purpose enables interested parties have an understanding of what service the

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good

home has to offer. The children’s guide is a formal document and as part of the manager’s development plan he is encouraging the girls to produce a new one. The Registered Manager is proactive in addressing any shortfalls in other services. He is a good advocate for the girls to ensure that their dignity is respected. Professionals speak highly of the joint working with the home. One said, ‘As Social Worker for the young person I am pleased with the level of communication between myself and the home.’ Another stated, ‘We believe that (name of home) have robust safeguarding procedures, good effective ways of communicating and valued partnership working.’

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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

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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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