Children's home run by Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull, City of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is working in another service and her return to this home is yet to be determined. The experienced interim manager has adapted well into the management role. He is enjoying the challenges and responsibility, and he is supporting the staff team and young people to manage the change with minimal disruption. This includes dealing with the departure of two staff members since the last inspection. Young people have been encouraged to get involved in shortlisting for new staff. This shows how they are enabled to influence the running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from living in a homely environment that has been recently decorated, with young people having an input to this. Personal touches, such as pictures of the young people, artwork and positive affirmations on the walls, look good. Young people’s rooms are personalised to suit their preferences and choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Progress has been made to address the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. The provider has acted on the requirement in relation to the management arrangements when managers are absent for more than 28 days.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand what constitutes a sanction, and this enables them to maintain the appropriate records. Ofsted have been notified of significant incidents that involve young people. This enables Ofsted to monitor concerns and to respond to any potential safeguarding issues.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Action has been taken to repair the roof, as recommended in independent visitor reports. This prevents damage to the building, particularly in bad weather. However, the independent visitor does not give their opinion on whether children are effectively safeguarded and if the conduct of the home promotes their well- being. This aspect of the requirement is repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s review of the quality of care is not yet due. This requirement therefore remains. Recommendations made with respect to the offer of return-home interviews and placement planning have been suitably addressed. These developments show that the home has the capacity to improve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to prosper from the good quality care that the resilient and empathetic staff team offer them. Over time, they have built some mutually positive and trusting relationships. This allows the young people to feel sufficiently comfortable. Consequently, a number of things have gone well for the young people. For instance, two young people have successfully moved. They have both made good progress from their starting points, showing signs of maturity. They have kept in touch with staff who, like good parents, remain supportive and continue to be significant adults in the young people’s lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person who recently moved into the home has made a good transition. Careful and considerate planning, in consultation with the young person, has ensured a compatible match with the existing group. Discussions with other professionals and written reasons for making the placement ensure that his needs can be met at this home. The manager is not averse to refusing to accept a placement if it is not deemed to be in the young person’s best interests.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The existing young people make progress, with some ups and downs depending on the choices they make. These are managed well. The tenacious staff team work hard to get young people to focus on their ambitions and goals. This has not been without challenge for some young people, but the staff do not give up on them. Young people are currently engaged in their education and, with the exception of some blips, they continue to make progress overall. Leisure activities are well featured and provide the young people with good opportunities to relax and enrich their lives. Examples are travelling to London to watch their favourite football team and indulge in tourist activities, visiting leisure centres and working out at the local gym.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety and welfare are taken seriously by the staff team. This includes disclosures, which are handled well and properly followed through by the staff in receipt of the information. Risk is managed well and regularly reviewed. Staff work with families and other professionals to support and advise those young people who are involved in drug taking, frequent missing episodes and at risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). Young people engage well during these interventions and have a good understanding of the potential impact of their risky behaviours on their health and well-being. Although there has been a marked reduction in relation to these behaviours some young people still have a way to go. The team continues to work effectively with the CSE team, police, social care services and other agencies to share information, and to closely monitor and review the action plans. This keeps young people’s safety firmly on the agenda.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

These effective partnerships also help young people to access the services and resources that they are fully entitled to. Meetings and ongoing dialogue with an array of professions help to tackle and resolve any issues that may present barriers to young people’s safety, welfare and overall progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Challenging behaviour is effectively managed by the staff team. A restorative resolution is offered to young people to help minimise incidents. Those young people who choose not to take this conciliatory approach accept alternative strategies to self-manage their aggressive and violent outbursts towards staff. This helps them to understand the impact of their negative behaviour on others and on their future prospects.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child-focused interim manager is ambitious and is committed to improving services so that young people get the best possible outcomes. He is supported by members of the like-minded staff team who are working together to build and implement new practices. This includes strengthening the children’s voice so that it is a clear thread through their plans. Staff raise good practice issues in team meetings and participate in reflective discussions. Combined, these promote shared learning and stimulate consistent practice.

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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 February 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 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:

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Requirement Due date

(a) children are effectively safeguarded (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being (Regulation 44(4)(a) and (b)). 29 April 2016

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, it should ensure robust analysis of care practices with respect to evaluating the impact of the quality of care. In addition, it should make provision to ensure the correct relevant plans for young people are in place and any outstanding documentation is promptly chased to ensure continuity of care. 31 March 2016

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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)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, it should evaluate their views to inform service improvements. 31 March 2016

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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, work- based 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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