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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met three of the five requirements from the last inspection. However, there is no progress in meeting the remaining two requirements and the three recommendations from the last inspection. As a result, the three recommendations are now requirements linked to breaches in regulation, and the two unmet requirements are carried forward. In addition, a further requirement is raised at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Central to the issues in leadership and the failure to improve in a number of areas is the poor quality of the manager’s review and evaluation processes. The manager has not effectively assessed and taken action to tackle weaknesses in some key areas which have led to a decline in effectiveness, including each child's progress, staff practice, implementation of policies, the quality of record keeping and the feedback from children, their parents and placing authority. In addition, the response to areas for improvement identified at the last inspection is not good enough.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both girls now have individual risk assessments in the event that the girls are missing or absent from the home without permission. However, in the event of a ‘missing’ incident, there are still no individual strategies that set out the actions that staff should take, for example where to look, who to inform and when. The absence of these does not help to ensure that robust action will be taken to ensure the girls’ safety. Practice in referring allegations about staff to the local authority’s designated officer is still not robust and, at times, is not in line with statutory guidance. Although the manager knows the correct procedures, he is not taking action to ensure that they are followed. This compromises the integrity of the service in being open and transparent, and limits the level of information sharing with partner agencies. There is potential to put the girls at risk of harm if the management of allegations does not follow a strong enough process.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s supervision of staff is not in line with the registered provider’s policy, and is not demonstrating that their practice is suitably monitored and assessed. This has not improved since the last inspection. The manager is visible at the home and, in this sense, has appropriate oversight of how staff support the girls. This is not backed up by formal and accountable records of supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both girls have made progress in different aspects of their lives and continue to live in a friendly, supportive and homely environment. The manager is proactive in making changes to help to improve their behaviour and adopt a more effective, restorative and positive response to inappropriate behaviour. Risks have been reduced by modifications to the garden to prevent the girls from climbing on the shed and up into the trees. The girls are working hard to be good and achieve their incentives, particularly since the introduction of the home’s bonus award scheme. Expectations are individualised and appropriate to the girls’ needs, age and abilities. They run alongside the counselling and input from mental health services, and are aimed at improving the girls’ emotional well-being and overcoming past trauma. Staff have taken on board advice from individual counsellors and adapted how they interact with the girls to help to improve their confidence, self-esteem

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and resilience. There are still times when physical intervention is necessary to manage unsafe behaviours. The manager monitors these incidents and subsequent records. As the behaviour management trainer, he is also helping to influence effective practice that leads to a reduction in the frequency of restraint. Record keeping is not always clear about how staff have intervened. This compromises the ability to keep the girls free from harm and leaves staff more at risk, given the potential for a future allegation about their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff complete monthly progress reports for each girl that summarise what has happened in their lives each month, and includes some set targets and comments about their progress. Since the last inspection, these monthly reports have been relatively similar in wording each month and do not evidence good progress. One school report indicated that progress in most subjects last academic year was a struggle. While this girl’s pupil premium is spent on extra tuition, there is no evidence that the impact of this has been evaluated in terms of educational progress. Information about the girls’ likes and dislikes, health, education and care needs has not been translated into a clear plan with realistic targets. The manager is not formally assessing and reviewing progress in the light of information about the girls. One of the girls is making progress towards her independence, but clear aims and goals for her future have not been formulated, so there is no clear plan to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

work towards. Strengths in the quality of care are compromised by shortfalls in the care planning processes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken action since the last inspection to ensure that social workers meet their statutory responsibilities and timescales for visiting the girls. This is improving the quality of the relationships that the girls have with their social workers. The manager has improved his communication with independent reviewing officers. These positive changes are leading to better partnership working and promote the quality of external supervision of placements. This, in turn, is helping to ensure that the service is meeting the needs of the girls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor is now going to the home every month and reviewing how well the girls’ welfare is promoted and how effective are the arrangements to safeguard them. Her input is helping to evaluate and improve practice. The manager also completes monthly audits. These are basic in nature and lack effective evaluation of how well the home is managed. He also completes a six- monthly review of the quality of care. The last review was largely descriptive and, although there is a separate development plan, this requires updating. The girls have a good say in what happens at the home, and the manager is in regular contact with their relatives and placing authority. Feedback from these people is not utilised in evaluating the performance of the service.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have learning disabilities and/or emotional and behavioural difficulties. The registered provider also runs a special school that young people can attend. At the time of inspection, both girls living at the home went to other schools.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/05/2016 Full Good 08/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/10/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, in particular that allegations about staff in the home or other adults that work with children are referred within one day to the local authority's designated officer, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a) that staff: (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; (e) that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, in particular by effectively reviewing each child's progress, staff practice, implementation of policies, quality of record keeping, feedback from children, their parents and placing authority, the registered person must: (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, particularly by implementing written plans that set out how each child's diverse needs will be met, the registered manager must: (1) ensure that children: (a) receive effectively planned care. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (b) that arrangements are in place to: (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and (c) that each child's relevant plans are followed. 31/12/2016 33: Employment of staff

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees: (b) receive practice related-supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and (c) have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year (Regulation 33(4)(b)(c)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the registered provider's policy for staff supervision is adhered to. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out: (b) the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child, who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34(4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, there should be an individual strategy for staff to follow with respect to each child, for use in the event that they are absent or missing. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: (3)(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: (iv) a description of the measure and its duration. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, it must be clear to the reader what the term ‘guided’ is, with regard to its level of force and application to a child. 31/12/2016

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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 0300 123 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

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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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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