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 requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . The home is not operating within its statement of purpose. Consequently, young people are not receiving consistent and sustained care and protection. Since the last inspection, the previous registered manager admitted a young person without due regard to the home’s statement of purpose and without consultation with the regulator. The action taken by the previous registered manager has impeded the young person’s progress. This is because the young person’s complex needs and risks are not met fully and he is not safeguarded effectively. Poor care planning practice has resulted in one young person’s placement lasting for almost six weeks. The young person’s care plan does not make clear the support to the staff team to mitigate against the current skill gaps. The impact risk

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessment does not identify all of the potential risks to the group dynamic from this admission. A risk assessment that identifies the measures to protect some, but not all, of the young person’s significant vulnerabilities has not been followed robustly. Such a lack of strategic care planning and risk management places young people at risk of inappropriate and unsafe placements. This has also resulted in a young person’s exposure to emotional and physical bullying. In addition, the young people’s recent involvement in an extremely serious incident does not promote safe boundaries. Young people overheard staff discussing confidential information about a former young person, which is a significant breach of data protection. This could have serious consequences for the young person that the information relates to. Not all young people feel safe. This is in part due to the inappropriate practice of some staff members. Although staff have ‘blown the whistle’ about the conduct of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their peers, the outcome of any action taken is not clear. This fails to demonstrate a robust response to how they safeguard the well-being of young people. The matter is currently under investigation. Young people do not have a key to their bedroom. Neither do they have access to a computer in the home because the computer room is locked, with no explanation given. Young people’s sense of safety, mutual relationships and the free movement of young people in their own home is undermined by these restrictive measures. Not all of the previous requirements and recommendations have been met. Although the home environment has improved in the lounge area, the overall standard of accommodation remains poor. Some of the young people’s bedrooms are unacceptably cold and the radiators are not working. A gap in the window in a young person’s bedroom has contributed to the cold temperature. Staff have not reported this for repair and it is unclear how long the young people have had to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

tolerate these conditions. Damp in the bedrooms, non-coordinated, damaged and low-quality bedroom furniture, in addition to large screen televisions in the bedrooms, present an institutional and unhealthy environment. A loose wire in one of the bedrooms presents a safety hazard. Poor quality bathrooms are sparse and clinical. The damaged lighting pull cord in one of the bathrooms was identified during a regulation 44 visit several weeks previously. It had not been acted on. This impacts negatively on young people’s safety when using the bathroom and it looks unattractive. The persistent unpleasant odour impairs the young people’s living environment and experiences in their home. These significant deficiencies support premises that are not fit for purpose. The manager’s quality of care review includes evidence of consultation with young people, but fails to consider the opinions of professionals, parents and staff. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

does not show how other people’s views influence service developments. Young people’s outcome-based care plans have progressed. The risks associated with bullying and the young people’s access to the roof are highlighted in individual risk assessments. However, further work to raise young people’s awareness of the damaging impact of bullying behaviour on others is required. Information in the sanction records that relate to the effectiveness of sanctions is met. However, the absence of young people’s views does not show how they feel about the fairness of the measures. Suitable management arrangements are in place in the absence of the registered manager. Changes to the management thresholds mean that the regulator receives notifications about serious incidents appropriately. The local authority residential review has ended. It has led to the introduction of new staff to the team. Included is a new, suitably qualified and experienced

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager. He has recently taken up leadership of the home. Most young people welcome his presence and express confidence in him. Staff speak highly about his management style and feel supported and included in the manager’s improvement plans. Staff feel empowered and motivated to carry out their roles with a better sense of purpose and accountability. The staff speak positively about the young people. They recognise the progress that some young people make, such as good education attendance and accepting responsibility for their negative behaviours. This shows capacity for improvement.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local authority and it is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people, of either gender, who may have 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

04/03/2016 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(5)) 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

*6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to ensuring that the home is furnished, decorated, and well maintained, in order to provide high-quality accommodation (2) the registered person is required to— (b) ensure that staff— (vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

*12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, specifically in relation to promoting and monitoring children’s safety and welfare effectively, the outcome of staff whistleblowing, improved data protection, implementing robust risk assessments and making safe the loose wire in one of the bedrooms, the registered person must ensure— 2)(a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are

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Requirement Due date

designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child 10/03/2017 from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (c) ensure that staff have experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child, and use this understanding to inform the development of the

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Requirement Due date

quality of care provided in the home. 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

*14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2) In order to meet the care planning standard, specifically in relation to making appropriate placements, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard (1) The care planning standard is that children— (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (e) that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested if (i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm 10/03/17 or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs. The registered person must ensure that— children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises. (Regulation 21(b)) Specifically, ensure that young people are supplied with a key to their room and make all areas of the home accessible to young people, unless there is an identified reason that is outlined within

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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)) Specifically, ascertain and consider the opinions of parents, professionals and staff. 10/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered manager should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles as set out in paragraph 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36). Specifically, consistently seek to ascertain, and incorporate, young people’s views into the sanctions records.

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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 that 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 children looked after 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 at: 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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