Children's Home run by Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull

Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 1 SC034313 Registered provider: Kingston-upon-Hull City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and runs this home. It provides care for young people whose plan is to live in a medium- to long-term residential setting. The manager is suitably qualified and has been in post since January 2017. He became the registered manager in August 2017. He began working in children’s homes in 1999 and was first registered as a children’s home manager in 2010.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a recent unsettled period in the home. Two emergency admissions before the last inspection resulted in a poor match of young people. The needs of the young people could not all be met with them living in the same home. Consequently, there has been a rise in incidents of challenging behaviour, and some young people felt and were unsafe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The local authority has taken steps to rectify this. Two young people have moved out, one in a planned way to a home that is more suited to his needs. Consequently, incidents have reduced, and the home is safer for the remaining two young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 2 The young people still go missing from the home. Staff consistently ensure that they return safely and follow the individual missing person’s action plan. Staff are spending more time with young people to build up relationships, encourage young people to invest in the home and reduce the amount they are missing. For example, one young person, with support from staff and inclusion of his relatives, has just decorated his room with the colours of the rugby club he supports.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are encouraging the young people to take part in planned activities and day trips during the school summer holiday period. They have started to support the young people to engage in talks about healthy relationships to improve the young people’s awareness of positive relationships, and to increase their social skills and their emotional well-being. Where possible, this includes family members, and staff have arranged with them to provide the young people with framed photographs of important relatives. Staff promote regular family contact for the young people, where this is safe and in line with the local authority’s care plans.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monthly outcome planners and tracker forms, such as engagement with staff and missing from home trackers, are not being fully utilised by staff. Not all agreed actions in the planners are completed. For example, outcome stars to measure outcomes for the young people are not used. Therefore, this limits how well the progress of the young people can be assessed and reviewed. Staff do discuss pertinent issues with the young people, such as safety, behaviour and the young people’s wishes and feelings. However, the system of key working and use of the young people’s ‘My Plans’ are not embedded effectively and linked to their care plans.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the three requirements and the recommendation made at the last inspection have been addressed. Staff supervision is now monthly and in line with the local authority’s policy. There are appropriate training opportunities in place for staff that link to the needs of young people, such as attachment, trauma and sexualised behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is ongoing work to improve the physical environment and to repair damage caused by the young people. The staff have improved the appearance of the gardens and there are plans to replace internal doors to make a homelier environment, but this has not yet been achieved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have implemented new rewards systems to motivate the young people to improve their behaviour. These are tailored to the young people’s individual interests and are having a positive impact. There is a better restorative approach to poor behaviour and a reduction in the use of financial consequences. This is encouraging the young people to invest in the home and their care plan objectives. The use of physical intervention is infrequent and as a last resort, staff have not needed to use this for over a month. Records of behaviour management are detailed but do not consistently show whether the young people are offered any first aid or medical support after an incident.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The third requirement about the admission of young people to the home is carried over as there have been no further admissions since the last inspection. Practice in this Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 3 regard cannot yet be judged with regard to any improvement.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/03/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2016 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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 quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, improve how the achievements and progress of young people are tracked and assessed. 31/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that arrangements are in place to manage and review the placement of children in the home. (Regulation 14 (2)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should accept placements for children only where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. 31/10/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 4

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraphs 9.59) In particular staff should offer and record the offer of medical attention to a child after each incident of restraint.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kingston-upon-Hull City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AA

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Paul Robson Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 5

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Inspector

Simon Morley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034313 6 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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