Children's home run by Hull City Council

Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 1 Registered provider: Kingston upon Hull City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and runs this home. It provides care for one young person on a short-, medium- or long-term basis.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection of the home since registration. The manager is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people who have lived at this home since registration have experienced a well-planned and successful introduction to the home. They benefit from high standards of care.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are caring and nurturing. They work hard to get to know the young people and demonstrate that they care about the young people’s welfare. This helps young people to invest in living at the home and to enjoy their time there.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people improve their attendance at school, and this gives them opportunities to learn more. The staff encourage the young people’s education and their future ambitions of going to college and promote their individual career pathways.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people enjoy taking part in their interests and hobbies, such as cadets, dog walking and pamper evenings. The staff take the young people out to places they like to go, including local restaurants and a Comic Con event.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff promote the young people’s emotional well-being. They frequently talk to the young people about their wishes and feelings and encourage attendance at local support groups about mental health and identity issues. The young people have a good say in the running of the home. They chose the menus, decorating schemes and furniture. The young people’s views about spending time with family and friends are listened to. Relatives and friends are welcome in the home and, consequently, these relationships are positive for the young people.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people receive good support to be healthy. The staff ensure that health checks are up to date and that the young people attend their appointments. The young people are able to see specialist health workers, such as the child and adolescent mental health services. The staff receive clinical advice that helps to inform their care of the young people. As a result, the young people’s health is safeguarded.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff know and understand the risks to the young people. These risks are clearly documented in individual risk management plans. Staff work hard to implement these, at times in difficult circumstances, such as when a young person has self- injured.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager has a good oversight of significant events that happen to the young people. She reviews the actions that staff have taken during these events, which ensures that staff’s care practice is appropriate. She gives the young people and the staff good levels of emotional support, advice and guidance. Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 3 The young people comment that where they live is homely and like a family home. They have good relationships with the staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

p.2

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young people follow their safety plans. For example, they tell staff where they are going, whom with and what time they will be home. They keep in regular contact with staff when they are out to let the staff know that they are safe. The staff will go out of their way to drop young people off and pick them up.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young people do not go missing from the home. In the event that this happens, the staff know what action to take to find them and get them home safely. The staff know what the signs of exploitation are and what action to take if they are worried about a young person’s safety. If necessary, the young people’s internet access is restricted and monitored to help to keep them safe online.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The young people behave well, and this is a reflection of the quality of the relationships that the staff have built with them. The young people receive rewards for their efforts, such as beauty products. The staff’s use of physical intervention to manage the young people’s behaviour is rare. It has only been needed once to prevent a young person from self-injuring.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well managed. The manager has developed the staff into a cohesive team since the home opened. She is supported by one senior staff member, and she appropriately delegates tasks to other staff. Consequently, the care planning for young people is organised and the standards of care are good.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular management audits are undertaken and, along with monthly external monitoring, inform the manager of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager is keen to make improvements. For example, there is a newly established system in place for recording weekly key-work time by the staff with young people.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager speaks to the young people and staff daily and has a good oversight of their care needs. She advocates for the young people and ensures that their wishes and feelings are taken account of. During the inspection, feedback from a young person led to the purchase of a laptop to assist with exam revision and job applications.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff communicate well with other agencies and professionals, such as health services, schools and social workers. This helps to ensure that the young people receive the best all-round care, such as reducing risks to their safety and promoting their mental health.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a system in place that demonstrates that the young people’s outcomes improve. This is reviewed regularly by the manager and staff with the young people. This helps to ensure that the young people’s achievements can be celebrated and concerns about their welfare can be addressed. Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 4 The staff undertake a range of training aimed at meeting the complex needs of the young people. This includes the effect of brain trauma on attachment and support for young people who self-injure. There is regular staff supervision and team meetings. These are carried out with a good focus on the care of the young people and any staff development needs. Consequently, the staff team has the knowledge and skills to look after the young people well. Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 5

p.3

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kingston upon Hull City Council, The Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AA

p.6

Inspector

Simon Morley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2550526 7 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7