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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC034313 1 SC034313

p.1

Kingston upon Hull City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The local authority owns and manages this home. The home provides care for children of both sexes whose plan is to live in a medium- to long-term residential setting.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2020.

p.1

This monitoring visit

An interim inspection was last completed at the home in November 2019.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review concerns about the management of the home and responses to safeguarding incidents. These concerns include children being at risk of harm from bullying, and the effectiveness of behaviour management strategies used by staff to keep children safe.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the time of the visit, there were four children living at the home. The inspector visited the home to meet with the children, staff and the manager.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children living at the home are being supported by staff to learn how to live together without conflict. Incidents such as name-calling, play-fighting and bullying have caused children to feel upset, and at times unsafe. However, staff are following safety plans and provide increased levels of supervision when needed. They are also supporting children to communicate with each other better after incidents occur. This is helping children to feel safer living together at the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are providing clinical consultation to the staff team. This working partnership is enabling staff to have a better understanding of the emotional health needs of the children. As a result, staff are developing more effective strategies, which is helping children to feel less anxious. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC034313 2 Most children say that they are well cared for and feel safe, though each child’s experience differs because staff practice can be inconsistent. One child said: ‘They are kind, caring, they do what you ask, and they are firm but fair.’ Another child said: ‘Sometimes they are busy when you need them, and don’t follow things up.’

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff are not completing incident reports in line with their behaviour management model. They do not record how they support a child to recover emotionally after an incident occurs. Therefore, the manager is unable to fully evaluate the incident. This could result in inconsistencies in staff practice.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The staff help the children to take part in various activities, hobbies and interests. Children also attend school, which provides them with a consistent daily routine. This supports their educational needs and engages them positively throughout the day, which helps keeps them safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff have supported children to personalise their bedrooms to their liking. This enables children to have an increased sense of identity, and most importantly, they have somewhere to relax.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The manager is a strong advocate for the children and communicates openly with other professionals, such as social workers, teachers and CAMHS. These working relationships are supporting the children’s holistic care needs and ensure that they have the support they need.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/11/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/05/2019 Full Good 14/08/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC034313 3

p.2

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. In particular, staff should ensure that after any incident children are consulted and supported with the ‘life space interview’ and restorative practice, in line with the agreed behaviour management model. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kingston upon Hull City Council

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.3

Inspector

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC034313 4 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.3

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.4

Inspector

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

p.4

Inspector

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

p.4