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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2599994 1

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Kingston upon Hull City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The local authority owns and manages this home. The home provides care for one child, irrespective of gender. The home provides medium- to long-term care.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is not undertaking the role. The provider has put in place an acting manager to run the home while the registered manager is away.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this visit was carried out off site. The visit was carried out to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted in notifications that indicated a potential risk of harm to the child. The visit included a review of documents, and discussions with the manager, a parent and relevant professionals. The child was not present during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The home opened in July 2020 and has not yet had a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Some of the child’s outcomes have improved since she has been living at the home. There has been a reduction in risk-taking behaviour and staff have supported the child to re-engage with school after a period of absence. Staff provide individualised care and support which have helped the child to make progress.

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This monitoring visit

The child has good relationships with the staff. The child also takes part in a variety of activities at home, such as learning to play the piano, cooking and, while out in the community, photography. One social worker spoken to said, ‘All staff have a good relationship with the child, they do try to make it feel like home.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff have ensured that family time has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. When possible, staff have supported the child to meet with her family, face to face. This has helped to sustain relationships that are important to the child. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2599994 2 Staff do not always receive supervision or training. Some staff have only been supervised once since the home opened in July 2020. Staff have not completed several training courses, such as therapeutic parenting, self-harm awareness and response, restorative practice and child development due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. This means that staff are not fully equipped to meet the individual needs of the child who is living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Information about court-directed restrictions is clearly recorded on the child’s plans, but staff have not kept the child informed about the conditions of the restrictions being extended. This has not helped the child to understand why she is still living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not have in place consistent boundaries and protocols that reduce the risk of harm to the child. An incident involving the child escalated, resulting in the police being called to assist staff to manage the presenting behaviour. This increases the risk of the child being criminalised.

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This monitoring visit

The provider did not notify Ofsted, in a timely manner, when a serious incident occurred. While the provider has followed the relevant safeguarding procedures, the late notification means that the regulator did not have adequate oversight to ensure that all actions had been taken to safeguard the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has in place a fire safety plan that reduces the risk of harm to the child and staff. The plan covers all aspects of day-to-day living where there could be a risk of fire. The staff follow the plan consistently, which helps to keep everyone safe.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and the staff have good working relationships with partner agencies. Incidents in the home are reported in line with the local safeguarding procedures. Partnership working with social workers, the youth offending team and other professionals, enables information to be shared, which reduces the risk of harm to the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has followed safeguarding procedures when responding to concerns that were raised about a staff member’s practice. This has helped the child to be protected from harm while the investigation into the staff member’s behaviour continues.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Not previously inspected Inspection type Inspection judgement Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2599994 3

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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, the 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)) This particularly refers to the manager ensuring that staff reduce the risk of incidents occurring by keeping personal belongings in a safe location. 25 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(c)(g)(i)) The manager must ensure that all staff have regular supervision and training to support them to have the knowledge and skills to care for the child living at the home. 25 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child protection enquiry involving a child— 25 March 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2599994 4 is instigated. (Regulation 40 (4)(d))

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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Inspector

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2599994 5 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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