Children's home run by Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull, City of

Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 1 SC034706 Registered provider: Hull City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and runs this home. It provides care, on a medium- or long- term basis, for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2019 Full Good 21/11/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Secure and trusting relationships between the children and the staff are a significant strength of the home. This forms the basis for children to make progress, often from difficult starting points. Children have lived at the home for long periods of time. This in itself is positive, as some children have previously experienced a number of moves. In addition, children accept advice and help, and feel settled. This leads to improved emotional and psychological well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Engagement in education and a reduction in the number of missing episodes are also evidence of progress, although the degree varies between children. It is positive that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have taken examinations and are making plans for the next stage of their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have meaningful family time with their loved ones, in line with their plans. The staff also develop good connections with the children’s families to promote consistency in their care. In addition, staff provide opportunities for children to spend quality time with their siblings, doing fun activities such as going to a theme park. This supports children to develop their sense of identity and self- worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the impact of trauma on children, and help them when this affects their emotional well-being. This has included taking a child away for a holiday to divert difficult thoughts and feelings that arose from losing a parent. This provides children with enjoyment and redirection during emotionally traumatic times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly consulted about the care they receive, and staff respond accordingly. This results in children having individualised care and support, and they say that they feel listened to. Staff encourage children to pursue their interests, have new experiences and maintain relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One strength of the home is the professional networks that have been established. Staff ensure that specialist help is available to children at the point at which they need it. Joint work between the staff and psychologists, substance misuse agencies, police and health professionals ensures that a range of expertise informs the care of the children. This promotes the children’s safety and their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care the staff provide for children is highly valued by fellow professionals and helps children to be safer. One social worker said, ‘Staff are absolutely amazing; I have never known a staff team who pulled around a child like they have.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a sufficiently detailed welcome guide that provides children with an overview and information about what to expect when they come to live at the home. It informs children how they can make a complaint if they are not happy about the Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 4 care they receive, and who to contact. However, it does not provide the details of the children’s commissioner, in line with the guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The ground floor of the home is decorated to a reasonable standard. However, a number of minor repairs are needed in the property. In particular, the upstairs of the property looks tired. The rear garden is very poorly maintained. This does not enhance the living experience or promote the self-worth of the children.

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

Risks to the children are well-understood and regularly reviewed, and plans are overseen by senior management as appropriate. Risk management is shared with other agencies, but could be more effective and proactive, especially with regard to known and emerging risks.

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

Staff set boundaries consistently for children, and model good relationships which help children to understand/become more certain about what is, and what is not, acceptable or safe behaviour. The strong nurturing relationships that staff and children enjoy contribute to the young people disclosing worries and concerns, and seeking help at times of crisis.

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

Children have plans in place should they go missing, and the staff work proactively in partnership with the police at these times. Staff keep plans up to date and follow them, which helps to ensure that children are returned to their home as quickly as possible.

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

The use of physical intervention is rarely needed. When it has occurred, it has been reasonable and proportionate. Staff are trained and able to support children to de- escalate their behaviour, which reduces the need to use restraint. Children are supported to explore alternative coping strategies, which helps them to have more control over their emotions. Restraint records, however, do not record some key pieces of information. This limits the manager’s ability to fully evaluate the appropriate use of restraint and ensure that children’s views have been considered.

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

When children move into the home, the impact of this on the other residents is thoroughly considered. Other professionals are involved to help evaluate the suitability of the home and this helps in reaching a multi-agency decision when matching children. The decision on who should move into the home could be strengthened further by considering the children’s peers, networks and any individuals of concern.

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

When there was a fire-setting incident in the home, the manager took appropriate action and worked in consultation with the fire safety team and fire authority. This helped to ensure that children and staff are at reduced risk from fire caused deliberately or through misadventure. The manager has not, however, kept under review the fire risk assessment and when it is appropriate to lock doors. This prevents her from being reassured that no further actions are needed to maximise fire safety. Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 5 It is unclear if risks associated with mobile phone and social media use are properly understood, recorded and managed. The organisation does have a policy on this, but the manager advised that a review of this area of practice is underway based on the current children living at the home. This plan is untested as yet.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Requirements made at the previous inspection and monitoring visit have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well established. She is actively involved in the running of the home and knows the progress that the children make. She is committed to ensuring that children have the best experience and opportunities while living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value the support, guidance and supervision provided by the manager. Additional support for staff from a counselling psychologist allows them the opportunity to reflect and learn from this experience. The manager promotes the development of the staff, and has arranged additional training on therapeutic skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the quality of care using systems that are specific to the home. However, some of the records, such as incident records and supervision notes, are not consistent in format and quality, and do not promote ease of use or evaluation. Without this clarity and consistency, the manager cannot fully evaluate the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Independent visits occur monthly, in line with the regulations; however, the independent person does not always rigorously scrutinise the incidents that occur in the home, in particular safeguarding incidents. This does not enable the regulator to have a detailed understanding of the care and support provided, and of whether the children are being effectively supported and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers will challenge should they perceive that other agencies or professionals are not promoting or meeting the best interests of the children. The manager escalated her concerns about the poor practice of others when a child was missing and at risk of harm. When poor practice has been challenged, it has helped the provider and partner agencies to put better protocols in place to protect the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 6

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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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 31 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— 31 July 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 7 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene and so on); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Just as in a family home, the registered provider must ensure that children are able to access all shared areas of their home, unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)). Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home, and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to

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Recommendations

safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, should be properly recorded and should be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered provider should encourage children to develop positive relationships with others, both in and outside the home, as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships, including relationships with other children in the home, staff, family members, friends and others outside the home, and therefore they should take appropriate steps to protect a child where there are concerns for the child’s safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that a child’s bedroom is not generally entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 8 (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as

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Recommendations

learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC034706 9

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034706 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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