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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 1 SC034746

p.1

Hull City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who plan to live in a medium- to long-term residential setting.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in September 2019.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At the full inspection undertaken on 27 and 28 April 2021, there were serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children. This led to six requirements. One of these was escalated to a compliance notice; this related to the protection of children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the progress made to meet the compliance notice. This visit showed that the provider has made improvements and the compliance notice is met.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the inspection in April, one child has left and two children remain living at the home. The provider has not admitted any further children.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has reviewed their policies and procedures which now provide improved guidance for staff to help keep children safe. Staff are familiar with the new procedures and follow them consistently. This results in the safety of children being promoted.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The children’s risk assessments have been changed and are now clearer to understand and include strategies for staff to follow to reduce risks. The provider is continuing to review the format and content of the risk assessments to improve them further. This is helpful in supporting staff to follow agreed plans. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 2 Staff are able to demonstrate how they would escalate concerns about a child’s welfare and how they follow plans to safeguard children. Records of children going missing show that plans are followed. When children go missing from the home, staff work hard to return children home safely and quickly.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff are able to easily identify the most concerning risks at present for the children. For children at risk of exploitation, there is now improved monitoring of phone and social media use. This results in staff being able to identify emerging risks sooner and respond accordingly.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The tools used by the manager to monitor both staff practice and the premises are more effective than previously. Any action needed to address shortfalls is undertaken in due timescales.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The policy about challenging bullying has been rewritten and an anti-bullying risk assessment has also been completed. This is helping to promote better relationships between the young people.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children now have keys to their bedrooms and no longer rely on staff to unlock their doors. This promotes both their safety and privacy.

p.2

This monitoring visit

A new fire risk assessment and fire safety audit has been completed. This identified some necessary remedial action, and also made recommendations for the purchase of additional equipment. These actions have been completed and the equipment obtained.

p.2

This monitoring visit

There has been further training for staff in how to hold a child to prevent them coming to harm, and training in fire safety. This has resulted in a staff team that has improved knowledge on how to keep a child safe.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The action taken by the provider to address the concerns in the compliance notice has been sufficient. The other requirements made in April have not been considered fully, but will be at the next inspection. The dates for them to be met have been adjusted accordingly.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/04/2021 Full Inadequate 04/06/2019 Full Good 21/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.3

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that a child’s ethnic and cultural heritage is reflected in the care provided and that they are supported to develop their own identity. 30 June 2021

p.3

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(v))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This refers to providing children with an alternative structure and activities during the days when they refuse education, which provide opportunities to learn. 30 June 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 4 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

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))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring that monitoring systems are fit for purpose, and that no aspects of care are omitted or overlooked during audits and monitoring exercises, including those delegated to others. 30 June 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.4

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 30 June 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.4

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 30 June 2021

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. Children and their parents should be supported to understand the nature of records kept by the home and how to access them. Staff should understand their important role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 5 to their age and understanding. Staff should keep, and encourage children to keep, appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them to record significant life events. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

p.4

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.5

Information about this inspection

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

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034746 6 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.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6