Children's home run by Hull City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 1 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

This home is operated by a local authority and provides a solo placement for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live in this home build trusted relationships with the registered manager and staff. Staff are nurturing, child-focused and show sensitivity to children’s needs and previous experiences. They maintain boundaries and routines in a positive and playful way. This gives children confidence to feel safe, and they share their feelings with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with communication, learning and language development, self-care skills, manging their own emotions and building friendships. These skills are important to prepare them for the future. Professionals recognise that a consistent approach from staff supports children’s development. The social skills children develop in the home support them to be happy and confident.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is newly decorated with toys, games and play equipment throughout. The single bedroom is decorated appropriately to a good standard. It reflects the child’s individual taste and likes. The child played with games and read books from their bedroom throughout the day during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported with dignity and respect. Staff consider children’s experiences and feelings when planning activities and support them if they are upset. Staff speak in a positive and affirming way, both to children and about children. Children are able to experience a broad range of activities. These are sensitively planned to offer familiarity, fun and learning and build children’s confidence. Activities reflect children’s interests, and creative activities help children to build confidence and develop speech and language skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are supportive and ensure that children have regular time with their families. They support children to enjoy this time and manage endings well. They plan activities to help children unwind and allow them time to process their day. They work closely with other professionals in children’s care planning. Staff reflect and learn from experiences with children and feedback from the registered manager to improve the care and support they provide to children.

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

Staff manage risks well for children in the community. Staff follow plans that give clear rationale and instruction about how best to support children. These assessments and plans are kept under regular review by the registered manager. An assessment is completed before children are placed so that the registered manager can identify if the staff can meet individual children’s needs.

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

Staff make a difference in helping children to take age-appropriate risks and support children with clear guidance on keeping safe. This helps children learn to keep Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 4 themselves safe in a supported and protective environment. Children are given positive feedback and reassurance throughout by the staff.

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

Children are well supervised by staff and do not go missing from home. However, there are systems in place should a child go missing, and a swift response from staff can happen quickly. Children want to be with staff, which demonstrates the strength of the relationships between children and staff.

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

The registered manager safeguards children by addressing any concerns raised thoroughly. The registered manager shares information with other professionals and seeks guidance and feedback from them. Plans are updated after incidents to share any new information with the staff. This allows both children and staff to be safer.

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

The recording of physical interventions has improved in some areas, but some records were unclear. The registered manager is aware of this, and new forms are being designed. However, currently, records are unclear and do not demonstrate if staff use safe practices to safeguard children during a physical intervention.

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

Health and safety checks are generally well managed in the home. The risks in the local area have also been addressed and incorporated into children’s individual plans. It was noted from a record of an incident and through discussions with staff that there is a significant risk posed by a ledge on the upstairs landing. Children have climbed on this, which places them at risk of falling from a height. The registered manager made immediate plans to address this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Temporary management arrangements were in place recently while the registered manager was away from the home. The registered manager has now returned to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers from the wider organisation have supported the staff and ensured that supervision sessions and appraisals have been completed. Staff aspire to do well and achieve. They feel listened to and valued by their managers. Staff have developed new skills and have responded well to children’s needs. Feedback about staff practice from professionals is positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and team work closely with other professionals involved in the children’s lives. Professionals commented positively on the consistent approach by staff to caring for children. Staff had been given clear direction on their practice and have been asked to reflect on what they think might influence the behaviour of children. Staff have reflected and implemented effective changes in their practice. Staff can see the positive effects on children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is open and transparent in their practice and welcomes feedback. They collaborate closely with psychologists to gain an understanding in order to support children. Education and social care professionals who are involved with children are invited to join case reflections to try and achieve the best Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 5 outcomes for children. Staff are trained in a therapeutic approach that is embedded in staff practice, and they recognise the value of therapeutic approaches.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend a wide range of training that is relevant to their roles. Any training needs that are specific to children who move into the home are addressed before the child moves in. However, some staff have either not been able to access some mandatory training or they are due to attend a training refresher session. This means that some staff do not have up-to-date training to support children effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2)(d)) 16 June 2023

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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

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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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 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 7 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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”)—

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Requirement Due date

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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i) (ii)(c)(iv))

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 28 July 2023

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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 for children’s home: 2598205 8

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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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Inspector

Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 9 regulates and inspects 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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