Children's home run by Hull City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 1 Registered provider: Kingston upon Hull City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a local authority. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since July 2023. Between July 2023 and February 2024, a manager was in post, but they did not register with Ofsted, and they left in February 2024. An interim manager has been in post since then, who has not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be 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

05/06/2023 Full Good 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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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. For the child who moved from the home, this was well planned. The child was able to meet staff from the new home, have tea visits and go on an activity with the child they would live with. This was a positive transition for this child. However, when the current child moved to the home, a transition plan was not in place. The child was not involved in any discussions or plans regarding their move. This does not support a smooth move to a new home, nor does it tell the child their opinions are valued.

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improvement to be good

Children have not been adequately supported to make progress in education. The child who currently lives in the home is not provided with the education and support that is specified in their personal education plan. The interim manager of the home was not aware of the support that the child requires and has not advocated for the needs of the child or challenged other professionals. This does not help the child to progress or achieve their ambitions.

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improvement to be good

Children have not been consistently supported to communicate their needs. They are not spoken with after incidents occur. This does not provide children with opportunities to reflect on the reason for their distress or behaviour. This does not help them to learn to make positive choices.

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improvement to be good

The rights of children are not always respected and promoted. During incidents, one child was prevented from accessing areas of the home such as the downstairs rooms, and doors were locked. A toy cupboard in the lounge is also kept locked. This limits the ability of children to access all areas of their home. These restrictions were not reviewed with social workers and risk assessments did not reflect the rationale for this. This does not allow children space to explore and learn.

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improvement to be good

The child who currently lives in the home is making progress with their ability to manage their own emotions. There is staff support to enable the child to do this. Staff understand the child’s needs and risks that might affect the child. The child is beginning to build trusted relationships with staff. Activities are regularly planned with the child. Staff recognise the importance of building relationships through play.

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improvement to be good

Children who live in the home are offered a wide range of age-appropriate activities, which they choose. Staff are motivated and support outings such as going to the gym, swimming and playing golf. Children choose their own furniture and how their bedrooms are decorated. The child who currently lives in the home said they like their bedroom and the staff. The child recently requested to buy fish and a fish tank. Staff responded in a kind, friendly and timely way to this request. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 4 The home is warm and welcoming, and the decoration and furnishings are in good order. It has recently undergone a refurbishment and has a homely, domestic feel.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported by staff to maintain positive relationships with their family. For the child who currently lives in the home, appropriate family members are regularly welcomed for visits. Feedback from professionals is positive. They describe caring staff with good communication skills and an understanding of the child’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the needs of children, including how past experiences have affected them. Each child has risk assessments, which are reviewed regularly, but these do not reflect known individual risks to children. Risk assessments are not updated following incidents. This does not help staff to prevent the same risks reoccurring and keep children safe.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from the home. For the child who currently lives in the home, the plans in place to guide staff if the child does go missing from home do not keep the child safe. Staff had different views as to how they would support the child when they were missing and when they would contact outside agencies for help. The plans in place do not direct staff to the best course of action and do not promote a co-ordinated response, which would keep the child safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff are trained to physically intervene when necessary to keep children safe. However, staff physically intervened with the child who previously lived at the home using holds that they had not been taught to use. When physical interventions take place, these are not consistently reviewed by a manager. Staff are not always given the opportunity to reflect on the incident. When interventions occurred, the child was not routinely supported to reflect on, or discuss, the incident. This does not help the child to feel valued or listened to.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to remain in good health. Children are supported to attend their appointments and reviews. However, when the child who currently lives in the home chooses to decline their prescribed medication, there are a number of occasions when staff do not record that the medication has been offered or refused. This does not provide a true reflection of the needs of the child when professionals review their medication.

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improvement to be good

The health and safety risk assessment was updated in 2023. No action has been taken as a result of issues that were raised in the assessment. The annual review of premises is reflective of the local area, but the document does not evidence consultation with relevant people. Additionally, it has not been reviewed to consider any additional risks to the child who currently lives in the home. This does not support the child or staff to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 5 An up-to-date fire risk assessment is in place. However, this is not underpinned by consultation with appropriately qualified professionals. Fire doors at the home are also propped open. Extension leads are used in an unsafe manner in staff offices. This does not promote the safety of children or staff.

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improvement to be good

The staff team works closely alongside a therapist to support a joined-up-approach to care. This has enabled staff to begin to promote clear boundaries and expectations for the child who lives in the home. This is contributing to the feeling of security that the child displays in their positive and playful interactions with staff.

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improvement to be good

Recruitment in the home is clear and organised, questions are asked as needed and steps are taken to keep children safe. The relevant professionals and outside agencies are informed of any concerns about inappropriate adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is currently managed by an interim manager. A lack of management oversight and leadership has impacted on children and staff. This includes the poor management of some incidents, care plans and risk assessments. The interim manager was not fully aware of the needs of the child who lives in the home. This means the interim manager has not challenged the education provision for the child, who is not receiving the support which was agreed in their personal education plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Monitoring systems that are in place are ineffective. The interim manager has not updated a number of documents in line with the provider’s policies. This includes the home’s development plan and the health and safety risk assessment. When assessments identify that action is needed, this is not consistently completed. The interim manager has not prioritised safety in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff training is ineffective. Casual staff do not have the necessary training in place to keep children safe. This includes a lack of safeguarding training, fire and first-aid training. Permanent staff are not offered specific training which would enable them to better understand and respond to the needs of the child living at the home. The training required by the last home’s development plan has not been consistently offered or completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are not offered the opportunity to participate in regular supervision sessions. Some staff have been offered ad hoc sessions, but the process is not embedded or consistent. Staff do not have their performance or fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. Regular team meetings are not in place. This does not support staff to learn new skills or support them with their professional and personal development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The interim manager has not kept the statement of purpose under review. It does not reflect the current staffing of the home, the skills and qualifications of staff, or what care is currently offered in the home. This does not allow outside agencies the opportunity to review if the home would meet the needs of a child who may need a placement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 6 The annual review of the quality of care report, completed by the previous manager, does not contain the views and opinions of children, professionals or parents. The interim manager wants to develop systems for gathering regular feedback. The home is visited every month by an independent visitor and the interim manager responds to these reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff speak positively about the interim manager and the recent changes. Staff were positive about the team and said that they all work well together. The interim manager has received some feedback from professionals. Feedback highlighted the positive care and support staff provide. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 7

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that the registered person must ensure 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

assess whether a child is at risk of harm taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that known risks are reviewed and risk assessments are completed to keep children safe; 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; that when any form of physical intervention is required, these are reviewed with the staff involved and the intervention has oversight from an authorised person; that when children are involved in physical interventions, they have the opportunity to reflect on and discuss the measure.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the home, allowing children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. 31 July 2024

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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

promotes their welfare. 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 8 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have sufficient oversight of all important documents in the home and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements to the quality of care provided in the home, including the home’s development plan, the review of premises and the health and safety risk assessment.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that the annual review of premises includes consultation with relevant people; that the statement of purpose is reflective of the care provided in the home, the staff team and submitted within the necessary timescale; ensure that reports which review the quality of care include the views and opinions of children, and other stakeholders, and provide challenge to the wider system to ensure that child’s educational needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

satisfy the conditions in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 9 is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(b)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of each individual child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 31 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home— the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must consult with an appropriately qualified and experienced person, to ensure that the fire risk assessment is suitable for the home; ensure that fire doors are not propped open; and that extension leads in the home are used appropriately and safely. 31 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff play a role in supporting children in line with their personal education plan or education, health and care plan, and any recommendations from education and health professionals. In particular, the registered person should ensure that personal education plans are advocated for and completed as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  Medicines must be administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 10  The registered person should specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home

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Recommendations

without permission, and how staff should support the child on their return to the home. In particular, ensure that procedures include clear guidelines for the staff on what actions they should take to locate the child and then report the child missing if necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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 11

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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

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2598205 12 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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