Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)
Children's Home run by Rite Directions Limited in Kingston upon Hull
Summary
Evelyn Chafota (lead), Gina Lightfoot
What we read, and from where
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- Group verified
Rite Directions Ltd
- Inspection date verified
9 May 2024
- Inspectors verified
Evelyn Chafota, Gina Lightfoot
- Helped and protected verified
Requires improvement to be good
- Leadership and management verified
Requires improvement to be good
- Overall effectiveness verified
Requires improvement to be good
- Name on report verified
1254316
- URN verified
1254316
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2023.
- OverallRI to be good
- Helped and protectedRI to be good
- Leadership and managementRI to be good
13% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement to be good (12,716 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Requires improvement to be good.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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Concerns
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Next steps
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What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance7
“The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good” p.1Progress & outcomes7
“Children’s progress is limited in some areas of their development.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,276
- shorter than usual (typical 1899)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 48, typical 50
- Average sentence
- 14 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 8
- Hedged sentences
- 3%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report children’s home: 1254316 1 Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd
p.1
Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The home is owned and run by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.
p.1
Information about this children’s home
The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2021 and is suitably qualified.
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
children and young people, taking into account
p.1
requires improvement to be good
How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good
p.1
requires improvement to be good
The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good
p.1
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.
p.1
requires improvement to be good
Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good
p.1
requires improvement to be good
Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 2
p.1
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
17/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/05/2022 Full Inadequate 15/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 3
p.2
improvement to be good
Children’s progress is limited in some areas of their development. Staff do not provide sufficient opportunities for children to engage in activities outside the home. This is a missed opportunity for children to explore new things, expand their social circles or grow in their self-confidence.
p.3
improvement to be good
Leaders and managers have not ensured that the home’s day to day care provides structure and routines which children need to help them have positive experiences and reduce their anxieties. Equally, staff do not consistently equip children with the knowledge and skills that they need for living independently. This does not support children’s progress.
p.3
improvement to be good
The current monitoring systems of the home environment are not sufficient to ensure that repairs are completed in a timely manner. Children do not know how to make a complaint. This information is not routinely shared with children. This does not promote their voices to be heard.
p.3
improvement to be good
Staff prioritise children’s education. They understand the importance of working with education providers, virtual school services and allocated teaching staff to address the challenges children face. As result, children develop aspirations for their future. For one child who has not been in school for a long time, their attendance has been good, and they are enjoying going to school.
p.3
improvement to be good
Children’s health needs are well promoted by staff. Staff monitor the children’s health and provide the necessary support to ensure that routine appointments and checks are up to date. Because of this, children’s health is maintained.
p.3
improvement to be good
Relationships between staff and children are mostly positive. Staff prioritise helping children to rebuild and maintain family connections and facilitate regular family visits. This helps children to maintain important relationships and ensures that they are not isolated from their families.
p.3
improvement to be good
Staff are competent in identifying children’s risks and other factors that may affect their safety. However, strategies to positively influence children’s behavioural and emotional responses are not well embedded in staff practice. As result, staff are inconsistent in the care they provide to children. This does not ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 4 Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort and to protect children and those around them from harm. However, during incidents, staff do not always present to children as being competent and confident. As a result, this increases children anxieties leading to an escalation of behaviour.
p.3
improvement to be good
Children rarely go missing from the home, but if they do, staff have clear plans to follow. Staff have a good understanding of the home’s missing-from-care procedures and fully understand the actions expected of them in these circumstances. This ensures that children are better protected from harm.
p.4
improvement to be good
Staff recruitment is effective and helps to prevent the employment of unsuitable staff. Leaders and managers complete all necessary employment checks and verification processes for new staff. This helps to reduce the risk of harm to children.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good
The registered manager was not present during the inspection and the inspection visit was assisted by the responsible individual and the deputy manager. The manager has not maintained an adequate oversight of the standards of care provided to children in the home. As a result, the care provided to children has not been consistently good.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good
Staff do not consistently receive regular formal supervision sessions. Consequently, managers do not sufficiently monitor or review staff performance. Records of supervision sessions lack constructive challenge or a reflective learning culture when errors occur. This is a missed opportunity to develop staff practice and improve outcomes for children. In addition, staff have not received their annual appraisals.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good
Leaders and managers do not have sufficient oversight of the training of staff. Not all staff have up to date training. This does not fully equip staff to develop their skills and knowledge to meet the specific needs of the children.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good
The manager uses external monitoring by the independent visitor to review the quality of the care and progress of the children. The monitoring by the independent visitor provides challenge to the manager. Professional relationships between the managers and external agencies are mostly positive.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good
The responsible individual is building stronger relationships with the children, who approach her for help and support. An increase in the responsible individual attendance to the home has enabled her to identify shortfalls and progress some improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 5
p.4
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.
p.5
Requirement Due date
The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.5
Requirement Due date
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)) 26 July 2024
p.5
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—
p.5
Requirement Due date
helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.5
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)) 26 July 2024
p.5
Requirement Due date
The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.
p.5
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—
p.5
Requirement Due date
develop the child's interests and hobbies; 26 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 6 participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child's interests and preferences; and
p.5
Requirement Due date
make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and
p.6
Requirement Due date
that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child's interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))
p.6
Requirement Due date
The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—
p.6
Requirement Due date
understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;
p.6
Requirement Due date
use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.
p.6
Requirement Due date
In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—
p.6
Requirement Due date
understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;
p.6
Requirement Due date
understand and apply the home's statement of purpose;
p.6
Requirement Due date
protect and promote each child's welfare;
p.6
Requirement Due date
provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(vii)) 26 July 2024
p.6
Requirement Due date
The registered person must ensure that all employees—
p.6
Requirement Due date
undertake appropriate continuing professional development;
p.6
Requirement Due date
receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and
p.6
Requirement Due date
have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 26 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 7
p.6
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: 1254316 8
p.7
Children’s home details
Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd
p.8
Children’s home details
Registered provider address: Tan Y Marian, Constitution Hill, Penmaenmawr LL34 6BA
p.8
Inspectors
Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1254316 9 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.
p.8
Inspectors
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Inspectors
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Inspectors
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
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