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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 1 SC040105

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. The home offers short breaks and emergency placements for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this assurance inspection, three children were staying at the home. One child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, safeguarding incidents have increased and have been managed well. All safeguarding agencies, including Ofsted, have been notified of these incidents as required. This has allowed the safeguarding agencies and Ofsted to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the children is prioritised.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are following plans and acting to safeguard children. Children’s care plans and assessments are updated regularly. Staff understand the risks and respond in line with children’s plans to support their safety and welfare. When serious incidents involving the children have occurred, the managers and staff have shared information with other agencies and have ensured children’s welfare is promoted.

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Findings from the inspection

When a child goes missing from home, staff understand their responsibilities and are usually proactive in searching for children and supporting their safe return home. However, on two occasions, staffing levels have prevented them from searching for a child and collecting and returning another child home.

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Findings from the inspection

When serious incidents have occurred involving a child, managers and staff ensure the child is supported. Managers work with other agencies to ensure that the child’s welfare is promoted. On one occasion recently, which resulted in a child leaving the home without notice, managers maintained their communication with the agencies to ensure that coordinated support was offered to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Gaps in recording mean there is a lack of detail in several children’s records. Management oversight and scrutiny has not identified these. This is a recording issue and does not affect the care children receive. The manager is aware of the inconsistency of recording in documents; however, the shortfalls do not individually have a significant impact on children. They highlight there is a recording issue and management oversight is not as effective as it should be.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff sickness has been high in recent weeks, which has impacted on staff sufficiency. Managers have used casual staff and offered permanent staff additional shifts to ensure consistency in care for the children. However, this has resulted in managers having additional responsibilities and some staff feeling tired over a prolonged period.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection three requirements were raised. The managers have not progressed their action plan to address the requirements in full. As a result, the children’s quality of care has not improved. Managers are aware of what needs to happen and have appropriate plans in place. Therefore, all three requirements have been re-issued. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Outstanding 07/04/2022 Full Good 26/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 4

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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, The 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 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

assess whether each 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 any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children should only be held using recognised physical intervention techniques that staff have been trained to use.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, where risks are known to be relevant to a child, they should be included in the risk assessment documents relating to the child.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the response to known risks should be as robust and specialised as it needs to be to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 5 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, children should only be admitted to the home if they meet the criteria as set out in the statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, children should have an appropriately planned move in or out of the home to support them to settle in or move on.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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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)(c)(d)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff complete the required qualification within the permitted time frame. 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 6 In addition, the registered person should ensure that they use monitoring systems to ensure they have full oversight of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 7

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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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Louise Taylor-Deville

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Inspector

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 8 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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