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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 1 SC034706 Registered provider: Hull City Council

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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 run by a local authority. It offers care 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 visit, four children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with one child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2019.

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This monitoring visit

An assurance inspection was carried out on 29 October 2024 due to concerns raised in safeguarding notifications. The inspector identified regulatory breaches which were impacting on children’s safety and welfare. A case review held on 31 October 2024 confirmed that serious and widespread concerns were found at the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

In response, Ofsted issued a compliance notice under Regulation 11 (the positive relationships standard).

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, the inspector found that leaders and managers have taken sufficient steps to address the shortfalls identified at the assurance inspection. Therefore, the steps under the compliance notice have been met. Furthermore, requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection carried out on 17 and 18 July 2024 have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns regarding blameful language about children being used in some records have been appropriately addressed. The manager has implemented a change in staff’s writing style. This has improved the quality of recording and ensures that records are helpful to children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 2 The provider is yet to have reflective discussions with the staff about some of the shortfalls raised at the assurance inspection. This is mainly regarding ensuring that there is no impact on the quality of care to children when staff disagree with decisions made by senior leaders. However, there is a plan for the manager to address this.

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This monitoring visit

Two children have moved into the home. The manager carried out an assessment to ensure that the children’s needs could be met alongside the other children already living in the home. The children moved into the home in a planned way, including having visits to the home beforehand. This helped to alleviate some anxieties the children had before moving in.

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This monitoring visit

One child was supported to move on from the home. Staff who have good relationships with the child supported the move, offering the child reassurance when they shared their concerns about their plan. They ensured that partner agencies were kept informed so that they could also provide the child with support.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s needs and risks are well understood by staff. The manager ensures that she utilises support from partner agencies, such as a psychologist, to assist them in meeting the children’s needs. When children’s needs change, the manager strives to seek advice to understand them. This ensures that staff provide children with the right support in line with their presenting needs. Professionals supporting the children said that open lines of communication with the manager and staff helps to promote consistent care for children.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding responsibilities are not clear when children return to live with family during periods when their living status remains at this home, such as knowing who should act if a child is missing from the family home. Additionally, records completed by staff do not reflect any additional support that they have offered the child or their family. This is not consistent for those children who remain in the home. For example, children’s safety plans reflect risks and give guidance to staff on how to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2024 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Good 26/07/2022 Full Good 02/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 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 with 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that an agreed plan with the relevant professionals sets out the roles and responsibilities of staff when children stay away from the home. 18 February 2024

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 5

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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

Jess Elliott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034706 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 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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