Children's Home run by Hull City Council in Kingston upon Hull

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 1 SC034313

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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 run by a local authority and can provide care for up to six children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to three of the children

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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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: SC034313 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 Staff have not been proactive in safeguarding children from unsafe relationships and the risk of exploitation.  Allegations against staff are not fully investigated before allowing a member of staff to return to care for children.  Ineffective management arrangements have impacted on the monitoring and oversight of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The home has experienced an unsettled period. Staff have been deployed to support another home, and the registered manager has been away from work. An interim manager has recently been appointed to support the team. However, poor safeguarding practice in the home has resulted in children not being safeguarded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are removed from the home when concerns are raised about their practice. However, leaders and managers do not complete investigations into the concerns before assessing the staff member’s suitability to return to work. This means they cannot be satisfied that they have considered all necessary information to determine whether it is safe for the member of staff to return and care for children. This leaves children at risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and leaders have not ensured that staff know and follow the children’s safety plans consistently. This includes what staff must do when children are away from the home. Additionally, staff provided a child with a mobile phone, going against the agreed safety plan. Consequently, a child was exposed to harm. Furthermore, children’s plans contain conflicting information, for example what staff must do when a child is missing from home. This does not help staff keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not have regular conversations with children to help them understand risks. This hinders children’s ability to develop skills to recognise unsafe situations, for example risks in relationships or when online. This is a missed opportunity to educate children and develop their ability to keep themselves safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Records show that some staff have not completed refresher training as required by the provider, for example safeguarding, first aid, medication administration and physical holds. This means that the managers cannot be reassured that staff are practising safely.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not receive regular, practice-related supervision, significantly reducing the opportunity to reflect on their practice and increase their knowledge. This impacts on the quality-of-care children receive. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 3 The fire risk assessment contains old information relating to the reason a fire exit is locked. Staff carry keys when they are in the home. However, this means children would not be able to leave through that door independently, should this be necessary. There are other fire risks such as hot appliances on radiators in a child’s bedroom. Staff are not trained to use firefighting equipment. Collectively, this increases the risk of harm from fire-related hazards.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not consistently follow building security procedures. For example, professionals visiting the home to complete repairs or carry out maintenance do not sign the visitor’s log. This means that staff cannot be reassured about who is in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always use caring language in children’s records. This is not helpful for the child should they read their records now or in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

The provider has invested in making the home welcoming for children. This includes new decor and maintenance in the home and garden. Children personalise their bedrooms, which helps to create a sense of belonging. However, some of the children’s bedrooms contain broken furniture. This does not help children to learn how to care for their personal belongings.

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Findings from the inspection

Most children attend education. When children do not attend their mainstream school, leaders and managers ensure that an alternative education is available. For one child, this means that they can continue to complete GCSE qualifications, helping to maintain the child’s future learning opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers understand the risks associated with knife crime. When there are concerns that children may become involved in this type of behaviour, there is a swift response to prevent this. Children engage with projects that are designed to educate around the risks of knife crime through activities and discussions. This helps children understand the potential consequences, but also how to seek help.

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Findings from the inspection

One child said they like living at this home. They feel supported and can identify trusted adults to confide in. Staff positively interact with the children to support them to have enjoyable experiences. One child raised money for a national charity. This helps children to develop responsibility and empathy for others.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of the shortfalls identified, Ofsted held a case review on 23 January 2025. A decision was made to issue a compliance notice under regulations 12 (the protection of children standard), and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Leaders and managers have taken the concerns raised seriously. They have provided a prompt response and reassurances about how children will be safeguarded, and staff upskilled. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/06/2023 Full Good 22/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/09/2021 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 5

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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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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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)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments contain all known risks, and that they are understood by staff so they can provide safe and appropriate care for the children. 9 March 2025

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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— 9 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(f)(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.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 9 March 2025

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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. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should have sufficient oversight of staff supervision and training to recognise when this is no longer in date, and ensure it is completed in line with the home’s policies. 9 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home, including the child’s bedroom, are safe, and regularly maintained to provide a homely and nurturing environment. In particular, the registered person should replace broken furniture in a timely manner and help children store personal items safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that children feel safe and are safe in the home. In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is a record of visitors in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

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Recommendations

the quality standards,’ page 43, paragraph 9.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 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

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC034313 9 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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Inspector

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