Children's home run by Kingston upon Hull City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 1 Registered provider: 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 owned and run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2019. She holds the registration of this and another children’s home in the local area for the same provider.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke with one of the children during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 6 November 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/11/2023 Full Good 27/02/2023 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from staff who understand their individual needs. Children can speak to staff about their worries or concerns. They share their views and have a say in how the home is run and what it looks like. Children feel confident that staff will act on their wishes. This helps them to build and maintain strong and trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager arranges for children to spend safe and meaningful time with important family members. Staff work with professionals and family members to explore and provide children with opportunities to have positive experiences during family time. This helps children to maintain important links and family time plans to progress. For one child, this has led to a reunification home being considered. One parent said: ‘The staff are like an extended member of [child’s name]’s family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children do not or cannot attend education, staff work with education colleagues to make plans for alternative learning opportunities. The manager is a strong advocate for finding the best placements for children. This has helped one child to make good progress since moving to a new school that the manager championed. One child said: ‘[Manager’s name] found my school and I love it; it’s the best school ever.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a wide range of activities and are encouraged to try new things. Staff support them to make and maintain friendships in the local area. This enables children to develop interests and hobbies and to feel part of their community. Staff create beautiful photo books with children that capture these enjoyable experiences to help children to keep important memories to look back on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay healthy and encourage positive hygiene routines. One child, for whom teeth brushing was a trigger to unwanted behaviour, now brushes their teeth without the need for prompts. Both children have a nutritionally balanced diet. Children are further educated and encouraged about the importance of having a nutritionally rich lifestyle, by learning how to plant and maintain individual vegetable patches.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe and happy living in the home. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and respond in a way that reduces the children’s individual risks. They discuss important topics with children to help them develop a greater awareness of keeping themselves safe. This approach helps children to strengthen their trust in staff and increase their sense of safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from home. Well-written plans guide staff and help them to return children safely to the home. Staff proactively maintain links with connected people and look for children in the community. They prioritise the Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 4 children’s well-being and ensure that children receive a return home interview, so children can share any concerns they may have. Staff reflect about incidents of going missing to develop their understanding about the factors that lead to children being missing. This helps staff to develop strategies that decrease missing incidents.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When staff give children consequences for behaviour, they are proportionate and restorative in nature. Managers have oversight of consequences and evaluate their effectiveness. Staff reflect with children to help them understand the reasons behind the consequences and consider the impact of their behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All staff are trained in de-escalation strategies and use holds only as a last resort. When holds are used, written records clearly describe what led to physical intervention being necessary. Children are given opportunities to share their views and are encouraged to repair relationships afterwards. Management oversight and staff debriefs are robust and help staff reflect and develop their understanding of children’s needs and their behaviour management practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. However, some known risks or strategies are not recorded. Furthermore, one child’s care plan contains some historical information that is no longer relevant. This prevents staff from having access to the right information to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational leader. She has high expectations for what the children and staff can achieve. The manager is enthusiastic about providing the best possible care and improving outcomes for children. Staff hold the manager in high regard. Her influential leadership has helped to create an aspirational culture in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a visible presence in the home and children like and trust her. She is supported by an established and stable team. An ethos of accountability is embraced by all staff. This empowers them to communicate effectively at all levels with other professionals. Established champion roles further strengthen this approach, which drives forward improvements in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff have regular opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. She works alongside the clinician to create a forum for staff to reflect on the needs of the children and the effectiveness of their practice. This has helped to accelerate staff development. Effective monitoring systems enable the manager to have comprehensive oversight of staff’s training needs. As a result, high standards of practice are maintained. Staff value this approach and say there are excellent levels of support. One staff member said: ‘Training is really important. The manager always makes sure we have time to do it.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, child-focused supervision sessions. The quality of these sessions helps staff to maintain a consistent approach to caring for the children. Staff value these Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 5 sessions and feel exceptionally well supported to develop in their roles. Team meetings include staff from both homes that the manager holds responsibility for. This provides opportunities for healthy debate and reflective practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works collaboratively with a range of professionals. She strongly advocates for children and escalates concerns to ensure that their needs are met. She is held in high regard by professionals, who recognise the quality of her leadership and influence in the children’s lives. One professional said: ‘The manager is proactive and has a strong approach to advocating on behalf of the children.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s individual plans and risk assessments include steps staff will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to- day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that information is clearly recorded in children’s plans in a way that is helpful to the child. In particular, when care plans are reviewed, any information that is historical or no longer relevant should be clearly identified or removed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2589771 7

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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

Mark Cryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2589771 8 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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