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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 1 SC040105 Registered provider: Hull City Council Full inspection 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. 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 the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2018.

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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 good

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good

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

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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: SC040105 2

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector spoke to all the children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate genuine care and commitment towards the children. Staff have maintained a nurturing approach, despite some very challenging incidents that have happened at the home. Staff know the children well and understand how to respond to their needs. As a result, children develop trusting relationships with the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children engage in their education and learning. Although there are challenges, staff promote informal education at the home and support children with their homework. One child has made progress with their individual targets. Staff encourage attendance at school and remind children of the value of education for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being are well supported by staff. Children attend routine health appointments to maintain their health. Staff make appropriate referrals to specialist agencies, for example, for substance misuse or vaping. Staff welcome the agencies into the home and encourage children to engage. This helps children learn about the resources available to them and make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to participate in activities of their choice, including football, rugby, gymnastics, and playing the guitar. This supports children in developing social skills and friendships. Staff take photos to capture special events and experiences that contribute to the child’s life story.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their views about living at the home. Staff have discussions with the children as a group and respond to their views and requests. This helps children understand that their views are important and that they are being listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Restrictive measures are placed on areas of the home. Doors to communal parts of the home are routinely locked in the evening. External doors are locked, which means that children are unable to leave should they wish. The manager regularly reviews the measures. However, the review does not always accurately reflect that the measures are necessary and proportionate based on the children’s known risks and vulnerabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large and spacious. Communal areas are comfortable and enable children and staff to spend time together. However, the home needs maintenance and decoration. Staff make every effort to assist children who move in at short notice. However, this means children often move into bedrooms that have not been prepared for them. This does not create a welcoming environment for children. The provider is aware of this shortfall, and there is a plan of refurbishment in place. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 4 Some children have experienced fractious relationships with each other. When the manager determines that children’s needs cannot be met while living together, she advocates for their care plan to be reviewed. It was decided that some children should move on from the home because this would be in the best interests of the children. Despite extensive planning, children moved quickly and with little emotional and practical

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

Children say that they like living at the home and can identify members of staff they trust. One child said it has been ‘amazing’ since they moved in. Children’s plans are individualised and purposeful. Regular reviews and updates to plans help ensure that staff have relevant guidance to support them in taking appropriate action to manage the children’s risks.

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

For a period, incidents in the home increased due to the fractious relationships between some children. This has been challenging for children and staff. However, staff are consistent in their responses and de-escalation techniques. They manage incidents appropriately, and any physical holds used are proportionate and necessary to keep children safe.

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

Responses to some children’s increased risks of exploitation and criminality in the community have been robust. The provider and relevant agencies work effectively together to manage and keep under review plans for children who are at high risk. Regular multi-agency meetings ensure that progress and concerns are communicated promptly.

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

Staff respond effectively when children are missing from home. Staff are knowledgeable about the community and where children are likely to go. A coordinated response helps to ensure that children return home safely. Staff share information with safeguarding professionals to help reduce future risks.

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

Children take age-appropriate risks, such as developing relationships and being independent in the community. Staff help children understand healthy relationships and ensure that they are aware of sexual health services. This helps children understand that open discussions about relationships are acceptable and important.

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

Staff have meaningful conversations with children together and individually. Topics include important life skills as well as targeted educative discussions based on the child’s needs and risks.

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

Allegations are taken seriously. Staff listen to children and consider their views. Appropriate safeguarding procedures are followed, which helps to ensure that safe adults are caring for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported well by the deputy manager. Together, they are enthusiastic about making a difference to children’s lives. They know the children well and understand their care journey and how past trauma affects them. This helps to ensure that children receive the care they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are well supported by the leadership team. The registered manager recognises staff’s potential and delegates key roles to support their development. This gives them new responsibilities to support their learning and helps the staff work better as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision to improve their practice. Additionally, staff attend meetings with clinical leads from child and adolescent mental health services. Staff reflect on their practice following incidents and adapt to the children’s changing needs. As a result, children receive care from staff who adopt a therapeutic and nurturing approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have established relationships with professionals in the children’s network. Parents and family members say that they receive regular communication, which helps them feel involved in their children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carries out an assessment to consider the compatibility of children before they move in. The assessment includes known risks from the new child and those already living in the home. However, factors to mitigate risks include restrictive measures, such as locking the doors, with less detail about actions staff should take to reduce risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children’s plans are updated regularly. However, the manager does not always escalate concerns to the children’s placing authority when statutory documents are not received. This limits staff’s ability to follow the most up-to-date plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that is tailored to the requirements and diagnoses of children to enhance their skills and knowledge and assist them in meeting these needs. However, not all staff have attained the relevant qualification within the required time frame. The manager has a support plan in place for staff who have not yet achieved the qualification. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 6

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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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 4 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s relevant plans are obtained to form the basis of their care. This specifically relates to ensuring that systems are in place to ensure that delegated authority, healthcare plans, and statutory review documents are received. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 10, paragraph 2.1)  The registered person should ensure that children only move into the home if they are satisfied that they can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in their relevant plans and where they have fully considered how a new child moving in will affect the existing group of children. This specifically relates to ensuring that steps are taken to mitigate or reduce risks for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, supportive and

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Recommendations

welcoming environment for children. This specifically relates to ensuring that Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 7 children’s bedrooms are adequately maintained and decorated before they move in. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 57, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff in a care role attain the appropriate qualification in Regulation 32 (4) within the relevant time frame. The registered person may extend the time frame if the member of staff has had a prolonged absence from work or if it is not reasonable to expect them to achieve the

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Recommendations

qualification within the time frame due to the hours they work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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: SC040105 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 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

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040105 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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