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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 1 SC036157 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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to 8 children who may have learning disabilities and/or a sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

Seven children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 21 September 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: 12 February 2025

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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: SC036157 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/02/2025 Full Good 29/01/2024 Full Good 17/10/2022 Full Good 06/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

children receive consistent care which promotes stability. Most children have plans to remain in the home until they are ready to move to their next placement, giving them time to build trusting relationships with staff. Staff are reliably available to meet the children’s care and support needs. When changes to living arrangements are necessary, decisions are made through careful consideration with multi-agency professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak warmly and respectfully about the children. Staff take time to engage with children’s interests, such as learning about their favourite sports teams, and they celebrate children’s achievements in education, health and preparation for adulthood. Staff show a good understanding of the children’s individual worries and challenges. This helps them to be consistently responsive to the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised and well supported. Children attend school or college regularly. When attendance becomes difficult or there are concerns about exclusion, staff work closely with education providers to develop tailored support plans. These plans help children remain in education and make progress in their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop independence skills and prepare for their future. For example, one child has learned practical skills such as shopping, cooking and cleaning, which will help them when they move on. Another child is developing confidence in using public transport to travel to school. They check in with staff during their journey, which provides reassurance while promoting independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and respond to children’s individual communication needs. One child does not use words all the time. Staff use a communication mat and symbols to support choice-making, feelings and views. Staff work closely with the child’s school to ensure that there is consistency in the approach to meeting the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s daily routines are well thought out. They take part in a wide range of activities that broaden their experiences and help them build friendships. Routines are tailored to individual needs, and children are involved in decisions about their day. This helps them to manage change in a better way and feel secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships with families are strong. Staff work hard to keep in touch with those people who are important to the children. Where possible, family visits take place at the children’s home, making time with family members feel natural and positive. This helps children maintain important connections and support networks for their future.

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

Staff remain committed to children, even when they experience periods of significant challenge. Staff continue to offer consistent care, support and help. They do not define Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 4 children by their behaviours. Although staff have been appropriately concerned for children’s safety, they have remained nurturing and respectful in their approach, ensuring that they continue to receive the care and attention they need.

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

Staff know the children well. They use their strong relationships and understanding of each child to help them manage their emotions and behaviour. Staff encourage children to reflect on their actions and make positive choices. Staff take the time to have sensitive conversations with children, helping them understand risks and be safer.

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

Complaints and allegations are taken seriously by the manager, who ensures that they are investigated and responded to appropriately. Children receive feedback about the outcome of their complaint and are supported to understand how to take matters further if they wish. There was a delay in responding to a recent allegation. The registered manager has since ensured that senior staff members are confident in the allegations process by arranging refresher training.

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

There have been two medication errors since the last inspection. The manager has addressed these through additional training and supervision to improve staff practice and reduce the likelihood of future errors.

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

Children receive effective support during times of crisis. Staff respond with patience, wanting to understand how children are feeling and what has created their distress. On a small number of occasions, the police have been called to assist staff. However, records do not always explain clearly why this was necessary, particularly when staff appear to have been managing the situation well.

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

Children are helped when they face difficulties. Clear supportive plans promote their safety. Staff use these plans consistently. However, a member of staff who was covering from another home did not follow the guidance, leading to an avoidable incident.

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

There has been an increase in missing-from-home episodes for one child. Records show a clear chronology of staff actions, demonstrating that staff respond promptly and take appropriate steps to locate children and return them home safely. However, there is a gap in the process when children are missing late at night regarding how children are returned to the home. Staff are reliant on police for assistance as they are unable to leave the home due to their other care responsibilities. This means children could be missing for longer periods.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates detailed knowledge of the children’s day ‑ to ‑ day experiences in the home and has a clear grasp of the team’s strengths and areas for development. During discussions, the manager articulates the priorities he has identified and the progress being made. His focus on developing the staff is evident, and he is fostering a culture in which staff feel increasingly confident in their practice and decision ‑ making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 5 Staff talk positively about the training they receive. They highlight the value of recent behaviour intervention and therapeutic approach training, with an emphasis on non ‑ physical intervention. Staff feel this has improved their practice. Staff also speak highly of the support provided by the manager, both in relation to their work and personal circumstances. Supervisions take place regularly and follow a structured

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

agenda, with staff able to contribute items for discussion. Staff are helped to reflect on their practice, ensuring that this evolves with the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have established effective working relationships with external professionals to ensure that each child receives well ‑ coordinated care and support. The child and adolescent mental health service involvement is well embedded, providing staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and develop strategies to support children who experience behavioural difficulties or periods of crisis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, there have been some challenges. The manager and staff are very committed to the children and have worked a lot of extra hours to cover short falls on the rota. This has provided consistency for children but has placed a strain on the team. During this busy time, the manager was approached by leaders to admit another child to the home but refused in recognition that the staff was already under pressure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some gaps in the recording of information. For example, evaluations about children’s suitability to live together is lacking, oversight on support sessions with children lack consistency, and one incident was not reviewed in a timely manner in the absence of the manager. There has been some improvement in the way staff write to children, though some unhelpful professional words continue to be used in some documents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 6

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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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 13 February 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10).  The registered person should ensure that they specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from home and have the resources available to do so. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28).  The registered person should ensure that they only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; and where they have fully considered the effect that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4).  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 7 helpful to the child. (‘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: SC036157 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Guildhall, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AA

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Inspectors

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector (lead) Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC036157 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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