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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 1 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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The inspector spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is new to the home and is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: 2599994 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/04/2025 Full Good 12/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/04/2024 Full Inadequate 08/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 3

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Summary of findings

The child living at the home has complex needs and is not currently in education. The staff working with the child are consistent role models in their life, which has led to them making progress from their starting point. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and take appropriate action when needed. Staff know the child well and use their relationship to respond with clear boundaries, which has resulted in a reduction in incidents. Since the last inspection, there have been changes in management oversight. Some management oversight shortfalls have been identified, and some significant incidents have not been reported to Ofsted. The home requires some repair and redecoration.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff’s relationships with the child are meaningful and caring. Positive interactions were observed during the inspection, with the child responding accordingly to staff. Staff provide sensitive, non-judgemental and nurturing support to the child during difficult times, which allows the child to speak openly about their experiences. This also helps staff reinforce boundaries and engage in difficult conversations with the child that could otherwise lead to an escalation in behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff sensitively encourage the child to make healthier lifestyle choices, including managing their weight and improving physical fitness. Through encouragement, fun activities and guided meal planning, staff help the child understand the benefits of a balanced diet and regular exercise. This has resulted in the child developing new practical skills needed to take responsibility for their long-term health and wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is healthy, and staff support them in attending routine medical appointments. Staff carry out one-to-one sessions with the child around key health issues, including sexual health and contraception. This helps the child consider their long-term sexual health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s bedroom is personalised with their belongings. The home is homely and has photos of the child on display. The child has pets, which they take good care of, creating a homely environment. However, there are areas of the home that need maintenance and redecoration. The loft hatch outside of the child’s bedroom is locked with large hasps and padlocks, which detracts from the homely environment. There are plans in place to address these issues, but work has not yet started.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s journey through education is unstable. Currently, the child will not attend college. The plans in place do not support the child’s progress in education, and attendance arrangements are ineffective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 4

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

Staff demonstrate professional curiosity by noticing and acting on subtle indicators of risk, such as writing found in the child’s bedroom. They explored its significance, leading to a timely multi-agency meeting. This inquisitive approach led to the child allowing staff to check their mobile phone, where they identified significant safeguarding concerns, which they addressed without delay.

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

When the child goes missing from the home, staff follow the plans in place to help locate them quickly and safely. Staff know the plans well and are familiar with where the child often goes. However, the plans would be more effective if they specified whether the child remains in contact with the individuals recorded in them. Furthermore, some missing-from-home documents are incomplete, and this issue has not been identified through management oversight.

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

Staff know the child well and can de-escalate situations through their relationship with the child using verbal redirection. Staff help the child become more resilient by talking to them about their behaviour. This approach is effective, as there has been a reduction in holds, which is progress from the child’s starting point.

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

Leaders and managers do not notify the regulator of all serious incidents. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate how staff manage incidents and keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in management at the home. An acting manager has been in post during the manager’s absence, receiving support from a dedicated senior. The current manager plans to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that safeguarding practices remain consistent and that the child’s wellbeing is at the heart of their work. Staff share this ethos. Through its commitment, the nurturing team provides a stable environment for the child with complex needs. Despite challenges and difficult times, the staff’s unwavering care provides the child with a true sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with a wide range of external agencies to support the child’s progress. They share information clearly and attend regular meetings with social workers, police and healthcare professionals. This joined-up approach ensures that all the professionals fully understand the child’s needs. This means that the child receives consistent care and well-coordinated support that help them feel safe and make steady progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the commitment and dedication from staff. They recognise that the child is making progress in their own way during difficult times, and that the relationships between the staff and the child resemble those of a family, which is important to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 5 Staff are up to date with the provider’s mandatory training, including physical intervention, first aid and safeguarding. Furthermore, they have received bespoke training to meet the child’s specific needs. There are plans in place to further develop staff’s knowledge and understanding through additional training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place frequently, which staff say they find useful and help them reflect on their practice. This helps staff develop in their role and learn new skills. Regular team meetings take place to strengthen this reflective practice, allowing the team to share experiences. Staff are also supported by a psychologist to further their understanding of adverse childhood experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 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 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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to missing-from-home records. 23 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to sexual exploitation; and

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (a)(e)) 23 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home provides the child with a homely, domestic environment while complying with relevant health and safety legislation. This recommendation has been restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the child’s personal circumstances, individual needs and educational history are relevant when considering what might constitute progress, but they should not limit their aspirations. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.2) Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 7

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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: 2599994 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2599994 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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