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With the opening last year of its 16th children’s home, Hull City Council achieved its aim to nearly triple its residential portfolio.
The council pledged almost four years earlier to increase its number of homes to enable more vulnerable children and young people to live in Hull.
In 2019 it had just four homes for young people with emotional behavioural difficulties (EBD) and two homes for those with disabilities.
The long-term expansion plans saw this increase to 13 homes offering EBD provision and three that can accommodate disabled children and young people.
New homes were opened to offer a smaller number of beds - supporting just one or two children - rather than existing larger six-bed group homes.
Sites were deliberately chosen on “nice estates” in Hull to allow children and young people to benefit from living in less deprived communities.
The move also meant they could attend local schools and maintain connections with family and friends.
While the council says it has no plans to further expand its current portfolio, it continues to refine its residential offer to better meet the needs of its children and young people.
Last month saw work completed on a new modern, energy efficient home offering short breaks for disabled children and young people.
Limetree Short Breaks in East Hull was jointly funded by the council and the Department for Education and can accommodate up to six children. It replaces Limetree Court, the council’s former short break provision.
The council involved local parents and children in development plans to ensure the design of the site would meet the needs of its new residents.
It says the home’s construction was facilitated through a partnership with housing provider Lovell Homes which completed a land swap with the council as part of the project.
“They acquired a big area opposite one of our old sites and at some future point we will give our old site back,” explains Mike Boddy, the council’s group manager for children’s homes.
He says the impact of the site has been “instantly clear” for children, young people and their families.
“They absolutely love it and it’s exactly what we wanted - to be able to support lots of families who have children with disabilities,” he says.
“The layout is so well thought out even down to small details such as having non-toxic plants in the garden because some of our children might try to eat them.”
Boddy says the opening of Limetree Short Breaks has allowed children to continue living on the former short break site while using the new site exclusively for short break provision.
“That has allowed us a bit more space so we can be more bespoke, offer activities and tailor their care for them,” he adds.
Plans have been approved to change one of the council’s group homes into a multi-site duo home that offers more flexibility than a larger site.
“It will still be registered for children but over two properties so it will become two duos which means an additional home but not necessarily an additional registration,” explains Boddy.
He says another ambition is to make the council’s solo homes big enough so they can be shared by more than one child if needed.
“When children do well - which they often do as this solo model works - the only option is for them to move somewhere else. We are working on making our homes big enough so that when children are ready to share, we can bring a second child in rather than moving another child out,” Boddy says.
Impact
Following its most recent Ofsted inspection in March, 12 of Hull’s children’s homes were rated “good”, three “outstanding” and just one “requires improvement”.
Despite being “tantalisingly close” to receiving a perfect score from the inspectorate, Bobby says the council was pleased with the ratings given the complex needs of some of the children.
“That’s what we are most proud of,” he says. “We stick by our children no matter what.”
Of the home that requires improvement, Bobby says it was for “specific reasons and we are satisfied the quality of care is still good”.
He says the council continues to manage reduced numbers of children and young people being accommodated outside the city with independent sector providers.
At its peak there were 44 children living away from the city - a figure that reduced to 19 placements last year.
Feedback is continually gathered from the council’s partners indicating improved outcomes for children and young people but has yet to be formally published, he adds.
“We’re not there yet with an impact report but we’ve got lots of examples of children returning to Hull and having better outcomes for it,” he says.
“Whether that’s doing better in education or a partnership with CAMHS - it’s all positive next steps for them.”
