Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report children’s home: SC482418 1 SC482418 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have physical and/or learning disabilities, two of whom may be placed under short-break arrangements. The home is run by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been many changes since the last inspection. One young person has left and moved into accommodation nearer his home town. The manager extended the length of this placement to ensure a smooth transition for the young person. Two new young people have moved in, the most recent admission taking place during the week of the inspection. The manager’s insistence on full information about young people’s background and presenting needs makes sure the staff team has the necessary skills to care for them. If there are shortfalls in staff knowledge, the staff team receives training, for example in understanding attachment. This helps their own professional development, and a staff member spoke of how it provided important information about how a young person’s background can affect their behaviour. Inspection report children’s home: SC482418 2 Prior to a young person moving in, the manager meets the new young person who also

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

has the opportunity of visiting the home. This helps reassure young people and, as a consequence, they settle quickly within a short time of arriving. The home has been extensively refurbished and redecorated. The layout offers the two young people their own flat, which they can personalise to provide a comfortable and homely environment. The young people speak of enjoying living at the home, and have begun to form relationships with staff. One young person said: ‘This is the best home I have lived in.’ The young people make progress and are meeting set targets, such as developing independent living skills. One young person told me: ‘I keep my bathroom and bedroom clean and I can cook spaghetti bolognaise.’ Staff educate young people about healthy eating and encourage physical activity. One young person now walks daily and is making better food choices, resulting in better weight management. This will help improve his

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

current medical condition. It has also helped build confidence and improve his self- esteem. This young person now takes an interest in his appearance. The young people have access to a range of activities. This provides them with new opportunities and challenges them to try new experiences. For young people who struggle with forming friendships, this helps with the development of social skills. Staff challenge placing authorities about young people’s education placements. Although the young people are not enrolled at a school, home tutoring from an educator is providing full-time education for one young person. The management is committed to trying to source placements so that young people are not without education for longer than necessary. A high staff ratio keeps young people safe and protected. As a result, young people’s risks have reduced and they are no longer going missing from the home and are not

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

involved in criminal activity or misusing drugs. The young people are not at risk of exploitation due to the high level of supervision by staff. The staff team has a good understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities, which are clearly outlined in the easy-to- read individualised risk assessments. Behaviour management is effective and there have been no restraints of the young people who are new to the home. The registered manager was promoted within the organisation and there is a new acting manager who is still to be registered with the regulator. The staff speak of experiencing a good handover period between the two managers, as the acting manager has worked at the home for several months and, therefore, disruption was kept to a minimum. Improvements made with recording and monitoring systems include a detailed handover sheet to make staff more accountable for their tasks when on shift. The young people

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

now have individualised and child-friendly placement plans and their input gives them more ownership over targets set for them. Since the last inspection there has been a high staff turnover. However, this was prior to the new young people’s arrival and, therefore, they have not been adversely affected. When speaking of the changes, one staff member said: ‘The staff team we have now is great. I have a lot of respect for [name of acting manager]. She knows a lot.’

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children’s home: SC482418 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2017 Full Good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 02/12/2015 Full Inadequate

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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’.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report children’s home: SC482418 4 Unique reference number: SC482418

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Helme Hall, Helme Lane, Holmfirth HD9 5RL

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482418 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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