Children's home run by Halliwell Homes Limited in Staffordshire Moorlands

Inspection report children’s home: SC008488 1 SC008488 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home registered for up to eight children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers education on-site at a registered school.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post who has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced some management changes. The organisation has now appointed a qualified and experienced manager, who has applied to register with Ofsted. An assistant manager has moved across from another of the organisation’s homes to support the manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers provide strong and effective leadership, and staff report that they feel supported by the new management team. They have brought stability and consistency to the home. Since the last inspection, seven staff have left, with three more due to Inspection report children’s home: SC008488 2 leave. Staff report that they have been stretched during this difficult period; however, the provider has actively recruited a number of permanent staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Eight of the nine requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Staff continue to use bedroom door alarms as a strategy to safeguard children during the night. However, the use of such devices is now based upon the individual needs of children. This means that bedroom door alarms are only used when staff have assessed that they are needed to keep children safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have mixed success in managing children’s behaviours. Children who are new to the home have not yet been able to develop the skills to manage their emotions. As a result, physical interventions are sometimes needed to prevent children causing harm to themselves and others. The manager undertakes satisfactory evaluation of physical interventions. This means that measures of controls are adequately monitored and only used when appropriate to do so.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are currently in the process of reviewing all risk assessments to ensure that a consistent risk management approach is in place. This is an improving picture, with staff putting a greater focus on the individual needs of children. Staff have put in place the necessary strategies and safeguards to manage children’s known vulnerabilities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although in most cases staff record the administration of medication clearly, in one example, the administration of a controlled medicine was not recorded correctly. This did not result in any harm to the child involved. However, staff do not fully consider the potential risk of cross-contamination when handling medication during audit checks. For example, staff use their bare hands and inappropriate work surfaces to complete these audits. This practice is unhygienic and could potentially result in cross-contamination.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose has been updated and Ofsted has been informed of the changes. In addition, the six-monthly monitoring report has been completed and a copy has been sent to Ofsted. This means that Ofsted, as the regulator, maintains a good overview of the home between inspections.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of the training matrix identified that the core group of staff has completed all mandatory training. New staff are currently working through their probationary period and will commence the level 3 training upon completion of their probation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the three recommendations that were made following the last inspection, two have been fully met. However, inspectors were unable to verify that staff are receiving supervision at the frequency stated in the home’s statement of purpose. Therefore, this recommendation is repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current group of children is making steady progress. Two children who have been admitted to the home since the last inspection appear to be settling well. All children are in full-time education, with one child attending mainstream school since September 2018. Inspection report children’s home: SC008488 3 There has been one incident when three children went missing from the home together. Records show that staff followed agreed protocols and safeguarding plans to ensure that the children returned safely. An incident that has occurred since the last inspection was under investigation by the appropriate authorities at the time of this inspection. This means that records relating to this incident were not considered by inspectors as they were not available in the home. There are clear arrangements in place for safeguarding children in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/06/2016 Full Requires improvement

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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, 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 30/01/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report children’s home: SC008488 4

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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

Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Tape Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Karen Mitchell-Mellor

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Inspectors

Michelle Bacon: social care inspector Paul Robinson: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC008488 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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