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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 1 SC008488

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Halliwell Homes Limited

Monitoring visit 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.

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers education on site at a registered school.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant. There is an acting manager in place.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged to be good at their inspection on 20 February 2020 Four requirements and two recommendations were made at the inspection. These have not been monitored for compliance at this inspection. They remain as requirements and recommendations at this inspection and until the home’s next full inspection when compliance with these regulations will be considered.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was triggered because of complaints made to the regulator. The complaints were addressed via off-site evidence gathering. The findings are set out below.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has now applied to the regulator for registration. The manager was able to evidence, through discussion, that he is working hard to solidify the team and provide consistent and nurturing care to children. He showed awareness of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He has already implemented a number of positive changes. One example is linking literature into key work. This helps children to identify with fictional characters. It also promotes reading as well as other creative activities (such as den building). Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 2 Three children have been admitted since the home was last inspected in February 2020. Two of the children were admitted within a very short time frame. Their impact on each other was not fully considered in the admission compatibility assessments. A requirement is made to reflect this shortfall.

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This monitoring visit

One area raised in the complaints was that children are not adequately supervised, which resulted in their sustaining accidental injuries and engaging in play-fighting. Social workers and staff spoken to as part of this inspection felt that staffing levels were adequate. Staffing rotas reviewed showed that on most days there were five members of staff on shift to care for seven children. The staffing ratio (unless otherwise agreed with the placing authority) is two children to each member of staff, which was met on all shifts. All staff were clear about the recording procedure for any injuries children sustained through play. No other concerns were raised in respect of play-fighting. All staff spoken to said that children are ‘re-directed’ should they start to play-fight with each other.

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This monitoring visit

Sanctions were considered during this inspection. All staff spoken to were clear that they did not adopt a punitive approach. Staff reported that time out is only used for those children for whom it was identified in their plans. No other social worker raised concerns about sanctions. Review of sanction records did not show children being given time out in their bedrooms frequently. Some sanctions are restorative in nature. There is no record of inappropriate sanctions being implemented. Staff spoken to demonstrated knowledge of de-escalation and re-direction of behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

The therapeutic approach adopted by the company is understood by most staff who were spoken to. The majority of staff are new to the home, and gaps in their training have resulted in a requirement being made. Most staff have yet to be trained in sexually harmful behaviour, attachment theory, developmental trauma, self-harm and anaphylaxis. Training in these areas should be sourced and undertaken as soon as possible due to children having identified risks in these areas.

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This monitoring visit

The high turnover of staff was raised by a number of social workers. Concerns reported were in regard to the impact this has had on stability, continuity of care and relationship building. However, the manager is working with the team to embed a positive team culture to ensure continuity of care for the children. An additional requirement is made to reflect this issue.

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This monitoring visit

The concerns related to the home being chaotic. The home’s manager, staff and social workers spoken to all reported that clear routines and structure are in place for the children. The home was not reported by the social workers or staff spoken to as being chaotic.

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This monitoring visit

A concern was raised in relation to there being no snacks after school. No further concerns were raised about availability of snacks at appropriate times with staff and social workers. The manager provided evidence to show that children are actively involved in choosing and preparing foods and meals. This includes having celebrated Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 3 VE day with a traditional street party with party foods, exploring different cultures through foods and creating ‘taster menus’.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s individuality is understood, and their likes and dislikes are known. Children have been involved in developing a newspaper in which each child has included a page about themselves and their interests and talents. The manager provided evidence that children are supported to do the things they enjoy.

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This monitoring visit

Three requirements are made at this monitoring inspection. No serious safeguarding or welfare concerns have been highlighted by this off-site inspection. An on-site visit is not considered necessary at this time. The requirements will be considered at the home’s next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/02/2020 Full Good 11/12/2019 Full Inadequate 05/12/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 5

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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

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

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Requirement Due date

any punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink;

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Requirement Due date

any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), on—

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Requirement Due date

a child’s contact with parents, relatives or friends;

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Requirement Due date

visits to the child by the child’s parents, relatives or friends;

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Requirement Due date

a child’s communications with any persons listed in regulation 22(1) (contact and access to communications); or

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Requirement Due date

a child’s access to any internet-based or telephone helpline providing counselling for children;

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Requirement Due date

the use or withholding of medication, or medical or dental treatment;

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation;

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Requirement Due date

any intimate physical examination; 03/04/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 6 withholding any aids or equipment needed by a disabled child;

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving a child imposing any measure against another child; or

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving punishing a group of children for the behaviour of an individual child. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i)(j))

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 03/04/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 7 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 03/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that copies of young people’s local authority care plans and relevant documents are on file. 03/04/2020

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e)) 23/07/2020

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 23/07/2020 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 8 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a))

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Recommendations

 Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans, (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) In particular, key working sessions should be planned and in accordance with the child’s identified needs.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, staff should record the work they complete with children as requested by therapists, so that

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 9 This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Karen Mitchell-Mellor

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Inspectors

Charlie Bamber, social care inspector Michelle Bacon, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC008488 10 to 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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