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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 1 SC043697

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Halliwell Homes

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 seven 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 manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was instigated in relation to a safeguarding notification received by the regulator. The regulation 40 notification related to a child making a serious allegation against another child. Additionally, the home was judged to require improvement in all areas at its last full inspection in January 2020. Concerns were raised at that time about a similar allegation due to lack of staff supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken to as part of this inspection were clear about children’s risks. They knew what level of supervision each child should have. They also knew what they should do to manage and reduce children’s risks. However, systems in place for allocating supervision were not robust or always followed by staff. For example, daily emails with shift plans were not always emailed out to staff at the start of each shift. Handover records did not state which staff member was allocated responsibility for which child. This could lead to staff not knowing who should be responsible and accountable for which child. This could result in the potential for further supervision lapses.

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This monitoring visit

There are also gaps in staff training in specific areas, including sexually harmful behaviour, self-harm, e-safety and child protection. Although staff spoken to were confident and knowledgeable about managing children’s risks, gaps in training may limit their understanding of some of those risks. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 2 Children’s risk assessments get updated after any significant event. Not all staff had read and signed the updated risk assessments. Therefore, they may not know about recently identified risks or risk management strategies. Further, one child’s risk assessment identified him as being low risk in an area where this was clearly not accurate. This potentially compromises staff vigilance when supporting him. Requirements made under regulation 12 which reflect these shortfalls in risk management have been carried over from the home’s last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken appropriate action in relation to the incident which triggered this inspection. The internal investigation is ongoing with no outcome as yet. The home’s management team has good understanding of safeguarding children. This includes managing allegations, whistle-blowing, risk assessment, self-harm management and positive behaviour management. In team meetings managers speak to staff about the supervision levels children require.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoken to were positive about living in the home. They said they were safe. They said they had close relationships with staff. They could identify staff they trust to speak to if they had any worries or concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Children reported that they did not always have positive relationships with one another. They said that sometimes there was bullying but that staff dealt with it straight away. Direct work and group work with children about bullying and getting along with each other takes place. Staff also help children to repair their relationships when they have broken down. Some children were able to show empathy for others. They offered a level of kindness and understanding that was commendable.

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This monitoring visit

Observations of children and staff together in the home were all positive. There was a calm environment and children appeared cared for. Staff spoke of, and related to, children with genuine warmth and positive regard. There was good evidence of nurturing. For example, staff engaged in imaginative play with one child, bathing and hair-drying with another, and fun and banter with a slightly older child.

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This monitoring visit

Physical intervention information was reviewed as part of the inspection. Records are clear and incorporate detail and reflective debriefs with both staff and children. Lessons learned are used to identify changes to children’s plans to help reduce the necessity for holds. Analysis of physical intervention data by the manager demonstrates good insight into children’s behaviours and triggers.

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This monitoring visit

The environment of the home has had some improvement work. Further work is required to ensure that the home provides the homely, welcoming and personalised environment that children deserve.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the last inspection were not specifically addressed at this monitoring visit. They are, therefore, carried over until the home has its next full inspection in line with the social care common inspection framework. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Full Good 27/02/2018 Full Good 13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)) 17 January 2021

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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— 17 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 5 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(c)(d)(e)(2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 28 February 2020

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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)(c)) 28 February 2020 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 6

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Recommendations

 Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  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

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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

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Curtis Partnership, 1 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BB

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Inspectors

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC043697 7 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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