Children's Home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited in Hartlepool

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2613032 1

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Hennessy Living Group Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for children who may have social, emotional or behavioural difficulties, and children with mental disorders, excluding learning disability. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out following a review of independent visitor reports which highlighted issues regarding staff training and gaps in children’s risk assessments.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place during a period of national restrictions due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and was completed remotely. The inspector reviewed children’s case files and records, spoke with children and held discussions with managers and staff. The registered manager was not available for this visit. The deputy manager is currently being supported by the responsible individual and a manager from another children’s home.

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This monitoring visit

This is the first time that Ofsted has visited this home since it registered in December 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager does not make sure that children’s risk assessments always include sufficient detail to help staff to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety. For example, if children return to the home under the influence of illegal substances, some staff are unsure of what actions to take to keep them safe. As a result, some children may be at risk of further harm.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk assessments do not consistently include all recent incidents that may impact on their safety and protection. Furthermore, some of these records are not dated. This may prevent staff from identifying patterns in children’s behaviour, or the Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 2 frequency of these incidents. As a result, some staff may not have a full understanding of risks to children’s safety or of the actions that they need to take to reduce these risks.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have completed some training courses online, including safeguarding, mental health awareness and first aid. However, face-to-face training for the use of physical restraint has not taken place. At this time, only two staff have completed this course. This potentially leaves children exposed to inconsistent care and places them at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

External monitoring by the independent visitor is not in line with regulation. The independent visitor has not visited the home and continues to complete visits remotely. This is despite this flexibility having now been removed from the amended regulations.

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This monitoring visit

Relationships between children and staff are positive. Children say they feel safe at the home and that they can talk to staff about any worries they may have. Consequently, children are assured that their concerns are taken seriously.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and the staff work closely with children’s social workers and other professionals. Children regularly tell their social workers how much they like living in the home. They say that they are ‘not as stressed or upset as they used to be’ because of the support that they receive from staff. Furthermore, children say that living in the home ‘make them feel part of a family’. This joined-up approach means that children benefit from personalised and integrated care which supports their development.

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This monitoring visit

Staff say they feel supported in their role and that they receive regular supervision sessions. These sessions encourage them to reflect on their practice. This helps them to continue to develop the skills that they need to meet children’s needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection Inspection judgement No previous inspection Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 3

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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—

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children’s risk assessments include clear guidance for staff to follow to manage and reduce risks to children’s safety. 30 April 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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that all staff receive physical restraint training. 30 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which— 30 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 4 are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children’s risk assessments are dated and include all relevant information.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 30 April 2021

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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: Hennessy Living Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rickleton 1B, Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester-le-Street DH3 4AN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Goundry

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Inspectors

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 5 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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