Children's Home run by Holywell Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 1 Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It registered in October 2019 and provides care for up to two children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children who receive care here may have complex needs arising from social, emotional or behaviour difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager registered in July 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 10 December 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on our website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was completed in December 2020 to assess the progress made in addressing shortfalls that had been identified at the previous visit in July 2020. The Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 2 inspector found that a new manager had been assigned to the home and that sufficient progress had been made. Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, the children living in the home, the registered manager and a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. Because of this, the inspector completed aspects of this inspection remotely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by an experienced and stable staff team. They receive consistent care in line with the stated aims of local authority plans. This supports children to progress and helps to protect them from harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have recently moved into the home. Formal, specialised education is not yet in place. In the interim, children are engaging in structured home learning. They have completed a variety of work in core subjects and areas of interest. This will assist them with their transitions to formal education and helps them to maintain positive daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional and mental health needs are regularly discussed with the relevant professionals. This helps staff to understand children’s needs and support them effectively. Furthermore, children’s physical health is improving. For example, one child has recently been helped to stop using an electronic cigarette. Another child has benefited from significantly improved personal care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Direct work sessions completed with children are held frequently and are of good quality. Staff use external resources to provide children with clear and relevant information. Sessions also strive to ascertain the child’s understanding of their individual needs and risks. This helps them to understand and manage their own behaviours and needs, which they will continue to benefit from in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff focus upon small, achievable goals for children. This means that children are helped to succeed. Progress towards these goals is incentivised, rewarded and celebrated. This provides children with a sense of achievement, promotes confidence and helps to increase their self-esteem.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

At the time of the inspection, children living in the home had tested positive for COVID-19. The manager and a staff member had also tested positive. Robust procedures were in place to manage this. Children were being supported to manage their isolation and said that they were being well cared for. This increases the safety and well-being of all those in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have benefited from a decline in risk-taking behaviour. Assessments consider children’s unsafe and risk-taking behaviours and are thorough and individualised to the child. They are regularly updated and reflect recent incidents Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 4 of concern. Triggers for behaviours are clearly documented and considered. This supports effective risk management and increases children’s safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home’s location risk assessment requires review. Not all risks arising from the location of the home have been included. Further consideration to the location of the home and local community will contribute to more robust placement planning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents of self-harm are managed well. Staff support children with their self- harming by encouraging self-care and assessment. Incidents are clearly recorded and monitored, and records demonstrate a reduction in frequency. Furthermore, children are helped to explore alternatives. This helps children to reduce and manage their own self-harming behaviours and improves their safety, health and well-being.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers have investigated significant incidents in line with the relevant policies and procedures. Information relating to these incidents has been appropriately shared with those responsible for the child and the designated officer where required. However, not all significant incidents have been notified to the regulator. This prevents thorough external review and has the potential to have an impact on children’s safety.

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good

Significant shortfalls in safer recruitment practice were found. There were no professional references for one member of staff despite them having worked with children previously. Not all gaps in employment had been addressed. Furthermore, the necessary exploration of staff’s personal histories had not been completed. This does not reflect safe recruitment practices and ensure that those working with children are safe to do so.

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good

Staff complete regular consultation with children and relevant others. Unfortunately, not all complaints made by children or others have been fully recorded, investigated or responded to. A requirement has been made to address this.

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good

Monitoring reports required by regulation have not always been submitted to or received by Ofsted within the appropriate timescales. This has hindered the required monitoring and review by the regulator and has affected the manager’s ability to assess the quality of care provided to children.

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good

Staff receive regular training, supervision and appraisal. Clear plans are in place for future training and development of the staff team. This means that staff are encouraged to continually develop their practice, skills and knowledge and that they feel well supported and confident in their roles.

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good

The home and team have faced difficult periods due to COVID-19. This has had a direct impact upon staff and staff availability. Throughout these periods, staff have Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 5 been dedicated to their role and in supporting children. Staffing has remained consistent, and children have continued to be cared for by adults they know and trust. This has ensured that children have continued to build positive relationships with staff and have felt well cared for.

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good

The registered manager and the deputy manager have made positive changes to the home since the previous monitoring visit. They are keen to address the shortfalls identified at this inspection and further improve the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 6

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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 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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that independent and internal monitoring that is required by regulation is completed and sent to the regulator within the necessary timescales. Ensure monitoring reports provide effective analysis and evaluation in order to identify areas for improvement. 12 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; 12 November 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 7 the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, follow safer recruitment practice by obtaining appropriate references and addressing gaps in potential employee’s employment histories. Examine and assess employee’s personal and criminal histories where necessary.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure occasions where children or others have raised verbal complaints that these are documented, considered and/or investigated and responded to appropriately. 12 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 12 November 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 8

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Recommendation

 The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendation

In particular, the home’s location risk assessment should be updated to include any new, significant or relevant information which may have an impact on children’s safety or well-being. This information should be used to strengthen placement planning and placement suitability assessments prior to children moving into the home.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Dalton House, 9 Dalton Square, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1WD

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Inspector

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2519196 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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