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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Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Midlands Division Limited

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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 and provides care for up to seven children.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider’s statement of purpose states that children take part in a time-limited programme which aims to help them reach a point of sustainable recovery. The programme can last up to 24 months.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has no registered manager. The home is being managed by three lead deputy managers. Managers are being supported by the assistant director of practice. The provider is taking steps to recruit a manager.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the provider’s progress against meeting the steps on three compliance notices that were issued on 8 October 2021.

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This monitoring visit

Managerial oversight of the home has improved. Although the provider is still looking to appoint a registered manager, the structure of the home has changed so that three lead deputy managers have responsibility for the home. Hours worked and rosters are arranged so that the managers focus on managerial tasks and are supernumerary to the staff team. This allows them to work together to provide an analytical approach to the oversight and have time together to reflect on, and make plans for, running the home. The stronger leadership has instigated a change in culture which promotes children getting the best outcomes they can from their time in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The allocation of key workers has been revised. Assessments have considered the strengths and skills of the staff and matched them to the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC043697 2 Specific training has been provided to staff so that the role of the key worker is clearly established and expectations of the role are understood. This has encouraged the building of individual relationships, which has begun to improve wider relationships in the home. In response, children have acted differently when incidents have taken place, which has led to a reduction in children’s participation in, and escalation of, incidents.

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This monitoring visit

A change to the format of individual risk assessments has now embedded across the organisation. Individual safety plans now detail children’s behaviour and triggers, and include strategies to reduce behaviour. Plans are now colour coded so that the journey of the child is much clearer to see. Complex trauma training supports staff’s understanding of children’s behaviour. Staff work together to share their experiences of working with individual children. This ensures that all staff understand children’s needs and how to respond effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now benefit from an increased period of induction. The induction process has been extended and includes the delivery of a new induction programme, which includes training in relation to safeguarding and complex trauma. Training is now completed face to face. Staff combine their learning with periods of working in the home to gain practical experience and validate their learning. They then return to learning where they can reflect on their experiences before completing their induction. Staff’s understanding is validated through discussions in team meetings, supervisions and safeguarding questionnaires. Following induction, those who need it are enrolled on the required qualification.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have also received two days’ training in relation to positive behaviour. Although this is used across the organisation, it was specifically tailored for this home. The training was interactive, reflected on the staff’s responses to previous incidents, focused on the techniques used, and developed staff’s skills so that they can respond confidently to future incidents. As a result, staff are more skilled at recognising the triggers and signs that behaviour may escalate, and use techniques to distract the child and avoid using holds.

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This monitoring visit

The managers continue to receive allegations resulting from when children are held. These are handled appropriately and include consultation with the designated officer when necessary. While investigations are ongoing, the rationale for steps to manage risk are recorded and balance the working arrangements with the need to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Arrangements for the storage of car keys have improved. Keys are double locked inside a cabinet, which is situated inside the office. The door to the office can now be routinely locked from the outside when children are in the house. Cars belonging to the home are brought within the boundary and kept behind locked gates. This reduces the risk of keys being obtained and used to take the cars.

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This monitoring visit

The staff team has had an intense four-week period. There have been a number of changes implemented by the provider to improve support and oversight. The skills Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC043697 3 and experience of staff have been improved through training and reflective practice. Reflective learning has been used to acknowledge previous aspects of weak practice. Expectations on staff are clearer and their confidence in managing difficult situations has improved. As a result, there has been identifiable progress for some children in reducing the number of incidents that take place, and in their attitude towards staff and other children.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review, the provider has met the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC043697 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/07/2021 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Full Good 27/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC043697 5

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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 the monitoring visit.

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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: Halliwell Homes Midlands Division Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 28 Sandown Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 6PL

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Inspector

Mark Broomhead, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC043697 6 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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