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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 1 SC470224 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care for up to 10 children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/07/2021 Full Good 18/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 25/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 3

p.2

inadequate

There are currently nine children living in this home. Children have not received continuity of care from a stable staff team, which has significantly affected their overall experiences and progress living in this home. A significant number of staff have recently left the organisation and staff from another home within the organisation have come to work in this home. Although children said that they are beginning to develop positive relationships with the new staff team, they have been unsettled by the number of changes that have taken place. One staff member said that ‘their [children’s] trust in staff has been affected greatly’.

p.3

inadequate

The quality of children’s experience living in this home on a day-to-day basis is varied. When children come to live at the home, consideration is given to the needs of children already living in the home. Despite this process, children’s progress has been negatively affected by another child who was living at this home. The provider works with children’s placing authorities to plan for children leaving this home.

p.3

inadequate

All children attend education regularly. Children enjoy activities with staff and also access activities in the local community. Children engage in group meetings where they are able to share their views on the care they receive and discuss current issues within the home. Workshops have been used effectively to help children to understand key issues, such as the impact of bullying. Children told inspectors that their relationships with one another have improved as a result of this.

p.3

inadequate

Children are registered with local healthcare professionals and are supported to attend routine health appointments. However, some relevant information and plans are missing from children’s records. For one child, there was no health assessment on file, despite her having lived at the home for over six months. This has not been escalated by the home’s manager. This means that staff are unable to monitor the child’s health needs effectively.

p.3

inadequate

Communication between staff and children’s parents is inconsistent. The social worker for one child raised concerns that the child’s planned time with family was disorganised. The manager has taken steps to ensure that children’s time with family is well planned and that the arrangements are clear to the staff who are supporting this time. However, arrangements in place for children to have video calls with their family are not appropriate. Staff are currently using their personal mobile phones to facilitate the arrangements that are in place. This is unsafe practice for children and staff.

p.3

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

Safeguarding arrangements at this home do not help children or protect them from harm effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 4 Children’s risk management plans do not provide staff with clear strategies to manage and reduce children’s risks effectively. There is a lack of risk management strategies for a child who is verbalising extremist views that are resulting in a negative impact on other children living in this home. The basic strategies that are in place are ineffectively utilised, for example phone checks are only being undertaken at infrequent intervals. For one child who had a known risk of substance misuse, plans failed to identify any strategies to support them to reduce this risk.

p.3

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

In addition to poor risk management plans, there are failings in the support children receive to enable them to understand their behaviour and how to reduce risks. Referrals to other agencies, to support and educate children about the risks associated with substance misuse, are not identified as a reduction strategy in children’s plans. The direct work that has been identified to be undertaken by staff has not taken place.

p.4

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

Allegations of harm to children are not responded to appropriately. For example, following a physical intervention, a child made an allegation that they had been harmed. The staff who had the allegation made against them remained on shift, working directly with the child who had made the allegation. This practice does not ensure that children’s safety and welfare are promoted. Managers have failed to undertake relevant follow-up work after allegations have been investigated.

p.4

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

Children’s support plans detail behaviours of concern for individual children and provide guidance for staff to support the children. Consequences are used effectively. Children said that this helps them learn about how their behaviour can affect themselves and others.

p.4

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

Shortfalls were identified in relation to the safe recruitment of staff. For one member of staff, there was a significant gap in their employment history. The reasons that previous relevant employment had ended were not explored. The manager has not had oversight of the recruitment checks that the organisation has undertaken. This does not ensure that the manager has satisfied himself of the integrity of all staff working in the home.

p.4

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

When children go missing from the home, staff search for them and share information with relevant professionals. However, leaders and managers do not ensure that return home interviews take place. Consequently, the reasons the child has been missing have not been explored to see if this learning could prevent further incidents occurring.

p.4

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

The home environment is poor and unclean. Repairs are not always acted on swiftly. One child’s wardrobe was left in the middle of her bedroom following an incident. This does not promote the safety, health and well-being of children or provide a homely environment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home has experienced a period of instability due to significant changes to the management and staff team. A number of staff have recently left the organisation in a short period of time. There is currently no registered manager in post. The home is being managed on a day-to-day basis by a suitably qualified interim manager. The interim manager had identified some of the concerns raised during the inspection. Children and staff were positive about the changes that the interim manager is making in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have completed mandatory training and additional training specific to the individual needs of the children living in this home. New members of staff receive a planned induction prior to starting to work at this home to ensure that they have an understanding of the home’s objectives.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are now receiving regular and reflective supervision. Team meetings take place regularly and cover a wide range of topics. However, records demonstrate that poor practice in relation to staff using their personal mobile phones was discussed during a previous meeting, yet no action was taken to address this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from social workers raised concerns regarding poor communication regarding the children living in this home. However, some social workers said that communication from managers and staff is beginning to improve.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered provider has failed to lead, manage and monitor the home in a way that is consistent with the home’s statement of purpose. Current management arrangements do not safeguard children effectively. One of the provider’s managers investigated a complaint about the interim manager of the home despite them being in a personal relationship together. Staff spoken to during the inspection were not clear on the correct process for reporting concerns.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Serious incidents in the home have not been notified to Ofsted, as required by regulation. This hinders the opportunity for Ofsted to evaluate if the correct actions have been taken.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Internal and external monitoring have not supported the manager and staff to make the necessary improvements in the quality of care provided to children. independent visitor reports lack evaluation and consultation with stakeholders. Furthermore, the independent person does not always give their opinion as to whether children are safeguarded effectively, as required by regulation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

One requirement relating to obtaining up-to-date records from the local authority is repeated from the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)) 1 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 7 The registered person must ensure that:

p.6

Requirement Due date

 all risks are assessed, with clear strategies in place for staff to use to manage and reduce risk  staff support children to understand and reduce risks  robust procedures are in place for the management of allegations made by children  management arrangements in place promote transparency and the safeguarding of children  suitable arrangements are in place for staff to support children’s contact with family and friends; and  improvements are made to the home environment.

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

 the home is led and managed in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos outlined in the home’s statement of purpose; and  there are transparent managerial arrangements in place to safeguard children effectively and that these arrangements are known and understood by all staff working in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that the home’s workforce provides consistency of care to children living in the home. 1 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 8 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

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) (3)(d))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that full information is available in relation to each of the matters listed. 17 August 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date. This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 17 August 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 17 August 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.8

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and 17 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 9 the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person seeks feedback from others, improves the evaluative content of the report and states their opinion as to whether children are safeguarded effectively.

p.9

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.9

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records show information relating to children’s access to return home interviews after incidents of going missing from home, specifically where they have raised this with the child’s placing authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.9

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 for children’s home: SC470224 10

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pearce House, 80 Cawdor Street, Eccles M30 0QF

p.10

Inspectors

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 11 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.

p.10

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

Inspectors

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

p.11