Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 1 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children who may have emotional and/or social needs, and/or mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Inspectors spoke with all the children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 3 February 2022. She was not present at the inspection.

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 widespread failures that mean children are not protected and their care and experiences are poor.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2022 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 19/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 3

p.2

inadequate

Children do not make good progress, and their outcomes are mostly poor. One social worker said that a child’s progress had ‘alarmingly decreased in the last 6 months’.

p.3

inadequate

The children’s relationships with the staff vary. Some children have good relationships with the staff, and they speak positively about them. However, other children said that they would not talk to the staff if they had any worries.

p.3

inadequate

Children do not have a structured routine. They are awake late at night; therefore, they struggle to get up in the morning and they miss school. Children are not motivated to complete schoolwork at home or participate in activities with the staff.

p.3

inadequate

Children’s health and well-being is compromised. All of the children smoke cigarettes and use vapes. Children as young as 11 years old have been under the influence of cannabis, and other children have used cocaine. While children are often suspected to be smoking cannabis in the home, the records kept do not show what action the staff have taken.

p.3

inadequate

Poor care planning and admission processes have resulted in children experiencing instability. Senior leaders and the manager move children into the home, ignoring the needs of the other children already living there. In addition, they do not consider the staff’s skills to meet the children’s needs. This has a significant impact on the children, including a marked increase in the children’s use of illegal substances, which resulted in one child being admitted to hospital.

p.3

inadequate

The manager has failed to ensure that the home operates in accordance with the conditions of the home’s registration and in line with the home’s statement of purpose. On one occasion, the manager allowed an additional child to move into the home when the home was already at full capacity. This resulted in the child not having their own bedroom and sleeping in the living room.

p.3

inadequate

The manager and her staff have failed to provide the children with the physical necessities so that they can live comfortably. Children’s bedrooms are not well maintained by the staff. Therefore, the conditions are unacceptable and unhygienic. A child’s bedroom had substantial damage to the wall. The children’s possessions are disorganised and not well looked after, and the children’s mattresses were seen to be stained and significantly worn. Furthermore, the children’s bedding was observed to be dirty and in some cases absent.

p.3

inadequate

Children are not able to freely access all areas of the home. This is because the home is divided into two separate living spaces. The manager has not regularly reviewed this arrangement or updated the statement of purpose to reflect this approach to care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 4

p.3

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

Children are not consistently protected from the risk of harm. Staff are not provided with clear guidance by the manager on how to reduce or minimise risk. Staff are not supported to understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. On one occasion, three children raised their concerns about the conduct of a staff member. No action was taken by the registered manager.

p.4

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

The frequency of children going missing from the home has increased. The staff do not consistently follow the children’s missing-from-home plans. On one occasion, a child was missing for several hours. Despite knowing his location, the staff failed to return the child home. The child was later found unresponsive and needed urgent medical care.

p.4

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

Staff do not manage the children’s behaviour well because rules and consequences are inconsistently applied. As a result, incidents of physical aggression involving the children occur frequently and quickly escalate. The staff’s lack of safe management of the children’s behaviours leads to high levels of police intervention. This has resulted in some children being arrested and one child being moved out of the home in an unplanned way.

p.4

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

Staff hold children more often. These holds are not well documented. Therefore, it is not clear how the staff have managed these incidents, if the children were offered medical care and if the holds were proportionate and necessary. In addition, on some occasions, the staff have held the children despite not having the necessary training to do so. This practice places children at risk of harm.

p.4

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

The manager has not ensured that the staff consistently conduct room searches of the children’s bedrooms when there are concerns that dangerous items may be hidden. The lack of oversight means that the children continue to have access to lighters and store other items that may present risk.

p.4

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

As a result of regular disturbances, there is significant damage in the home. The manager does not assess the home for hazards and the risks that this may pose to the children. Broken glass embedded into a wall and poor fire safety arrangements present risks to the children and the staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Poor leadership and management oversight has led to significant shortfalls in the quality of support and guidance to the staff. This has had a detrimental effect on children’s safety, progress and outcomes.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has failed to ensure that there is sufficient support and practice- related supervision sessions for the staff. Some staff have not received supervision for over two months, despite serious incidents occurring regularly in the home. Staff morale has been affected, and some staff have resigned. Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 5 The manager has failed to ensure that there are sufficient and suitably trained staff to care for the children. Staff rotas are not planned in advance, and they do not consider the mix of the staff’s skills and experience. This means that the quality of children’s care varies depending on which staff are working in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager’s monitoring systems are not effective. She does not scrutinise the incidents or the significant events to understand the children’s experiences and how they have been affected. Emerging themes are not quickly identified, and opportunities to address poor practice and make improvements are missed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of record keeping is poor. Documents are disorganised and, at times, difficult to find. There are discrepancies between children’s records.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The failures identified during this inspection were immediately brought to the attention of the responsible individual. Therefore, some repairs and hazards were addressed during the inspection. Due to the seriousness of the inspection findings, Ofsted has issued a notice to restrict accommodation, in order to prevent children from moving into the home. Ofsted also issued compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 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

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)) 7 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 7 *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.6

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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.7

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)(f)(g)(h)) 7 May 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 18 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 8 ensure that staff—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.8

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.8

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 18 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 9 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.8

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.9

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.9

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should consider the needs of children already living in the home and ensure that the staff’s skills can effectively meet the children’s individual and group needs. 18 June 2023

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. 18 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 10 Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

p.9

Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations; or

p.10

Requirement Due date

any conditions in relation to the registration of the registered person under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000. (Regulation 16 (5) (6)(a)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.10

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.10

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.10

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.10

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 18 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 11 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

p.10

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi((vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

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

p.11

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 18 June 2023

p.11

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.11

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Where some access restrictions are required, this should be detailed in the child’s care plan and reviewed on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the Children Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that searches of a child’s bedroom are carried out where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person safety or well-being. The registered person should ensure that staff keep good records of room searches and include details of the outcome. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20).  The registered person should agree with their local police force, procedures and

p.11

Recommendations

guidance on police involvement with the home to reduce unnecessary police involvement in managing behaviour and criminalisation of behaviours. Children should not be charged with offences resulting from behaviour within a children’s home that would not similarly lead to police involvement if it occurred in a family home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40). Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 12

p.11

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: 2520922 13

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

p.13

Children’s home details

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

p.13

Inspectors

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 14 inspects 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.13

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.14

Inspectors

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

p.14

Inspectors

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

p.14