Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 1 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2019. There is no registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to both children.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 4 and 5 April 2023. During this inspection, Ofsted identified significant shortfalls in the provider’s safeguarding practice due to ineffective leadership and management arrangements. As a result of the shortfalls, a decision was made to restrict accommodation at the home on 6 April 2023. Ofsted also issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. In addition, several requirements were issued.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice and action taken by the provider in response to the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home. The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice as no children have moved into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved the safeguarding arrangements for children. Therefore, the compliance notice that was issued under regulation 12 has been met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has also improved the leadership and management arrangements for children. Therefore, the compliance notice that was issued under regulation 13 has Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 2 been met.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible person has strengthened systems to ensure that all staff work in accordance with children’s risk assessments and the home’s policies and procedures to safeguard children. The guidance that is available to staff has been improved so staff know how to respond when significant safeguarding incidents occur.

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This monitoring visit

Improvements have been made to the home’s conditions. Hazards identified in a previous inspection have been rectified. Leaders have ensured that all staff are aware of the provider’s expectations, ensuring the environment is safe and clear of hazards. As a result, the children feel safer.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible person has implemented new systems to support management oversight of children’s records and staff’s actions. The provider demonstrated a measured approach to embedding the systems in practice. As a result, day-to-day management oversight of the operation of the home is more effective.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible person has reviewed the supervision procedures in the home. All staff now receive regular supervision sessions in line with the provider’s supervision policy. All staff are now provided with protected time to reflect on the progress and experiences of children. This practice benefits the children due to the continuity of care that they receive.

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This monitoring visit

There has been no registered manager since 11 April 2023. The provider has a plan to address this. Meanwhile the responsible person has worked closely with the deputy managers to provide consistent leadership in the home. By working together, they understand the needs of the service and what improvements are required.

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This monitoring visit

Staff speak more positively about the leadership in the home. They feel supported and say that the changes are having a positive effect on the quality of care provided to the children. One staff member said, ‘Staff morale is improved. Staff are calmer and feel better supported; we have clear guidance. Therefore, the children feel safe and secure.’

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This monitoring visit

The provider has an action plan to continue the improvement work in this home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements that were previously issued under regulations 6, 11, 14, 16, 35 and 36 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated.

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This monitoring visit

The restriction of accommodation remains in force until 29 June 2023. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/04/2023 Full Inadequate 03/10/2022 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 19/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 4

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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, The 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 25 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 5 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))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 25 June 2023

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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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")— 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 6 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 7 the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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))

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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. 16 July 2023

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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.

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Requirement Due date

Nothing in paragraph (5) or regulation 46 (review of premises) requires or authorises the registered person to contravene or not comply with—

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Requirement Due date

any other provision of these Regulations; or

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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)) 16 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 8

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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’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered provider should ensure that searches of a child’s bedroom are carried out when there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s 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

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Recommendations

and 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 - monitoring visit: 2520922 9

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 10

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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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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 11 regulates and 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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