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. The home can provide care for up to six children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2019. There is currently 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.

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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 that 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 on 6 April 2023 to restrict accommodation at the home. Ofsted also issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. In addition, several requirements were issued.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted conducted a monitoring visit on 9 May 2023 to monitor the provider’s compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice and its progress in meeting the compliance steps. The inspector found that the compliance notices issued under regulations 12 and 13 were met. The provider provided an action plan to continue the improvement work in this home. In response, Ofsted agreed that the restriction of accommodation would remain in force until 29 June 2023.

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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 to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting requirements issued at the full inspection on 4 and 5 April 2023. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2520922 2 Since the last monitoring visit, no children have moved into or out of the home. The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

There continues to be no registered manager at the home. Furthermore, the responsible individual is no longer working in the home. The provider’s action plan identifies the provider’s interim arrangements. Day-to-day management oversight is provided by two deputy managers who continue to work together to improve the quality of care in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The condition of the home’s environment has improved. The outdoor space has been enhanced with an array of flowers. Photos of children are on display throughout the home. However, the inspector observed a noticeable difference in the standards of cleanliness throughout the home. One bedroom, which is currently not in use, was identified as not suitable to accommodate a child due to damage and repairs needed. In addition, another bedroom not currently in use did not have a bed.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose has not been reviewed by the provider. As a result, leaders and managers do not have an agreed understanding of the overall purpose and function of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff said that they are still recovering from exhaustion and burnout from when the home was at full capacity with six children living there. Staff spoke about their anxieties should the home operate with six children in the future, and said that they are not confident they could safely care for and protect six children.

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This monitoring visit

Sufficient staff are available to care for the two children living in the home. However, should six children be accommodated, there is no assurance that staffing levels are sufficient to safeguard and support children effectively.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review on 30 June 2023, the provider was informed of Ofsted’s intention not to further restrict accommodation at the home. However, Ofsted is concerned about the ability of the provider to care for up to six children. A proposal has been sent to the provider to vary the conditions of the registration, namely to reduce the number of children who can be accommodated at the home. The provider has 28 days to respond to this proposal.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements that were previously issued under regulations 6, 11, 14, 35 and 36 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated. 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 16 August 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)) 16 August 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 August 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 August 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 August 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 August 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 regularly. (‘Guide to the Children’s 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 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)

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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 9

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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 10 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 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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