Children's Home run by Halls Homes for Young People Ltd in Luton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 1 Registered provider: Halls Homes for Young People Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned by a small independent provider. It provides care for up to three children aged between 10 and 18 years who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have mild learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the judgement of inadequate at the full inspection in April 2023, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation and compliance notices relating to the leadership and management of the home and how well children are helped and protected. In June 2023, a monitoring visit took place which found that the provider had met the steps in the notices and adhered to the notice restricting accommodation. There has been no further compliance or enforcement action since the monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2023 Full Inadequate 07/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 3

p.2

improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. Since the full inspection in April 2023, one child has moved on from the home. The child at the home has lived there for over a year and wants to remain there.

p.3

improvement to be good

Care planning for the child remains inconsistent. There are several shortfalls in how staff support the child’s needs and manage the child’s routines in an age-appropriate way.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not encourage positive activities for the child regularly and consistently. Staff are not creative in finding ways to engage the child in different activities when they are reluctant to participate. At a care review meeting in April 2023, a social worker raised a concern about the child’s lack of participation in activities, but no progress has been made since this date. The child is not experiencing regular, enjoyable and enriching activities in their local community.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not offer age-appropriate routines for the child. The child has access to the internet, video games and their mobile phone until 2am during the summer holidays. This is not appropriate for the child’s age and does not help the child to find a healthy sleep routine or to engage in activities during the day. Some staff were not clear on the boundaries and routines set for the child, and the social worker was not aware that the child had this level of freedom. These routines do not reflect the child’s local authority care plan.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently support the child to make healthy choices or learn about healthy eating. The manager has not followed up an identified health need effectively and dietician support has not been sourced for the child. Fruit is available to the child in the day. Other snacks, seen by the staff as unhealthy, are kept in a locked cupboard that the child cannot access. This measure does not support the child to learn about healthy eating or portion control. The measure is not recorded as being discussed with the child. Staff have not planned any sessions to discuss healthy eating habits with the child to help them to learn to make better choices.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child is in full-time education at a specialist school provision. This is progress for the child, who has previously been out of education. Their school attendance is good and staff support them to attend.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have positive relationships with the child. They speak about the child in a warm and nurturing way and can describe the child’s interests well. The child said that they have good relationships with the staff.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child can share their views with staff through children’s meetings, which are now taking place weekly. Staff record and listen to the child’s views. Staff implement Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 4 some of the child’s requests, such as changing their routine at weekends when they spend time with their family.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home environment has improved since the last inspection. The necessary repairs have been made to the home to make it safe. The child has a well-furnished bedroom that has been personalised to their tastes. However, a fence panel was broken in July 2023 and still needs to be repaired.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff’s responses to children going missing from the home or spending unsupervised time in the community are inconsistent. Staff do not always record accurately what time the child went missing or what steps they took to try and locate them. The manager and staff have allowed a significant increase to the child’s free time in the community in comparison to what is stated in the child’s most recent local authority care plan. At times, when the child is out in the community for seven hours or more, there are not always daily records to evidence that staff have oversight of the child as agreed in the home’s care plans. A parent said that they felt worried about their child’s peer networks and freedom in the community. Staff are not curious about or vigilant to the child’s whereabouts. This increases the risk of harm to the child when having unsupervised time in the community or going missing from care.

p.4

improvement to be good

The manager and staff do not have consistent strategies to manage behaviour. The consequences used have not always been effective and are sometimes punitive. Staff have sometimes used consequences that do not help the child to think about educational activities in a positive way. Although there has been some improvement in consequences since the monitoring visit in June 2023, the records are still confusing. The manager does not consistently review the effectiveness of consequences. There is limited evidence that the child is spoken to about the consequences.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not always record incidents promptly. Event descriptions are inconsistent and records do not correlate with the consequences given. There is good detail in some records and minimal detail in others. There is not a clear picture in consequence records or the incident logs about the behaviour that led up to the issue. Records do not state the techniques or behaviour support strategies that staff use to try and de-escalate situations. Staff are not able to help the child to manage their behaviour if they are not clear on the strategies they need to use. Staff cannot learn from events when there are poor or inaccurate records.

p.4

improvement to be good

The manager has identified an independent mentor to visit the child once a week. The purpose is to befriend, explore peer relationships and help the child to understand what exploitation may look like. Staff reinforce these messages in conversations with the child at home, and this is well recorded. The mentor visits give the child the opportunity to spend time in the community with a safe adult and to learn how to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 5 The manager has ensured that an independent fire risk assessment has taken place. However, staff are not routinely performing fire drills and fire checks. The location risk assessment is up to date. It identifies relevant risks and how these risks are reduced, but it is missing feedback from the wider professional network.

p.4

good

Management capacity to offer good oversight to the home remains limited. One requirement from the last inspection has not been met and further shortfalls have been identified as part of this inspection. The manager has met four out of the five previous requirements. These relate to safer recruitment, notifications to Ofsted, staff supervision and consulting the child about their views. One requirement is restated, in respect of the manager’s six-monthly monitoring.

p.5

good

Leaders and managers have not been successful in recruiting a deputy manager. Therefore, the registered manager is not available to carry out management tasks in a timely way and provide good oversight of staff practice.

p.5

good

Staff do not keep records up to date. Their recording is inconsistent and not always accurate. The manager does not have effective strategies to support staff to improve their recording. The manager has made some improvements in their oversight of staff practice, but this still requires improvement to be good.

p.5

good

The manager does not have all relevant care planning documents about the child. Documents regarding the child’s education and health and the up-to-date local authority plans are not available to the manager or staff.

p.5

good

The lack of the manager’s availability and their ineffective delegation of tasks have a negative impact on communication with the professional network. The manager provides some challenge to external professionals to advocate for the child or request more information. However, a parent and a social worker said that communication is inconsistent. Other professionals do not receive timely updates about the child’s progress. Expectations are unclear between other professionals and the manager about what is agreed in the child’s care plan.

p.5

good

The manager has failed to provide a review of the quality of care since the home opened. The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home but has not captured these in a written review.

p.5

good

Due to no staff being at the home, the independent person was unable to visit the home in June 2023. This meant that there was no independent scrutiny of the home in that month, as required by regulation. The independent person’s visits, when they take place, are informative and provide challenge on practice inconsistencies.

p.5

good

The manager has identified a staff training platform that offers the relevant training modules to staff. There is improved recording on what training modules staff have Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 6 completed. Staff training is up to date. In addition, the responsible individual led a face-to-face training session with staff about the risks of child criminal exploitation.

p.5

good

The manager is now providing monthly supervision to staff, who said that they feel supported by the manager. The manager is receiving independent supervision, which is reflective and is supporting her to find ways to develop the service and support staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 7

p.6

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.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.7

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s risk management plans are agreed by the local authority and that staff follow all agreed steps to help keep children safe. 25 August 2023

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

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 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 8 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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)(e)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff keep up-to-date and accurate records for children. Ensure that there is clear and consistent oversight and monitoring of records and that the manager’s reviews and observations are recorded.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.8

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.8

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. 5 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 9 (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(ii)(v)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

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.9

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(ix)) 5 September 2023

p.9

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.9

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)) 19 September

p.9

Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet 8 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 10 their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

p.10

Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 19 September

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b)) 25 August 2023

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

p.10

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.10

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; 11 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 11 the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.11

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

p.11

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b))

p.11

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.11

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is homely and well maintained throughout. In particular, repairs to the home should be made promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislations. In particular, regularly review and monitor fire safety and checks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year and consult relevant persons in doing so. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 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: 2628612 13

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halls Homes for Young People Limited

p.13

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 66 Drayton Road, Luton LU4 0PH

p.13

Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 14 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.

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