Children's Home run by Hazelmont Social Care LTD in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 1 Registered provider: Hazelmont Social Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since August 2023. A new manager was appointed in September 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 14 December 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2022 Full Good 16/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. They have lived in the home for over two years and continue to make good progress in all aspects of their lives. They are well supported by a core team of staff who know them very well. Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff and enjoy living in the home. One child said, ‘ It is really good here. I am living a good life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work hard to ensure that children access education that meets their needs. One child attends school regularly and is achieving well. One child passed their exams and attends further education provision in line with their ambition to join the police service. One child has struggled to attend mainstream school regularly. The manager and staff have been strong and persistent advocates for the child. This has resulted in the completion of a specialist education assessment to identify extra support for the child. The child’s school said the communication from the home has been excellent, and they are always kept up to date on any issues that arise. This good support helps children feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to build their independence skills in line with their age and ability. Children learn key life skills at a pace suitable for them and in line with their individual plans. One child has made great progress with skills such as cooking, cleaning and making safer decisions in the community. At times, the child is reluctant to engage in formal work regarding independence skills. Staff understand and consider the child’s anxieties about moving on from the home and tailor support around this. As a result, children understand the importance of being ready and planning for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good general health. They are registered with local health services and attend routine health and specialist appointments. This means children’s emotional and physical health needs are well managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A variety of activities are identified and planned by children with the help of staff. These include camping and day trips, police cadets, skateboarding and youth clubs. One child enjoyed a birthday party arranged by staff at the home where their friends attended. These activities help children’s physical health and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote children’s identities. Children spend time with those who are important to them. Plans are being made for one child to spend time with their parent at their family home over the Christmas period. One child’s parent did not feel staff always communicated with them in a timely manner about important matters. The manager has acknowledged this and has plans in place to improve it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff also creatively engage children in work related to differences. They create a quarterly magazine for children. This contains information, worksheets and quizzes based on national and international cultural events. One child has been comfortable to Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 4 open up and explore their gender identity with staff. This means children are better equipped to respect diversity and to be more confident about their own identities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and well presented in communal areas. During the inspection, the children’s bedrooms were being renovated as part of planned improvement works. The disruption from this has been managed for children, who have contributed to the planned decor. They have also chosen their furniture so they can personalise their bedroom space.

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

Children feel staff keep them safe and well. They identified that this has been due to staff understanding them and their needs well. Staff also engage children in regular, direct work. This, along with consistent routines and boundaries, all contributes to a sense of security for children.

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

The manager and staff are fully aware of the risks to children and understand their roles and responsibilities to keep them safe. This good practice is informed by comprehensive risk management plans that contain clear guidance for staff. These are regularly reviewed by the manager and informed by the in-house clinical psychologist’s team. This helps to shape staff practice in line with the home’s therapeutic approach. As a result, there has been a reduction in significant incidents, such as children harming themselves or going missing from care.

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

There have been a few occasions when children have struggled to manage their emotions. Staff’s best efforts to nurture and de-escalate these situations have not always been effective. This has led to staff needing to physically intervene to keep children and others safe. These incidents have been recorded in a timely and detailed manner. The manager has had oversight of this process and of the subsequent discussions and reflections with children and staff.

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

Sometimes the use of bedroom alarms has enabled staff to support and keep children safe at night. These have been appropriately risk assessed, and consent was sought from the children’s family and placing authority. This means the effective use of these alarms is understood and agreed by children and the important people in their lives.

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

Safe recruitment processes are in place. When agency staff are used, they work with permanent staff. This approach helps provide familiar staff and consistency of care for children.

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

The manager takes prompt action when children make allegations or complaints. Children are kept safe and informed during and after investigations. This means they feel listened to and valued.

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

Children are guided to safely use the internet and their mobile phones. Close monitoring and regular checks by staff have helped children to access age-appropriate material. On a few occasions when this has not been the case, staff have taken prompt Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 5 action. They have also involved children in direct work to support their understanding of the potential risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and knowledgeable. Despite being in post only a few months before this inspection, they have worked on sustaining and improving care for children. The manager has built strong relationships with children and staff. They are supported by a committed responsible individual and a deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. There is a robust induction and probation period for new staff. There is also a comprehensive training programme for all staff. Regular team meetings, supervision and appraisals take place. This contributes towards good team morale and staff development. The manager and staff also have regular clinical group supervision with the in-house psychologist. This safe space enables them to share concerns and seek advice and guidance. This helps staff feel confident and supported to deliver care to children in line with the home’s therapeutic approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have created a culture of reflection and learning in the home. They have made improvements to the template that staff use to record incidents and physical interventions. The therapeutic offer to children also includes one-to-one support by the in-house psychologist to explore their lived experiences. This reflects the learning that leaders and managers have taken on board since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is developing good systems to monitor the quality of care and safety for children and staff practice. However, the home’s independent visitor has not regularly gained feedback from professionals and children’s family members. There has been an improvement since the last inspection, but this remains an area of ongoing development. The manager accepts this and has a clear plan to progress it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Multi-agency working is a strength of the home. This is recognised and complimented by the wider professional network. One child’s social worker has felt that the home has set the bar high and that managers are receptive to challenge. Another child’s social worker said they could not have chosen a better home for the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively support the independent visitor to seek regular independent feedback from families and professionals and use the feedback to develop the service. (Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards, page 54, paragraph 10.23)

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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: 2654423 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hazelmont Social Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Midlands House, Gipsy Lane, Willenhall, West Midlands, England WV13 2HA

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2654423 8 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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