Children's Home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited in Hartlepool

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 1 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties, and who may have learning disabilities, alcohol misuse, and mental health issues.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 9 and 10 October 2023, the children’s home was judged inadequate as there were significant breaches in regulations relating to the leadership and management standard of the home and in the protection of children standard. At a case review on 11 October 2023, it was agreed that compliance notices under regulation 11, 12, 13 and 28 would be issued. In addition, due to the seriousness of the inspection findings, Ofsted issued a notice to restrict accommodation, in order to prevent children from moving into the home.

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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 the progress made in meeting the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The five children have remained living in the home since the last inspection. Therefore, no children have been admitted and the provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has improved the relationships between children in the home. Safeguarding arrangements for children have also improved. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 2 The provider has improved the leadership and management arrangements. Most of the shortfalls from the last inspection have been met. This includes improved systems to monitor the work of the registered manager. The registered manager has reflected on her performance and acknowledged the concerns raised at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The regional manager has been present in the home. He works closely with the registered manager and the two deputy managers to provide consistent leadership in the home. By working together, they understand the needs of the children and what improvements are required.

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This monitoring visit

The staff understand the children’s needs, and the action that they should take if there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. The staff receive additional advice and guidance during team meetings, and through improved handover systems. This helps to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities for the protection of children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have strengthened systems to ensure that all staff work in accordance with the children’s risk assessments. 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

The children’s relationships with one another have improved and staff ensure that the children’s risks are better managed. As a result, there have been no incidents of bullying in the home since the last inspection, and the children have enjoyed positive experiences with one another.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are now visible in the home and available to the children. This helps the children to feel better supported. One child said,

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This monitoring visit

‘It finally feels like a family home, like everyone is busy and just doing their own thing. We are all getting on better. I feel a lot safer now, which is good.’

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This monitoring visit

The regional manager has implemented new systems to support management oversight of children’s records and staff actions. The registered manager is in the initial stages of embedding this into her practice. As a result, improvements are still required in the day-to-day management oversight of the operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment has improved. This includes a full deep clean of the home. Bedrooms present as warm and nurturing and contain the physical necessities for the children. Previously identified health and safety hazards have been rectified. The manager has systems in place to ensure the home is maintained to a high standard.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has an action plan to continue the improvement work in this home. Following a case review on 27 November 2023, it was agreed that the compliance Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 3 notices have been met, and the grounds for restriction of accommodation are no longer in place.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements previously issued under regulations 10, 24, 34 and 40 were not reviewed during this visit. For this reason, they are restated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/10/2023 Full Inadequate 16/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for liaison and co-operation with any local authority which are, or may be, making a child protection enquiry in relation to a child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(d)) 5 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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 staff help each child to— 5 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 5 achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(b)(c)) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 5 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (a)(b)) 5 January 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

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;

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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)(h)) 5 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 6

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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.

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Goundry

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2613032 7 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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