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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to three of the children during the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed to assess the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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This monitoring visit

 that children are safe and well cared for  that the requirements for any compliance notices of which the completion timescales have passed have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are improving the quality of care that the children receive. Staff receive induction training prior to caring for the children. All the staff are up to date with their mandatory training, and half of the permanent staff team are qualified and hold the residential childcare diploma. When additional staff are needed, the provider uses the same two agency staff. This provides better continuity of care for the children. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 2 Leaders and managers respond effectively to safeguarding concerns. The manager follows safeguarding procedures and acts quickly to establish the facts. Professionals are informed in a timely manner and updated with any developments. Furthermore, the manager escalates concerns when children do not receive a timely response from other professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The staff understand how to keep children safe. Monthly meetings incorporate training and awareness sessions on safeguarding practice and protocols. The staff are invited to discuss concerns in meetings and supervisions. This creates a positive safeguarding culture.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the admissions procedure. The manager now uses two assessment documents to ensure that there is more detailed information about the new child. The manager considers the new child’s needs and vulnerabilities alongside the children already living in the home. The manager’s assessment looks at the impact on all children. This approach improves the experience of the child moving into the home, and the children already living there.

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This monitoring visit

Children learn how their behaviour impacts on others. The manager and staff encourage the children to share their views with each other. Staff use a restorative approach and children develop a greater awareness of how others have been affected by their behaviour. This leads to increased harmony between the children.

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This monitoring visit

The staff know the children and their plans well. The plans and assessments give a good overview of the children and how staff should respond during difficult times. The staff show insight into the children’s histories and subsequent needs. However, the children have not been consulted with about their plans. This does not put the children at the heart of their own care planning.

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This monitoring visit

The manager completes audits, but the shortfalls and actions identified are not promptly addressed. This includes updating the children’s plans and files.

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This monitoring visit

Some statutory plans are not on the children’s file and have not been requested from the relevant placing authorities in a timely manner. One child’s local authority care plan is out of date and does not reflect the most up-to-date information. Another child’s personal education plan is also out of date and does not reflect the recent exclusions and attendance concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The recording of children’s daily lives is poor. The daily notes reflect a chronological record of interaction between the children and the staff. However, there is little insight into the children’s experiences or how the staff have supported them. If the child wants access to their file, the staff’s recording does not provide a helpful record of the children’s experiences of living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 3 A case review was held on 8 March 2024, and it was agreed that the compliance notice had mostly been met. Those parts not met will be raised as a requirement under regulation 13. The grounds for the restriction of accommodation are no longer in place.

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This monitoring visit

Any of the requirements that were previously issued and were not reviewed during this visit have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/12/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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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

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)) 10 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1) (4)(a)(b)) 10 April 2024

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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: 2661071 6

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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

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2661071 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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Inspector

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