Children's home run by Halliwell Homes Limited in Staffordshire Moorlands

Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 1 SC043697 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to seven children who may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2023 Full Good 07/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/08/2022 Full Inadequate 14/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that children moving into the home and out of the home have well-planned moves. One child left the home in an emergency situation. However, staff supported the child to settle into their new home. This provided the child with continuation of care and an opportunity to say goodbye.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they love living in this home and like all of their staff. One child, who has lived in the home for over a year, said, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’ This year, the manager arranged for the children to have a holiday abroad. All the children had a fantastic time and made lots of great memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make clear progress. Feedback from professionals is extremely positive. One professional commented, ‘ Although the home is a vast geographical distance away, the growth that [name of child] is experiencing, and the sense of safety and belonging he feels, is so beneficial. I want him to continue to experience the nurturing, support and value that he now feels that the home has given him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from good daily routines, which support education and social activities. Staff encourage children to engage in meaningful leisure activities, including attending groups such as Cubs and Scouts. Other children take part in their specific geographical interests, sporting activities and gaming.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff have a good understanding of children’s early childhood experiences and how this presents through their behaviours. Staff speak of the children with enthusiasm and genuine care. Children benefit from consistent care by people who know their daily routines well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to stay in touch with their families, even when they live a considerable distance away from the home. Staff are supportive of children and families to make sure that family time is promoted. Staff ensure that children have a positive time when visiting their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to express their views and wishes. However, staff do not always explore how and why some decisions are made, for example when children move on from the home and when staff stop working in the home. These issues have an impact on children, and children need to understand the reasons for some events.

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

Children who live in the home feel safe and secure. They regularly seek support from trusted adults when they are anxious or worried. They named the registered manager and leadership team members as people they can trust. Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 4 Children rarely go missing from home. Staff respond well when children are not where they are expected to be. They search for children and contact family and friends to establish the child’s possible location. They work well with the local police service to ensure that there is a coordinated response to find the child.

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

Occasionally, staff have to hold children to keep them safe. All staff are trained to de- escalate situations and have relevant techniques to safely hold children. Staff and children are provided with an opportunity to reflect on the incident. However, records of incidents do not always reflect all of the people involved.

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

Staff have good knowledge and understanding about risk and potential harm that children may encounter. They have a detailed understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and risks. Clear plans provide staff with clarity about how to manage and minimise risk. This ensures consistent staff practice.

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

When there are safeguarding concerns, including allegations against staff, matters are reported in line with safeguarding procedures. Records are detailed and provide clarity of the actions taken to safeguard children and the outcomes. Staff are knowledgeable about procedures to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is well qualified and knows the children well. He shows insight, empathy and affection towards the children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe the manager as supportive. They say that he cares about their well-being, as well as their performance. One member of staff said he had learned a lot from the manager, who recognised his strengths and weaknesses. Staff said they felt the manager wanted them to develop and progress in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some staffing challenges, which have impacted on the stability of the home. In most instances, shortages are covered by staff who work in the home. When this is not possible, staff who work in the organisation’s other homes provide support. This means that children receive care from people who they know and who receive the same training. New staff have been recruited. This means that the home is starting to become more stable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When concerns are raised, the manager and leadership team respond to them in line with procedures. However, staff are not always clear on the correct process to follow when they have a complaint or want to raise a serious issue. In one instance, the confidential nature of the complaint meant that outcomes had not been shared. This means that there is some discontent in the home among the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose accurately describes the operation of the home. However, Ofsted has not always been notified of changes made to the statement of purpose. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 5 Staff rotas are not accurate. They do not show the actual hours staff have worked, and it is difficult to clarify who was on shift on specific days. Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 6

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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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7 (1)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should ensure that children receive support for their understanding of decisions made about the home and the impact on them. 7 August 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

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff are aware of the proper channels to follow when raising concerns.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the statement of purpose is to be sent to the regulator when changes are made. 7 August 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 7 Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the home’s rotas contain a record of who was on shift and the actual hours worked. 7 August 2024

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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

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

In particular, the manager must ensure that the names of all people involved in incidents is recorded on incident reports. 7 August 2024

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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: SC043697 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pearce House, 80 Cawdor Street, Eccles M30 0QF

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Inspectors

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC043697 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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