Children's Home run by Halliwell Homes Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 1 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes (Midlands Division) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This private home is registered to provide care for up to eight children. The home has an attached registered school. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children's home

The home is led by a manager who registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There were five children living at the home at the time of inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. The move to the home was well planned and staff helped the children to feel welcome and supported. This enabled the children to settle quickly and feel at home. Three children who previously lived at the home have moved out. One child returned to live with family, one moved on to foster care and one child moved to live in a smaller children’s home more suited to their needs. All the children were well supported in their respective moves on from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children attend a variety of educational settings, dependent on their needs and abilities. Staff have developed strong links with children’s teachers to ensure that there is positive communication and a joined-up approach. This provides children with support and consistency.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff meet children’s health needs and advocate well for them to ensure that they receive relevant specialist assessment when required.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is welcoming, with paintings on the walls. The home environment has been improved, including a new staff office. However, the door to the downstairs toilet is locked, and is only accessible by staff unlocking it. This is not in keeping with the environment of a family home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are heard, listened to and respected by the manager and staff. Regular house meetings take place, during which children can raise any issues they feel are important.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager makes good use of opportunities to look at serious incidents when children have displayed aggressive and challenging behaviours so that adjustments can be made to support strategies. All the relevant documentation is well organised, and this helps to provide an account of what happened during an incident and the actions that staff took to keep children safe. This has contributed to an overall reduction in incidents in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff undertake key-work sessions with children to help them understand more about their emotions and behaviours and the challenges they can face. This helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe and how their behaviour can impact on themselves and others.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a home that is physically safe and secure. Regular environmental Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 3 safety checks are undertaken. In addition, staff and children regularly practise evacuating the home in case of an emergency.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has reviewed the services provided to children and has reviewed staff training. This has brought about improvements to the quality of care children receive. The manager has also identified and addressed some challenges within the staff team. She has recruited some new staff and provided platforms for the staff to have an active voice in the running of the home. Consequently, staff team morale is much improved.

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Findings from the inspection

There is now a stable staff team in place. Agency staff have not been used since December 2023. This means that children are looked after by staff who know them well and ensures continuity of care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Supervision sessions are regular and of good quality. These help staff to generate ideas and reflect on their practice. New staff are supported through an effective induction process. This ensures that children receive good-quality care from skilled and well-informed staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff and manager have established good working relationships with a range of agencies and professionals who are involved in children’s care. Staff work closely with teachers, social workers and the local Police Community Support Officer. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to encourage children’s progress and maximise their potential.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have worked hard to improve the quality of care. As a result, all the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2022 Full Inadequate 13/07/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that just as in a family home, children should be able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child's needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)). In particular, children should be able to access the downstairs toilet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 6

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Inspectors

Dave Carrigan, social care inspector Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2592943 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 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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Inspectors

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