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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 1 SC008488 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited 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 is registered to provide care for up to eight children who may experience a range of social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, seven children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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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: 10 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/07/2023 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Good 06/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm relationships with staff. The staff team knows the children well and supports them to manage their feelings and emotions. This consistency provides children with a sense of familiarity and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in education and there are clear plans in place to provide structured educational activities. Staff are consistent in their approach, and children therefore make progress in line with their education plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in relation to their health. This includes their emotional, social and psychological well-being. When difficulties arise, children receive effective therapeutic and practical advice and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to speak up about their wishes and feelings. The manager has introduced a monthly chat with each child at a local dessert cafe. Children enjoy this time, and it shows them that their opinions matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun. They enjoy spending time with staff and take part in a wide range of activities. This includes football, swimming, gymnastics, baking, trampolining, going to parks and skateboarding. Children have learned new skills and developed their confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children live far from their home area. Staff ensure that all children maintain links with people who are important to them. Staff work hard to promote these key relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are significant improvements in and around the home. The home is well maintained and has a warm and welcoming family feel. When children cause damage to the home, it is repaired quickly. At times, staff use consequences to support children to make better choices and learn coping strategies.

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

Staff understand how to safeguard children effectively and work closely with partner agencies. Safeguarding incidents and allegations are progressed in line with procedures, and records show the steps taken to safeguard children.

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

Children feel safe. They have dependable adults around them who they trust and can discuss any concerns with. The manager and staff know and understand the risks to children. Children are learning to understand risks. Staff provide helpful strategies so that children are better able to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 4 Children do not go missing from this home. Staff know what to do if a child were to go missing. Staff work well with professionals and families to promote a joint response so that children are kept safe.

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

Staff sometimes hold children for short periods to keep them safe. Incidents are recorded and all relevant professionals are notified. The manager reviews practice with other professionals who support the children. There has been a high number of incidents where children have been held. However, incidents are reducing.

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

Staff have received training to support children’s needs, including therapeutic parenting. Specialist help is accessed as necessary. Staff ensure that they give children time to talk about how to manage their feelings and behaviour safely.

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

Staff support children to build positive relationships. Discussions support children to understand important topics, for example how racism affects others. Children are encouraged to treat each other fairly, with kindness and respect. This supports the home’s ethos of embracing equality and diversity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic about the care provided to children and he knows them very well. Children enjoy spending time with him. Professionals and family members speak well of him. One professional said, ‘When mistakes are made, [name of manager] is very transparent and solution focused about what they are going to do and actions things quickly.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes a culture of openness and transparency. Supervision sessions are reflective and of good quality. Staff say that they feel well supported and valued. Children receive care and support from a motivated team of staff who work well together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A robust induction programme prepares new staff for understanding children’s needs. Staff attend a variety of training. This includes courses that are relevant to the specific needs of the children they are looking after. This means that staff can provide better care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff communicate well with professionals and children’s families. They have built positive, collaborative relationships. The manager challenges other professionals appropriately. He ensures that decisions focus on putting children’s needs first.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are routinely reviewed and updated. Staff have a good understanding of children’s day-to-day lives and how they can be supported. For one child, their name is spelt incorrectly throughout many documents. This negates the importance of the child’s identity and family history. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 5 Some language used in the home’s statement of purpose fails to recognise children’s age and life experiences. The manager should ensure that language used is non-judgemental and mindful of children’s early trauma. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 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 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that language used is non- judgemental and mindful of children’s early trauma. 17 October 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s names are spelt correctly in all records. 17 October 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: SC008488 7

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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

Paulette Forbes, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008488 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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