Children's Home run by Holywell Children’s Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 1 Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services 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 operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children are currently being cared for in this home and both spoke with the inspector during this visit.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 15 March 2024. The interim manager is registered at another home within the organisation. There is an application in progress for this home and two others to become a multi-building home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken due to whistle-blowing concerns being made to Ofsted. These concerns related to safeguarding practice, gaps in recording and reporting, and the working hours and well-being of staff.

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This monitoring visit

One child has been at risk of harm when outside of the home in the early hours of the morning. Staff were unaware of this incident. Leaders and managers failed to communicate promptly with external professionals about this incident. Additionally, there have been delays in identifying poor staff practice. These shortfalls have placed the child at further risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Staff communicate regularly with the placing authorities of children. However, for one child, they have failed to explore risks relating to the child’s previous home and Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 2 a specific location. Therefore, potential risks in the area have not been identified or addressed.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments are clear and contain strategies for staff to follow to mitigate risk in the home. They are updated regularly and following any incidents. However, they do not contain strategies for staff to manage risks to children in their local community. Staff have not explored emerging concerns about the community with children or relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are trained to hold children safely. Staff record any incidents of children being held promptly. However, on one occasion a child was held unnecessarily by staff. The manager’s oversight of the incident does not question why other methods of behaviour management were used before the use of the hold. The manager’s evaluation does not recognise that the hold was not effective in achieving staff aims. Leaders and managers spoke to the child following the hold to gain their views, but did not speak with the staff who were involved. This was a missed opportunity to identify and address practice shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have a written vaping and smoking policy. However, children and staff are aware of the rules around vaping and smoking. Staff enforce the rules and challenge children when they do not stick to them.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers are available and supportive to staff. There are no staff shortages.

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This monitoring visit

Staff were provided with information about a child moving to the home at the earliest possible opportunity. Staff were aware of the child’s needs, interests and preferences prior to them moving to the home. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff identify all known risks for children and have clear plans to manage risk. Specifically, ensure that concerns about potential criminal activity or exploitation are explored and reported to relevant professionals immediately. Ensure effective plans and links with relevant local agencies and professionals. 24 September

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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 24 September Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 5 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that management oversight of incidents and physical interventions identifies shortfalls in staff practice, and that these are then addressed.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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 for 2663221 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holywell Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Scott & Wilkinson, Dalton House, 9 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1WD

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Inspector

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit for 2663221 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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