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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 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. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional needs. Two children were living in the home at the time of the visit and both spoke with the inspector.

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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 of the organisation’s homes. There is an application in progress with Ofsted for this home and two others to become a multi-build registration.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor progress against a compliance notice for regulation 12, issued on 27 August 2024.

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This monitoring visit

Staff liaise regularly with children’s placing authorities. They have sought historical information for children that has allowed them to strengthen their risk assessments.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments identify the risks to children in the community and contain strategies for staff to follow. Staff understand the risks and take steps to support children when they are out of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff liaise with other children’s homes in the area. They hold regular meetings to ensure joined-up practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that children are aware of the expectations of their behaviour both in and out of the home. Children have contracts with staff regarding certain activities, such as mobile phone use. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2663221 2 Staff explore potential concerns of exploitation and criminal activity with children thoroughly and promptly. They report concerns to the police and children’s placing authorities appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s managers and leaders have taken action to address shortfalls in practice. Refresher training for the staff team has been provided to ensure that staff understand their roles in protecting children and their responsibilities to report and record concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The managers and leaders have provided additional staffing in the home at night. Alarms have been fitted to the external doors of the property to alert staff if anyone leaves or enters the home. One of the managers or leaders stays overnight in the home to provide direct oversight and support to the staff team.

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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: 2663221 3

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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

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. 24 September

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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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)) 24 September

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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 of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2663221 4

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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: 2663221 5

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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: 2663221 6 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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