Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 1 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group 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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties, and who may have mental health issues.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, five children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with all five children during the inspection.

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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: 26 September 2023

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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: 2520922 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good 04/04/2023 Full Inadequate 03/10/2022 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in this nurturing and family orientated home. As a result, children make progress in all aspects of their lives from their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has experienced change since the last inspection, with new children moving in and other children moving out. One child who lived at the home for a considerable time, moved out of the home in line with their care plan. Staff surprised the child by taking them on holiday to the very first place they visited four years ago. The child left with gifts and a well-presented journal, including photographic memorabilia and letters from staff. This provides the child with a reminder of the progress, achievements and the many memories made during the time that they lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, one child did not settle well and moved on very quickly. Managers recognised that the child required more specialist support and have reflected and identified improvements. This includes making sure that there is enhanced professional curiosity and exploration when there are gaps in a child’s history.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational outcomes are variable; however, all of the children have made progress. Some of the children are attending school or alternative provisions for the very first time. Staff encourage children to value education and if they are struggling, staff meet with agencies to formulate a plan. When other agencies do not respond, leaders advocate on behalf of the children to escalate their concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a variety of activities. They experience new opportunities such as retail therapy, pamper nights, meals out and visits to theme parks. Children also enjoy spending time in the home and learn to play together. Children build positive memories with one another and expand their creative, social and physical interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to build positive relationships with staff. Staff encourage this by finding natural opportunities to connect such as prioritising meals at the table, and when driving in the car. One child said, ‘Carpool karaoke with [name of staff] is my favourite.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have started to trust staff. Children actively seek staff for support and staff readily give this, regardless of the time of day or night. The positive unconditional regard towards the children supports the healing of trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Furthermore, children receive care that is sensitive and responsive to their identity and family history. For example, staff understand the importance of certain meals, music, the clothes that children wear and the places that they visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the considerable progress that the children make and they celebrate children’s achievements. Children receive support to be aspirational and to challenge themselves further. Senior leaders held an extraordinary awards night for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 4 One child said, ‘I felt a million dollars’ another said, ‘I danced all night’. All children received awards in recognition of their progress and achievements.

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

Children benefit from clear and consistent routines and boundaries. The staff use creative ways to support children to talk about their emotions. Children are learning different strategies to manage their emotions and are becoming more resilient when faced with stressful situations. As a result, children’s overall health and well-being greatly improves.

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

There are times when children do go missing. These are generally for short periods of time, and children remain local. Staff take prompt action to search for children and inform the relevant people. One professional said, ‘The team are on the ball, they are proactive, doing everything they can to return children home.’

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

Children receive help from staff to maintain positive relationships with family and friends. The staff recognise the importance of these relationships for children and promote them through facilitating family time, welcoming children’s friends to the home and hosting sleepovers. The staff have built trusting relationships with family members and children’s friends, this better protects children.

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

The manager and staff use data to identify patterns and trends in behaviours of concern. This enables the staff to be alert to factors which may increase risks to children, and therefore practice is adapted accordingly. For example, there is increased staffing levels during the evenings and this provides children with protected one-to-one time with an adult.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities well. On the whole, risk management plans are thorough and reviewed regularly. However, plans do not contain all of the known and emerging risks specifically in relation to using the internet and the risks associated with technology. Due to staff’s good knowledge of the children, this has not compromised their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has operated without a registered manager since April 2023. Despite this, the two deputy managers have remained in day-to-day management of the home; they are ambitious and aspirational for the children. Central to driving improvements forward has involved the two deputy managers going above and beyond during a time of uncertainty. They demonstrate exceptional combined commitment and investment in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has continued to instil the two deputy managers with confidence. Collectively, they are strong advocates for the children in their care and they appropriately challenge external agencies to ensure that the children’s needs are well met. Managers feel extremely well supported by an equally dedicated responsible Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 5 individual. The responsible individual visits the home regularly. He knows the children extremely well. One child said, ‘He’s sound, he’s always up for a chat.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have worked tirelessly to recruit and appoint a qualified, skilled and experienced manager. The newly appointed manager recently commenced in post and has applied to register with Ofsted. She has prioritised getting to know the children, and children are enjoying spending time with her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a considerable amount of change within the staff team since the last inspection. New staff members have been well supported in the home and say that they have been positively welcomed into the staff team. One member of staff said, ‘As a team I feel we have really bonded and strive for better daily.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff undertake a range of training, which supports their knowledge of meeting children’s needs. Leaders identify when staff would benefit from additional training, and they ensure that this is actioned. The new manager has completed a skills analysis to support progression. Team meetings are regularly held. They have a clear focus on the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers demonstrate sound insight into the home’s strengths as well as areas that could be further improved. There is a comprehensive development plan. This includes retainment and growth of the staff team, continuous training and development and embedding therapeutic parenting in all areas of practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 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 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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand the risks that using mobile phones, technology and access to the internet may pose for children. When children are at risk, the registered person must ensure that staff have well- developed strategies in place to keep children safe and support them in learning how to keep themselves safe. 27 February 2025

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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: 2520922 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rickleton 1B, Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester Le Street DH3 4AN

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2520922 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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