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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 1 SC470224 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home. It provides care for up to 10 children who may have a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were 10 children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Good 03/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Inadequate 28/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children are making exceptional and sustained progress in all areas of their lives. They are happy, settled and loved. Children receive excellent care from staff who are overwhelmingly dedicated and committed to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children live in a homely and nurturing environment. Their bedrooms are personalised and well furnished. The home has photos of the children, their achievements, and memorable times. Two children are helped to care for their pet hamsters. Children have developed a strong sense of belonging in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The emphasis on education and community support plays a crucial role in the children’s development. Initiatives like a regular homework club not only provide structured academic support but also cultivate essential social skills. The collaborative environment encourages children to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another, which can enhance their understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to enable children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff proactively build relationships with the children’s families and carers. One parent commented that there is a plan of reunification, and this would not have been possible without the staff input. This has a significant positive impact on children’s emotional well-being and happiness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff persistently challenge external agencies to ensure that children receive the services they need for both their physical and mental health. The children have regular input from specialist therapeutic services. One child has support with specific health issues following a recent diagnosis. The staff have received specialist training on this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are treated with dignity and respect. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of their experiences. They understand which people are important to children. Complex family relationships and dynamics are managed sensitively. A social worker said, ‘They are amazing. They are incredibly trauma-informed and nurturing. [Child’s name] had placement breakdowns before. The way she talks about the home… she knows they won’t give up on her.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff talk with children on a range of targeted and informative topics. Records show that these sessions are consistently high quality and responsive to the children’s needs. Staff use research-informed practice and strategies to ensure that children receive the best available advice and support. Documents and records are written in ways that are child- friendly, imaginative and vibrant. This ensures that children are able to understand their plans.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 4 Children are safe. Practice in the home is underpinned by a strong safeguarding culture. Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are exceptionally well understood. Risk management plans are thorough, individualised and clear. They are regularly reviewed by staff and are live and purposeful documents.

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

Clear plans set out the individual risks for each child. Detailed documents outline what staff need to do so that children are safeguarded. Children regularly review their own records and are encouraged to be involved in thinking of ways to de-escalate situations, such as distraction techniques. One staff member said that ‘Because we know [Child’s name], we notice when [Child’s name] becomes fidgety, and he starts to focus away from you. So, we redirect and distract.’

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

Staff understand the impact of trauma on children. Research is used to develop their understanding of children’s behaviours and incidents, such as dysregulation. Staff have put in place specialist support for children to help them to understand how to manage their feelings safely. An example of this was the staff having empathy toward a child who was currently facing considerable difficulties with familial relationships. The child has been supported to feel safe and additional support was offered.

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

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is embedded in their day-to-day practice. This is evident in the overwhelmingly positive relationships between the children and the staff. Children have been helped to understand and manage their emotions. Consequently, there have not been any incidents of staff needing to hold children to keep them safe.

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

The manager has excellent oversight of the home. She has a proactive approach and ensures that all plans used to manage and mitigate risk are regularly reviewed and updated. She undertakes regular reviews of the children’s progress and considers any patterns or themes. As a result, children are supported effectively in line with their plans, and they are being helped to stay safe.

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

Staff communicate well with each other and provide consistent care for the children. Bespoke training ensures that they are skilled in meeting the children’s needs. The manager works with staff to help them understand what is working well for children and to reflect on areas for development.

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

Staff have good knowledge of safeguarding issues and thresholds for sharing information. Professionals said that staff’s communication with them is excellent. Staff are actively involved in care planning and have information readily available to share.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place. Safeguarding checks have been completed on all members of staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and leads the team by example. She is held in high regard by the children, their family members, staff and other professionals. The manager has Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 5 high expectations of staff and challenges other professionals effectively as required. She has developed a culture of positivity, and staff have a ‘can-do’ approach to improving outcomes for children. The children named the manager as the person they were closest too. The children gravitated toward the manger when they were observed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular, comprehensive supervision sessions and team meetings that are child focused and reflective. Staff complete a wide variety of training to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to meet the children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s monitoring of the service is extremely thorough. She has an excellent overview of the children’s files and daily records. The manager analyses children’s records each week and makes changes to staff practice as needed to meet the needs of the children. This detailed overview assists staff to keep children’s needs as the central focus of their work. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 6

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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: SC470224 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

Mathew Morris-Jones, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470224 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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