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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 1 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to eight children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were seven children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Outstanding 07/06/2022 Full Good 28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff continue to provide an exceptionally high quality of care to children. The home is well maintained and welcoming. The attention to detail builds a sense of pride among staff and children and gives the home a busy, vibrant feel. The family atmosphere is enhanced by numerous photos of children and staff around the home. This creates a strong sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, four children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. All the moves occurred in a planned way that enabled the experience for children to be positive. It is testimony to the tenacity of staff and their understanding of the therapeutic programme that children who move on have excellent outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children have made exceptional progress from their starting points. Skilled and nurturing staff build trusting relationships, creating a safe and supportive environment where children thrive. Children say that they feel safe and cared for. As a result, children demonstrate significant improvements in confidence and resilience.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Engagement in education is strong, with tailored support enabling children to achieve their full potential. All children attend school. A culture of high aspirations, coupled with multi-agency collaboration, ensures that children’s educational outcomes are consistently positive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children greatly benefit from the considerate care that they receive from the staff in the home, who support them. Staff are deeply attuned to the children’s needs and work well with their families to ensure there is a consistent approach to each child’s care. Consequently, positive relationships have been established with parents and families. One parent said, ‘My child receives so much support… and has come out of himself so much. [Child’s name] loves all the staff. He is doing activities, he has a photo wall in his bedroom, and I get to see him regularly. It’s an amazing place.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff excel in supporting children’s identities and cultural needs, demonstrating a high level of commitment to those who have experienced significant loss or trauma. Staff provide highly individualised care, ensuring that each child has the space and support needed to process their emotions safely. Therapeutic interventions, such as art therapy, are seamlessly integrated to help children express their feelings and develop effective coping strategies. Staff show exceptional sensitivity in recognising the importance of remembrance and identity. Staff proactively create meaningful opportunities for children to reflect on their experiences and engage positively with their memories. This nurturing and thoughtful approach empowers children to develop resilience and a strong sense of self.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Research-informed practice is innovative and creative. Managers and staff have researched the use of mindfulness and sensory play and incorporate this into the daily Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 4 care of children. As a result, children gain valuable skills for managing stress while developing positive relationships.

p.3

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

Staff demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of risk and are highly knowledgeable in managing incidents. Staff support each other through robust team discussions to explore suitable strategies. The integration of risk management in team meetings ensures a consistent and well-informed approach. Staff provide predictable boundaries, enabling children to understand consequences in a structured and supportive manner.

p.4

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

Staff are trained in the appropriate use of physical restraint. Incidents of restraint are rare, and it is only used when it is necessary to keep the children and others safe. Staff are successful in supporting children who are distressed without the need to use physical intervention. Management oversight of incidents is timely and effective. Children’s voices are captured in records, and they are given the opportunity to talk through their care.

p.4

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

Children know how to make a complaint. Allegations are rare in this home. Children received a detailed and thorough response from the manager, which makes them feel listened to and able to form trusting relationships.

p.4

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

Managers have implemented safeguarding practices which are proactive and innovative, ensuring that all children feel a strong sense of security. Children benefit from protective measures that prevent them from going missing from home. Children actively contribute to devising de-escalation strategies, which creates a sense of ownership and empowerment.

p.4

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

Consequences are created and set by the children, which means that they are predictable and understood by them. Staff talk to children about what natural consequences are and work together to maintain them. This means that children feel a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for their behaviour.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a caring, ambitious and inspirational leader. She is fully involved in the children’s lives and is a highly effective and strong advocate for them. Children, their family members, the team and other professionals hold the manager in high regard.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager receives support from deputy managers, forming an effective and highly capable leadership team. Together, they have a seamless approach to how the home is run. Their oversight and proactive approach to work ensures that the team remains effective and efficient in the way that care is delivered each day. They are driven by their own vision, whereby children are provided with every opportunity to be happy and make progress in all areas of their lives. One staff member said, ‘The management team are amazing. They always keep the spirit up and congratulate and recognise staff’s work. They promote inclusivity and encourage professional development.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 5 Team meetings are regular and offer staff the opportunity to talk about children’s individual needs. Additionally, they have the support of the home’s specialist advisers, and they research topics such as the importance of meeting sensory needs. This helps

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

ensure that the children are offered a highly nurturing approach in line with the home’s model of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly skilled and receive specialist training. The manager ensures that staff are suitably trained and has developed a mentoring system to support staff who are new to the home. Staff know the children well. There are nurturing relationships between the children and staff, where they laugh and have fun. Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 6

p.5

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: 1229534 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halliwell Homes Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pearce House, 80 Cawdor Street, Eccles M30 0QF

p.7

Inspectors

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Charlie Bamber, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1229534 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8