Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 1 SC482418 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited 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 four children who may have physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2025 Full Good 08/11/2023 Full Outstanding 22/08/2022 Full Good 06/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and understand their individual communication needs. Children are supported to develop their communication skills using symbols and Makaton. One family member said, ‘Staff have helped them to understand how to use PECS, which has helped improve communication with [name of child].’ This support has helped one child to start forming sentences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a variety of activities. Children’s interests are considered, and staff actively encourage regular activities. Staff use children’s preferred communication methods to gather their views and support them in choosing activities. This helps children to share their views and enjoy new activities that enhance their experiences and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop self-care skills relevant to their age and understanding. One young person who has moved out of the home said, ‘Staff have helped me with washing, daily tasks and budgeting.’ Another child is being supported to develop their independent toileting skills and is making positive progress in this area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in supporting children with their health needs. Staff have been creative in completing role play focused on going to the dentist and opticians. This has helped one child to attend important check-ups. Another child has been supported to try a variety of foods. This has successfully led to their diet being more balanced and healthier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support important relationships between children and their families. Staff are proactive in supporting children to enjoy time with their family members, including helping one child to take a trip with loved ones. One parent said, ‘Staff allow me to be a father, and the time with my child is much more varied now.’ This supports children to have positive relationships with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has made progress in reviewing areas where children are not able to access areas of their home. However, for one child, there is no consent in place for restricting their ability to move freely around the home. Furthermore, the door to allow children to access the garden is locked, and the specific reasons for this are not clear. The manager recognises that a further review is required to identify whether restrictions continue to be necessary for children.

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

Staff understand children’s risks. Risk assessments help staff to understand and respond appropriately to risk to reduce the level of concern for each child. Assessments are up to date and have clear guidance for staff to follow. This helps staff to intervene effectively when a child is at risk of harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 4 Positive behaviour is consistently promoted in the home. Staff know the children well and use effective de-escalation techniques to help children manage their emotions. When children do well, their achievements are recognised and celebrated through awards and incentives.

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

Children are supported to develop positive routines. Staff are proactive in supporting children to understand routines, using pictures and incentives. This has helped two children improve their sleep patterns. This provides children with a sense of security.

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

Some children have complex health and emotional needs. Staff have a good knowledge of children’s individual health needs and how to respond to them. They receive relevant training to help them administer medication safely. The manager has a robust process in place to ensure that medication is recorded and administered in line with each child’s prescription.

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

Physical intervention is used only to keep children and others safe. Staff are trained to support children and hold them safely. Records are clear and identify the actions that staff have taken to de-escalate situations. Children are spoken to by the staff member involved in the intervention but are not always offered support from an independent person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for children. She has plans to make continuous improvements to the home and to further improve the staff team. The manager fosters a positive culture of achievement that is embedded in the ethos of the home. This means that managers and staff provide children with a good standard of personalised care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have developed strong working relationships with multi-agency professionals and children’s parents. They have provided appropriate challenge and advocated for the children where this has been required. For example, they challenge professionals when visits have not been undertaken in line with statutory guidance. This helps to improve outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear process in place for monitoring the quality of care provided. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. There are clear action plans in place that are followed through effectively in team meetings with staff. This means that children receive care that meets their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions take place regularly with staff. The manager provides appropriate challenge where this is required. However, the quality of supervision varies between staff who are in their probation and those who are permanent. New staff supervision focuses on generic policies and procedures and does not provide reflective practice around children’s needs. This hinders staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 5 The manager has not followed the organisation’s procedures for the safe recruitment of staff. Overseas checks were not completed for one member of staff, and another staff member was employed without a full exploration of gaps in their employment history. This means that children have not always been cared for by staff who have been fully vetted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2) (a)(b) (3)(d)) 11 December 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that children are able to add their views to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access advocacy support or an independent person to help them with this. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)  The registered person should ensure that children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10) Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice that allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC482418 8

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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: Hennessy Living Group, 1b Rickleton, Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester le Street DH3 4AN

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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482418 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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