Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 1 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 experience social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The provider and manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025. This was the home’s first 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff. Children say that they like living in the home and feel safe. Children also say that they can speak to staff and feel listened to. In turn, staff know the children well and can speak at length about their achievements, as well as the areas that they need support with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their individualised education plans. Where plans are not yet agreed for one child who has recently moved into the home, staff provide clear alternative education plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are making good progress in their own individual ways since moving into the home. One child’s education attendance increased significantly after moving into the home, and they now attend daily. Another child, who went missing prior to moving into the home, no longer goes missing. Another child has significantly reduced their gaming/screen time and made improvements to their diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children in the home have positive relationships with each other. Some children share bonds that resemble those of positive sibling relationships. Children bake together and do other activities as a group. Some children have their own individualised ways of greeting one another with handshakes, indicating that clear positive bonds have developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have enjoyable day-to-day experiences living at the home. They have access to games and resources, both in the home and the surrounding gardens. This includes playrooms and extra spaces for their studies. Children are supported to go on activities and trips in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to move into and on from the home. These moves are carefully planned and at the child’s pace. Staff visit children prior to their move, sometimes travelling long distances, to make introductions and explain things to the children. Children are also invited to visit the home and meet staff and other children prior to any move. This allows children to feel in control of their journey and reduces any anxieties that they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have moved into and on from the home in more urgent circumstances. When this has happened, the home has ensured that goodbyes have happened. When children have left suddenly, staff have worked with the relevant professionals and have kept in touch with the child and their family. This demonstrates to the children that positive relationships can be preserved, even when unexpected endings happen. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 3

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

The home is a safe, secure environment for the children. As a newly registered home, all necessary safety checks are in place and up to date. Assessments of the local area are also in place, with no significant concerns. Fire drills are completed regularly. Children say that they feel safe in the home and that staff keep them safe.

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

Children in the home are not currently at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation. Children rarely go missing from the home. Physical intervention is rarely used. 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. Records are reflective and identify future learning for staff, supporting their development.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and are proactive in working with them around a range of subjects relevant to their individual risks. Staff escalate their concerns for the welfare of children to the necessary services in a timely manner. This ensures that children get the support that they need and that professionals work together effectively.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place. This assures managers that only those who are suitable to work with children are employed in the home.

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

When children are given consequences, the reason for them is not always clear. Records do not describe the effectiveness of the consequence, nor do they contain the children’s views. Some consequences given to children have not been recorded. This prevents staff from identifying whether measures of discipline are effective and fair for children.

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

On the few occasions when children have gone missing, staff have responded effectively, making efforts to locate children. Children are also spoken to after they have been missing. However, some records of missing children lack sufficient oversight by managers. This means that patterns could be missed, which may impact the home’s future planning for children who may go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is well respected by staff and outside professionals, who all speak highly of her. Feedback from staff is that they feel supported by a committed management team. Feedback from professionals has been overwhelmingly positive around the supportive and consistent care that children receive from staff. This helps to embed a nurturing culture in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager builds effective working relationships with professionals. Staff are proactive in escalating concerns and advocating for children. On one occasion, the registered manager challenged a care plan for a child, as that child Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 4 wished to remain in the home. This resulted in positive changes for that child and an agreement for them to remain in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. They provide staff with clear and consistent support on how the children’s needs should be met. Staff are provided with feedback from children, and challenge is offered where this is required. This helps to ensure that staff share accountability for their practice and that there is consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who start working in the home complete an induction and a period of core learning. Staff are supported to get to know the children and their needs prior to working in the home. The induction is thorough and reviewed by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager uses internal and external monitoring systems to drive progress in the home. When shortfalls are identified, the registered manager and senior staff quickly address these issues. This allows close and careful monitoring of the home to ensure that standards remain good and children are well cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions. These sessions review the children’s needs and offer personal support to staff around their own well-being. However, there is limited implementation of reflective practice in supervision records. This prevents staff learning from past incidents and behaviours and identifying effective strategies going forward. Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c)) 22 January

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they keep detailed records of all individual incidents when children go missing from the home. Evaluation of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. This Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 6 evaluation should inform the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the 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: 2835669 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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Inspectors

Jon Collins, Social Care Inspector (Lead) Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 8 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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Inspectors

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