Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 1 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider and manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home.

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Inspection date: 29 January 2026

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2025

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Inspection date: 29 January 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted have undertaken an assurance inspection because of four serious incidents that have occurred at the home since the last inspection. Investigations into what happened are underway by the relevant authorities. Ofsted identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff do not fully understand their role and responsibilities to safeguard children. For example, some staff have not always taken steps to report concerns promptly to managers. When staff have raised concerns about staff practice, managers do not address these effectively. This has resulted in missed opportunities to safeguard children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are not always provided with good quality supervision by managers to reflect on and develop their practice. In addition, those undertaking staff supervision lack curiosity to explore issues sufficiently. Some staff supervision records are poor, with limited information to understand if and how managers have highlighted and addressed staff practice when needed.

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Findings from the inspection

Some staff have not been safely recruited, and this has left children at risk of harm. Managers have not always ensured that appropriate references have been sought. Reasons for leaving employment with vulnerable adults and children have not been explored and verified as far as possible. Insufficient checks have been undertaken for staff who have come to work from overseas.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not considered vulnerabilities that may indicate a closed culture in the workplace. They have not considered if staff have known each other prior to them coming to work at this home and what this might mean for children’s care and safety. This leaves children are at increased risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s registration has been suspended and a compliance notice under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard has been issued.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirement raised at the last full inspection with regards to the recording of consequences given to children will be reviewed at the next inspection, as will the recommendation raised in relation to manager oversight of records relating to missing from home incidents. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 4

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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

* 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(b)) 25 March 2026

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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; 22 January 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 5 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; and

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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))

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they keep detailed records on 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 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 must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, 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) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 6

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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

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector (lead) Mel Turner, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2835669 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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