Children's Home run by Halliwell Homes (Midlands Division) Limited in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 1 Registered provider: Halliwell Homes (Midlands Division) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 8 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post for 2 months; they have submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living in the home. All children were observed with staff, and one child contributed spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2025

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 2

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector 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: 2611027 3

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, no children have come to live in the home, and one child has moved on. The child was moved earlier than planned when their complex be- haviours increased. Staff supported the child to have a planned move which in- cluded welcoming new staff to visit the child and taking the child to visit their new home. This supported the child to settle at their new home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a period of significant instability in staffing. Shortfalls in staffing have largely been covered by core staff and staff from other homes within the organisation. New staff have been recruited, and the home now has sufficient staff to care for five children. Managers acknowledge the negative im- pact this high staff turnover has had on children’s sense of security and stability.

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Findings from the inspection

Leadership within the home has recently stabilised. A new manager and two depu- ties have been appointed. A manager from a sister home is also providing support to the management team and to staff. As a result, managers now have the capacity to address shortfalls identified at the last inspection and develop plans to drive im- provement.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have reviewed staff training and support. Staff have received bespoke training which has improved their understanding of children's behaviours. Staff now receive regular supervision that is supportive and reflective. They report feeling well supported by their managers and say that team morale has improved. Staff describe the home as ‘more settled’ and say that confidence within the team has grown. This creates a calm and positive environment for children, which helps them to feel se- cure and promotes their wellbeing.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers now have the capacity to consistently monitor patterns, trends and trig- gers to children’s behaviours. This information is shared with staff and used to de- velop strategies to better support children. As a result, the number of times that staff use restraint to support children in crisis is reducing.

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Findings from the inspection

Following incidents of restraint, managers ensure that children and staff have a sup- portive conversation with an independent person. On occasions, staff are not de- briefed within prescribed timescales. Additionally, managers are sometimes not suffi- ciently professionally curious and reflective when considering staff practice. This compromises managers ability to identify and rectify shortfalls in staff practice and to offer support to staff at the time they need it most.

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Findings from the inspection

When children make allegations, they are always taken seriously. This enables chil- dren to feel confident that their voices are heard and their views matter. Managers Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 4 and staff follow safeguarding procedures and work in partnership with children's so- cial workers and the local authority designated officer.

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Findings from the inspection

There are warm and affectionate relationships between staff and children. Staff sup- port children to take part in a range of activities that they enjoy. They consult with children about all aspects of their care. Social workers are generally positive about the care their children receive. One child’s social worker said that managers and staff communicate effectively and that their child has made progress from their starting points. Another child’s social worker recognised the progress their child has made but was concerned at the negative impact on the child of the recent period of staff instability.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to safely maintain relationships with people who are important to them. This includes supporting children to stay overnight with family members and enjoy a natural family type environment. One carer praised staff for the emo- tional support they gave their child at a difficult time.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is generally clean and well maintained. However, communal areas are tired and worn looking. Children’s toys are disorganised and not easily accessible which reduces children’s enjoyment of them. Clothing is haphazardly piled in chil- dren’s wardrobes because there is insufficient storage. One child's bedroom is sparse and does not offer a homely or welcoming atmosphere. These shortfalls limit children’s sense of pride in their personal space and reduce their overall enjoyment and comfort within the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/02/2025 Full Outstanding 27/06/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child; and (ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered person ensuring that children have sufficient storage for their clothes, and that children's toys are organised and readily accessible to children. Additionally, that children are supported to personalise their bedrooms. 12 April 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

the name of the child; 12 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 7 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; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to the responsible person ensuring that following an incident when restraint is used to manage children’s behaviours, staff receive an effective de-brief within timescales set out in regulation.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.59) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 8

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Inspector

Karen Gillingwater, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2611027 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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