Children's home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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 home was registered with Ofsted in June 2025. There is no registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, no children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 29 January 2026 Ofsted completed an assurance inspection in response to significant concerns for the children’s safety and welfare. Ofsted identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at the inspection. An emergency case review was held, and a decision was made to suspend the home’s registration. In addition, a compliance notice was issued under regulation 12, the protection of children standard.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to review the suspension notice and the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the suspension notice and no children have lived at the home since this was issued.

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This monitoring visit

After the home was closed the provider made arrangements for all staff to leave their employment with the company. At the time of this visit, there were no staff employed to work in the home. Leaders have taken steps to review the recruitment policy and implemented additional measures to improve safer recruitment procedures. However, the provider is unable to demonstrate the effect these changes have made in safe recruitment practices as staff have yet to be employed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835669 2 The provider has taken steps to investigate concerns into staff practice. Although there are no staff working in the home, the provider has followed their disciplinary policy and completed a full investigation and taken follow up actions in relation to concerns about staff practice. Relevant information has been shared with appropriate agencies to help safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has implemented new systems to improve management oversight. This includes monthly audits, observations of staff practice and a process to have an ongoing review of the culture in the home. Other additional measures include leaders having monthly oversight of audits and any identified actions from these. These new systems have yet to be tested to determine effectiveness.

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This monitoring visit

The provider is developing a new safeguarding training programme that will be delivered to all staff prior to them working in the home. However, the provider is not ready for children to move into this home. There are not adequate staff to meet the needs of children. The provider recognises this and is taking steps to recruit staff and implement new processes to improve safety for children.

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This monitoring visit

The steps in the compliance notices have been met. However, further work is needed. Therefore, a requirement under regulation 12, the protection of children standard has been issued. The requirement under regulation 35 cannot be evidenced as no children are living at the home, therefore, this has been restated. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835669 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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 with 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))

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Requirement Due date

staff understand and know the home’s safeguarding procedures, including ta duty to report all concerns about staff practice and escalate issues if no action is taken

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Requirement Due date

They develop systems to ensure that effective oversight of staff practice, including addressing unsafe practice when concerns are raised

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Requirement Due date

they put in place processes to identify and mitigate any such concerns of closed culture

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Requirement Due date

Leaders must develop and implement systems that will result in the effective safer recruitment of new staff. 5 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 5 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835669 5 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; 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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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 should 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) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2835669 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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