Children's Home run by Halls Homes for Young People Ltd in Luton

Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 1 Registered provider: Halls Homes for Young People Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned by a small independent provider. The home provides care for up to 3 children aged between 10 and 18 who may experience emotional and social difficulties and/or mild learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted when the home opened in September 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2025 Full Good 22/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/04/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 3

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Summary of findings

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living at the home. Two children have lived at the home and have moved on. Safeguarding practices are not always consistent, and records do not always evidence how staff follow up with children after safeguarding incidents or in accordance with their safety plans.

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Summary of findings

There are limited records of multi-agency meetings. In response, leaders and managers are improving recording systems and oversight. Staff in the home are focused on embedding the home’s therapeutic approach with staff using strategies to support children’s emotional and behavioural needs.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved out. The inspection was undertaken following concerns about the provider’s response to recommendations made by the independent person.

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improvement to be good

Before children move in, the staff assess their needs. However, for one child, despite a risk of child criminal exploitation, leaders and managers did not sufficiently consider the impact of the local area. The assessment at the time of matching, did not consider the proximity of public transport and how it could increase the child’s vulnerability.

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improvement to be good

Children do not have access to the kitchen at night when it is locked. One child raised a complaint regarding this. The responsible individual at the time dealt with the complaint. An action from this was for the manager to apologise to the child. There was a delay in addressing the concern and the response did not fully acknowledge the child’s experience or the impact of the issue. The restrictions were not reviewed or adjusted in response to the child’s views. This approach is not reviewed to ensure it is required or proportionate.

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improvement to be good

While the downstairs living areas are clean, tidy and well maintained, there are several signs of wear and tear elsewhere in the home. The children’s bedrooms require redecoration, and the outdoor storage area needs repair or replacement to ensure that it is safe and fit for purpose. These areas in the home do not consistently provide a pleasant or well-kept environment for children to take pride in.

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improvement to be good

Education is treated as a priority for children. Staff have tried to provide structure and routine to children’s daily lives. When children have not engaged in education, staff encourage them with incentives and explore other ways to support learning. However, despite this, the children are not consistently engaging in education. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 4 A child moved out to semi-independent living. The decision to serve notice was made collaboratively with her, in line with her assessed needs and readiness to move towards greater independence. The child’s move was planned, with staff taking the child’s personal belongings and furniture to make their new accommodation feel like a home. Their time at the home was captured in a scrapbook by staff, who wrote messages and included memorable pictures.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding practice is not consistent or always effective. Records do not consistently demonstrate that staff had made the most of opportunities to discuss safeguarding incidents with children during one-to-one sessions.

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improvement to be good

Room searches are not consistently provided, despite identified safeguarding concerns regarding knives. Room searches were not carried out regularly in line with the child’s risk management plan. This reduced the effectiveness of protective measures.

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improvement to be good

There have been a high number of missing-from-home incidents for one child. Some of these incidents are over long periods of time. Staff followed the missing-from-home protocols and made regular attempts to contact the child. Meetings with the child’s professional network and multi-agency partners were taking place regularly. However, the absence of recorded minutes meant that management oversight was limited. It was unclear how information, decisions and agreed actions were shared with staff and informed day-to -day practice.

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improvement to be good

On some occasions, safeguarding notifications have been submitted late to Ofsted. This limits regulatory oversight and the timely monitoring of safeguarding matters.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans are individualised for the children. These contain information about known behaviours and provide clear instruction for staff to follow. These behaviour support plans include the children's preferred methods of communication. This captures children’s preferences and supports staff to respond in a way that promotes positive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role. However, an application has not yet been received. During this time, leaders and managers are not moving any children in while they redecorate and make improvements to the recording systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is aware of the identified shortfalls. Recommendations made by the independent visitor were not always addressed. This contributed to repeated shortfalls and missed opportunities to improve outcomes for children. Steps are being taken to put systems in place to ensure improvements are made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 5 The staff team is developing, staff members are given additional responsibilities and promotions to strengthen their skills. This is helping the manager to delegate tasks and improve oversight of staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff enjoy their roles and some members have worked at the home since it opened. Feedback from staff is positive, with newer members of staff commenting on the quality of the induction process. The manager is described as being available and visible at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision sessions that focus on the children’s needs and provide opportunities for reflective discussion and practice development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the last inspection, a requirement was raised regarding achieving qualifications within required timescales. Due to issues with the provider they were using, the manager and staff have been unable to meet this requirement. A new provider has been sought. This requirement has not been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from professionals is positive overall. Professionals said that communication is effective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 1 September 2026

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(i)(vi)) 1 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 1 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 7 (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (1)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should assess the need to lock the kitchen. 1 July 2026

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma");

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the 1 December 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 8 date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 5 Diploma").

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Requirement Due date

in the case of a person who starts managing a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 3 years after the date on which that person started managing a home. (Regulation 28 (1)(b)(i) (2)(i) (3)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming. In particular, ensure that repairs and general maintenance to the home and garden are carried out without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 9

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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: 2628612 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Halls Homes for Young People Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 66 Drayton Road, Luton LU4 0PH

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Inspector

Harkerat Lidhar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2628612 11 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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