Children's Home run by Hennessy Living Group Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 1 Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning disabilities and mental health issues.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with three children during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/08/2025 Full Good 26/06/2024 Full Good 29/08/2023 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Experiences for children living in this home are mixed. Children do not always receive consistent care or stability. This has reduced the continuity in their day to day experience and affected their overall progress. Leaders and managers do not have effective oversight of staff practice, resulting in an increased risk to children. However, there is new management arrangements in place and staff say they feel supported and positive changes are starting to take place.

p.3

improvement to be good

Managers and staff have not consistently implemented effective strategies to promote children’s engagement in healthy daily routines. For one child, daily routines are not consistently followed, and staff do not have effective strategies to positively engage them.

p.3

improvement to be good

Three children attend education, with one child successfully completing their exams and is progressing towards further education. However, one child has not attended education for a significant period of time. This raises concerns about their engagement and development. Additionally, a professional has expressed concern regarding one child’s declining social skills, noting signs of regression.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff appropriately support children to attend routine health appointments, including dental, GP, and optician visits. When children are unwell, staff respond appropriately and seek medical advice where necessary. However, practice is not consistently proactive in promoting children’s overall health and wellbeing. For example, staff do not take a creative or individualised approach to support children who struggle with their weight. Opportunities to engage children in meaningful, health-focused discussions are often missed. As a result, children are not developing a strong understanding of how to improve and maintain their own health. In addition, management oversight is not sufficiently robust, as gaps in medication records such as missing signatures are not consistently identified or addressed. This presents a potential risk to safe medication administration and record-keeping.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children reported they like living in the home, and staff were observed to have positive, supportive relationships with them. Children can identify at least one staff member they can go to for support. Additionally, some children can maintain friendships outside of the home, with one child independently travelling to spend time with friends. Although this is not the case for all children. One child is not supported to spend time with their friends due to the geographical distance between home and school. Furthermore, it was reported that staff have not arranged family time for a child with an important loved one, which leaves feelings of sadness and isolation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 4 Some areas of the home are sparse and present an institutionalised feel. This includes legislative policies stored on bookshelves with children’s books, notice boards displayed on walls and a television behind an enclosed plastic screen. The features detract from a

p.3

improvement to be good

nurturing and homely environment. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests. However, some bedrooms require more regular cleaning and maintenance. For example, one child had a broken bed, torn curtains, and insufficient storage. This does not help children to feel valued or understand how to care for their personal belongings. Staff are not showing children that they are valued and deserving of a well-maintained space.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently have educative conversations with children to help prevent and reduce risks or make healthier lifestyle choices. When conversations do take place, records do not include detail about the discussions held. This is a missed opportunity to complete preventative work with children to increase their awareness and understanding of risk.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff manage children’s moves from the home well, tailoring transition plans to each child’s individual needs. For example, one child moved into independence gradually, allowing them to maintain a sense of security and build confidence. This approach reduced anxiety and helped the child feel safe and supported throughout the transition to adult life.

p.4

improvement to be good

The home has a location assessment, but this does not identify or evaluate the risks posed to children of the nearby national speed limit road. As a result, it does not provide staff with clear strategies to reduce this known hazard. This leaves children exposed to an avoidable risk of serious harm.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders do not respond effectively to emerging risks. On one occasion, three children left the home late at night during bad weather and staff did not follow them. Leaders did not take effective action to review the staff response or reduce the likelihood of a similar incident.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children have individual risk assessments that are reviewed regularly; however, risk assessments do not contain all known behaviours or emerging risks. As a result, staff do not have clear and relevant guidance to manage risks, and the manager cannot be reassured that staff respond consistently to help children.

p.4

improvement to be good

Leaders and managers’ report allegations of harm to the relevant safeguarding agencies. However, on one occasion they did not do so within the timescales set out in their policy. Records also show that managers do not fully explore allegations, leaving gaps in decision making and investigation outcomes. Children’s safety is therefore affected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 5 Staff use physical intervention appropriately and only when necessary. They apply the least restrictive hold to keep children and others safe. However, they do not consistently record every hold, and records lack managers oversight. This limits leaders ability to scrutinise practice.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children say they feel safe and can identify trusted adults they can speak to when they need support. Staff encourage children to take age-appropriate risks, such as travelling independently to education and spending time with friends. This helps children to build confidence, develop independence and learn the skills they need to keep themselves safe as they grow.

p.5

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment checks take place before staff arrive to work at the home. The manager completes a disclosure and barring service check, explores gaps in employment, and obtains references. When staff work overseas the organisation gathers police checks from abroad. This helps prevent harm and helps keep chidlren safe.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there have been four different management arrangements in place. This instability has resulted in a lack of consistent leadership and direction for both staff and children. Although several layers of monitoring and oversight systems are in place, these have not been effective in identifying and addressing weaknesses within the service. Consequently, significant shortfalls in leadership and management have persisted.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

During the inspection, inspectors identified that staff had falsified records. This is a serious concern that calls into question the accuracy and reliability of records, staff practice, and the effectiveness of management oversight. Such failings have the potential to compromise managers’ ability to effectively monitor the quality of care and safeguard children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not maintain accurate records of children’s finances. One child had an unexplained deficit and managers had failed to investigate why. These failures undermine the accuracy of financial records and raise concern about the integrity of staff and managers.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

High levels of staff turnover have affected stability. Frequent staff departures and new starters have reduced consistency for children. Professionals who work with children have recognised the impact, and have said professionals say ‘children’s behaviours have escalated’.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Some professionals reported that communication is not always effective. They said that managers did not respond to concerns they raised. Furthermore, one professional said that ‘[name of child] does not always get to do the hobby that they love due to staffing issues or a car not being available.’ This has weakened the partnership working and limited professionals’ confidence in the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 6 Managers have not protected confidential information. Staff supervision records are stored in an unlocked cupboard in the laundry room. Staff and managers also use personal mobile phones to report concerns and submit statements from personal email accounts. These practices do not protect confidential information or support effective data security. They increase the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive information.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff receive regular supervisions. However, not all new staff receive this within the timescales set out in the homes induction policy. In addition, supervisions do not always focus on practice and the children. This limits oversight of staff practice.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite recent changes in management arrangements, staff said they feel supported by the current manager, they described early improvements in the home. However, it is too soon to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of the new management arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 7

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.7

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)) 5 August 2026

p.7

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—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 5 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 8 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.

p.7

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)(a)(f)(h)) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.8

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.8

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.8

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(ix)) 5 August 2026

p.8

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.8

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and 5 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 9 children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

p.9

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being; (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)) The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

p.9

Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2)) 5 August 2026

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment for children. In particular, they should ensure that as far as possible, the home maintains a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. Furthermore, the registered person should ensure that all children's bedrooms are well maintained, clean and have appropriate furniture. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice that 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: 2661071 10  The registered person should ensure that staff are consistently completing and recording direct work with the children that help them to develop and make progress. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 16, paragraph 3.14)

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of restraint are recorded and that records of restraint 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)

p.10

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure records can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view it. Records should be held at the individual home in accordance with data protection principles. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 14.2)

p.10

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: 2661071 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hennessy Living Group Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rickleton 1B, Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester Le Street DH3 4AN

p.11

Inspectors

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2661071 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12