Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC398482 Inspection date 13/01/2012 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/09/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

This home is part of a large private children’s care organisation and is currently registered to accommodate six young people who have educational and behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

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Progress

At the last inspection in September 2011, the overall quality rating for the service was judged as good. There were two actions and two recommendations made at that inspection. Since that inspection the home's manager and her staff team have worked hard to make the required improvements and to implement the recommendations made. There has been satisfactory progress made.

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Progress

Young people live in a caring and supportive home environment that enables them to make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Fire alarm tests are now completed throughout the site at required frequency, young people are encouraged to have their comments recorded whenever staff apply any physical intervention and all physical interventions are now recorded in line with the National Minimum Standards. This has improved the safety of the home and has helped young people to feel that they are respected and that their opinions are valued. Young people say that they generally feel safe and happy in the home.

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Progress

Young people continue to receive well planned care provided by a competent staff team. Staff provide clear boundaries within a caring environment. Young people have a positive view of the care that they receive and say that their relationships with staff are good. Young people confirm that they 'feel safe' and that they feel that they would be able to talk to staff if they were worried or anxious. The culture and practice within the home is good at promoting individual identity, difference and equality. As a result, young people receive high quality care and support which is based on their individual identified needs. Staff use their detailed knowledge of the individual young people they work with to ensure that each young person’s needs are met. Staff encourage young people to take appropriate responsibility for their actions and the decisions, appropriate to their age and level of understanding. As a

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Progress

result, young people have a responsible attitude towards their health and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Medication administration and recording within the home are good; however, the recording of medication taken away from the home and/or returned to the home, particularly after home contact visits, is not sufficiently robust, as currently it is unclear what is or is not being signed for. Behaviour management processes and recordings are appropriate. All staff have received additional training in the use of restraint and recordings are closely monitored by the home's management to ensure that these are completed appropriately and within 24 hours of the incident. The home's procedures in respect of the searching of young people's rooms or possessions have not always been followed. Opportunities have been taken to conduct room searches while physical interventions have been taking place, or while other distractions have been available.

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Progress

While this may appear prudent, it undermines the otherwise transparent nature of the relationships between staff and young people and should be discouraged.

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Progress

The record of both admissions to the home and of young people leaving the care setting is currently done through the use of a loose leaf folder. The information being recorded in this record meets regulation, however, there is the requirement that this record be in the form of a register and best practice would dictate that this be in a bound book, preferably with numbered pages.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, much work has been done to evaluate the service and to improve care, support and the living environment. The management arrangements for the home have been formalised by the submission of an application to register the manager, who has had her suitability tested by this process. Effective monitoring systems review the quality of care that young people receive and identify areas where outcomes for young people may be improved. The home’s manager evaluates the actions from Regulation 33 checks and incorporates it in her own monthly Regulation 34 checks. Extremely detailed reports of monitoring visits are produced which demonstrate a good level of consultation with staff and young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a record is kept in the form of a register showing in respect of each child accommodated in the children's home all information listed in Schedule 4 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001. (Regulation 29) 30/04/2012

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that each home only carries out searches of a child, their room or their possessions in accordance with the home’s guidance (NMS 3.20)  ensure that there is a written record of all medication, treatment and first aid given to children during their placement (NMS 6.15).

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