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

Unique reference number SC437128 Inspection date 29/05/2012 Inspector Louise Redfern Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/10/2011 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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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people, who have emotional and/ or behavioural problems.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home. Young people are safe and feel safe. One young person said, ‘I feel safe in the house’. Young people receive highly-personalised, well-planned care, taking into account their individual needs. The home strongly promotes positive outcomes for all young people. The manager and staff team are particularly proactive and successful in engaging young people in the placement and developing strong attachments and supporting them to manage their health issues. As a result, young people make good progress in relation to their starting points.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is well managed by a committed and enthusiastic manager. The manager works consistently to improve outcomes for young people. The staff team are well trained, experienced and supported to meet the individual needs of the young people. The shortfalls identified during the inspection, and clarified further below, do not negatively impact on the welfare or safety of young people in the home.

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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

4 ensure that the Statement of Purpose accurately describes the 29/06/2012 (2001) qualifications and experience of persons working in the home (Regulation 4 (1); Schedule 1(5)) 17B (2001) ensure that any measure of control includes a review of the effectiveness of the measure used. (Regulation 17B)(3)(f)) 29/06/2012

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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 young people receive personalised care that promotes all aspects of their individual identity. This specifically refers to sexuality (NMS 2.1)  ensure that all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this takes into account any views of children the service is providing for. (NMS 19.6)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making good progress in the home because of individualised consistent care and support from the whole staff team. As a result, they are forming and sustaining positive attachments with staff and make good progress in developing emotional resilience. They are successfully caring for their own pets, for which they are solely responsible. Young people enjoy healthy lifestyles by engaging in positive activities, such as playing basketball in the local park. As a result, they engage in positive social interaction with both peers and staff in the local community, which increases their self-confidence, self-esteem and broadens their horizons. Young people maintain appropriate contact with family members, friends and other people who are important to them, which maintain strong support networks for them outside the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s physical and emotional health is relatively good and they are making significant progress with this. They are receiving support from health professionals and staff to understand the relevance of individual specific health needs and how best to manage their condition. They benefit from routine health appointments to maintain their general health. Young people are taking more responsibility for their personal hygiene and daily routines. For example, this includes completing their laundry and learning to self-medicate. As a result, they are becoming more competent to take care of themselves in preparation for adult life. Young people are undertaking voluntary work in the local community in preparation for their upcoming college course.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . Young people enjoy positive and constructive relationships with staff. A consistent, nurturing and warm staff team cares for them. They implement clear structures and firm boundaries to encourage young people to achieve their full potential. As a result, young people know they are valued as individuals and say, ‘I like living here staff help me to do things.’ The provider has an education facility, which supports young people with an individual and specific education package which suits their specific needs. Young people have been difficult to engage in education, over the age 16. However, staff have been consistent and imaginative in their approach to re- engage young people. For example, this includes securing a volunteer place at a local zoo.

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Quality of care

The manager and staff team have regular discussions with young people regarding the day-to-day running of the home. Systems have not yet been developed to ensure young people’s views are obtained about staff as part of their annual appraisal. However, this shortfall does not negatively impact on young people because their views are routinely heard through complaints, daily routine conversations, key work sessions, young people’s meetings and the organisation’s Regulation 33 visitor.

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Quality of care

Placement plans are tailored to each young person, clearly outlining their individual needs. Staff use the placement plans to support young people to focus on clear measurable outcomes and review on a monthly basis the progress in each area. Although staff say they explore sexuality and life choices with young people, the current placement plans and other documentation do not evidence this work. Staff support each young person using individualised positive behaviour management strategies. This has successfully reduced conflict. As a result, positive relationships and attachments have developed over time.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people report that they feel safe and can talk to an adult when they are concerned. Staff are suitably trained in safeguarding and the home has extensive policies and procedures in place which underpin effective practice. The home has a strong focus on safeguarding young people. For example, high levels of supervision are provided to ensure that young people are kept safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are encouraged to behave positively, by the use of rewards. For example, this includes going for a meal out with staff. As a result, there are few incidents of young people being sanctioned and no incidents of them being restrained. When they do engage in negative behaviour, sanctions are imposed and they are encouraged to reflect on their behaviours. However, the manager does not comment on the effectiveness of this to evaluate if the consequence remains appropriate.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The manager ensures that individualised behaviour management plans are implemented for each young person. Comprehensive risk management plans and individual planned key working sessions enable young people to take managed risks, develop their life skills and reflect on the progress they have made in their placement.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do occasionally go missing. When they do, staff comprehensively search for young people and actively encourage their quick return home. Through effective monitoring of all these incidents the manager and staff team develop a clear understanding of the reasons why young people do go missing. Young people are supported to understand the risks associated with going missing through regular key working sessions. The home has also developed strong links with local police to promote the safety of young people in the local area.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is physically safe and appropriately secure to take into account the needs and characteristics of the young people cared for. Staff pay excellent attention to health and safety management. They use comprehensive risk assessments around the home and in the local community to assure young people’s continuing safety.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

Young people receive a good level of care from the manager and staff team. The manager has a good approach to identifying young people’s individual needs. An effective individual plan is established which enables each young person to make progress and achieve their full potential, for both living at the home and forwards into adulthood. The manager can clearly demonstrate the impact and value that living at the home has had on some young people’s lives and how their life chances have improved over time. For example, this includes young people successfully moving on from the placement into independent living accommodation.

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Leadership and management

There is good monitoring of the home by the organisation’s Regulation 33 visitor. This includes consultation with young people and support to the manager in identifying any weaknesses in the home. The manager undertakes monthly monitoring of the home, which highlights areas of weaknesses, and enables him to take action to tackle these identified areas.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose and young person’s guide accurately represent the specific service of the home. However, it does not state the current staff team’s experience and qualifications. The manager was able to provide this information at inspection and there is no adverse impact on the care received by young people despite this shortfall.

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Leadership and management

The staff team’s performance continually improves with well-planned team meetings, effective handovers between shifts, annual appraisals and good quality supervisions. The manager effectively challenges any identified shortfall in staff performance as part of their ongoing development. Staff report that they feel supported and access core training. The whole staff team has or is working towards the required qualification. This directly benefits young people because staff are supported and equipped to provide them with high-quality care.

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Leadership and management

The home employs a sufficient number of staff. Any shortfalls in the rota are covered by overtime or with a small number of company bank staff. This ensures a level of consistent care to meet the needs of the young people. The home demonstrates good quality record keeping. Records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives and show the progress they have made. Young people routinely sign placement plans. This encourages and enables them to be part of their care planning and setting goals.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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