Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Unique reference number SC398480 Inspection date 07/11/2012 Inspector Denise Perry Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 03/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home operated by a private company is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality 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 where young people feel safe and valued. A diverse and committed staff team meet the individual needs of young people very well. They provide highly personalised care, which focuses on meeting young people’s unique needs and their long term placement plans.

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Overall effectiveness

Equality and diversity matters are a particular strength of this home. The staff team work hard to ensure young people receive effective healthcare treatment and support which reflects their individual needs and identities. As a result, young people feel valued and totally accepted for who they are.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager effectively manages this home. All of the requirements and the recommendation set at the last inspection have been met. This demonstrates the home’s capacity to continually improve the services delivered to young people. The manager and staff team ensure that the home’s environment is maintained to a high standard. This creates a warm and homely place for young people to live.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points with some having made significant achievements in their lives, such as attending mainstream colleges and/or moving to semi-independent living accommodation. Shortfalls at this inspection include failure to notify Ofsted of a significant event, the timing of fire drills when young people are admitted and updating the young people’s guide.

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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, if any of the events in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 take place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 30 (1)) 21/12/2012

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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 there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have practiced so they know what to do in an emergency. This relates specifically to new admissions (NMS 10.9)  ensure the Children’s Guide includes how a child can contact their independent reviewing officer (IRO) and the Children’s Rights Director. (NMS 13.5)

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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 confident and at ease in the company of staff and with each other. Regular house meetings, key working sessions and daily discussions ensure young people’s views are listened to and, where appropriate, acted on. They feel safe talking to staff about matters that are important to them, such as appropriate touch, personal identity and relationships. As a result, young people feel valued and appropriate attachments develop and strengthen.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people engage in a variety of enjoyable activities, such as trips out to theme parks, the cinema and visiting places of interest. Some young people attend the gym, go dog walking and are members of the local rugby team. This develops their social skills and interaction and helps build their self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people attend school and make good progress from their starting points. Some young people successfully gain college placements and their attendance and attainment is excellent. This secures their future plans and aspirations in life and improves outcomes for young people. The majority of young people make excellent progress in various aspects of their lives. Consequently, they flourish and invest in both the home and the people who look after them. Since the last inspection, some young people have successfully moved on to supported living accommodation or have returned to live with their families. This has significantly improved their outcomes.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from maintaining appropriate contact with their families. As they mature, they develop in confidence and abilities, and maintain better relationships with the people who are important to them. Young people talk enthusiastically about their contact arrangements. Some young people independently use public transport to visit their families and have overnight stays. Consequently, they maintain strong family links and have a true sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Some young people, who have been involved in offending behaviour, receive direct supervision from staff, in line with their individualised risk assessments. They acknowledge and accept the consequences of their behaviour and over time make improved progress in various aspects of their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and, where appropriate, take responsibility for their own health. They are effectively supported in developing their independence skills, such as laundry, shopping, cooking and budgeting. As a result, young people are confident and continue to build on their skills which prepares them for a successful transition to adulthood.

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Quality of care

Staff accept young people for who they are and are non-judgemental in their practice. A particular strength of the home is how well staff positively address equality and diversity. The staff team is well-balanced in respect of age, gender and experience and young people benefit from having positive adult role models. Staff pro-actively search and gather information about support groups in response to young people’s stated individual preferences and personal identities. This enables young people to gain a better understanding about who they are and to take pride in themselves as well as reinforcing positive and constructive relationships with the staff team.

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Quality of care

The staff team are committed and genuinely interested and concerned about the young people’s welfare. They seek young people’s views and feelings on a daily basis and these are reflected in young people’s highly individualised placement plans. Young people know how to make a complaint and are confident in using this procedure. Staff take all complaints seriously. Records are transparent and clearly show that young people are fully involved throughout the entire process.

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Quality of care

The young person’s guide includes contact details for independent people who can advocate on young people’s behalf. However, it does not include details on the Children’s Rights Director or independent reviewing officers (IRO). This does not impact negatively on young people, as they are able to share their views through daily discussions with staff, key working sessions, young people’s meetings and with independent visitors.

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Quality of care

Staff use individually tailored behaviour management strategies to support young people in managing their own behaviours. For most young people this has successfully and significantly reduced incidents of conflict and has enabled staff to meet young people’s specific complex needs very well. Through the success of these strategies, staff have been able to support and encourage young people to enrol in mainstream college. This provides them with the same opportunities as their peers and increases their social mobility and educational opportunities. Some young people who experience setbacks with their behaviour within the school environment receive increased levels of support, both from teaching and care staff. This enables them to remain in full-time education and take part in curriculum activities. Staff liaise effectively with teachers to ensure consistency of care. A headteacher said, ‘The manager and staff are instrumental in supporting young people in school.’

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Quality of care

Consequently, their involvement impacts positively on young people’s development in sustaining and progressing their attendance and attainment.

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Quality of care

Staff produce highly detailed and evaluative monthly review reports, which contribute to young people’s looked after reviews. These reports cover all aspects of young people’s emotional, educational, physical and psychological development and clearly track their progress. A social worker commented about how informative and useful these review reports are and that staff always complete them well in advance of any meetings.

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Quality of care

When peer relationship problems arise, staff reinforce socially acceptable behaviour by encouraging young people to talk through their difficulties, find appropriate resolutions.

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Quality of care

Staff review and update young people’s personal and environmental risk assessments on a regular basis or when changes arise. This ensures that identified risks are promptly addressed, keeping young people safe from potential harm. Risks and associated protective factors for individual young people are clearly identified in pre-admission plans.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located and designed to meet the needs of young people. Since the last inspection there have been improvements to the décor of the home and new carpets fitted. This has enhanced the living environment and young people benefit from living in a warm and comfortable home.

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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 say they enjoy and feel safe living in this home and with the adults who look after them. Staff are aware of the complex needs and associated vulnerabilities of young people. They work very well with young people during times of significant incident and/or risk, for instance, when they display excessive frustration, loss of control or escalate one another's behaviour. They support young people to reflect on more critical incidents and this strengthens attachments and supports young people in managing their behaviour better next time. A young person said, ‘I’d say that my behaviour has improved since I’ve been living here and I see this as something that has gone well for me’.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people understand that, based on their past behaviours, they may require direct support and supervision , in order to keep themselves, and others safe from harm. As a result, they develop an understanding of the impact on their behaviours, develop in maturity, and take more responsibility for their actions. Young people say that they enjoy living in the home and they hold a positive view of the care provided.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The incidence of young people going missing has significantly reduced over time. For some young people this coincides with the implementation of additional safeguarding procedures, such as, the loss of free time in the local community. Staff and placing authorities regularly review individual risk assessments to ensure young people remain safe while affording them a level of independence. The need for physical restraint is rare and only used as a last resort to prevent injury to people or serious damage to property.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff practice is underpinned by robust policies, procedures and safeguarding training. Staff are normally vigilant when following these procedures and are well aware of their roles and responsibilities, including knowing when and where to report a concern. However, on one occasion Ofsted was not notified of a significant incident which involved police being called to the home. This has not had a direct impact on young people’s welfare, as all other parties were notified appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is physically safe, appropriately secure and takes into account the needs and characteristics of the young people cared for. Staff implement comprehensive risk assessments around the home and in the local community to promote young people’s safety. A particularly good piece of work is undertaken with young people on their admission, informing them of fire safety procedures within the home. However, fire drills were not arranged in a timely manner following every placement. Having said this, all residents have subsequently completed fire drills and are aware of the associated procedures to fully promote their 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

The Registered Manager competently and effectively manages this home and is committed to promoting positive outcomes for young people. The staff team receive regular, good quality one-to-one professional supervision which supports them in their work and promotes continual improvement in their practice and performance. A member of staff said, ‘The support I get from the manager and the team is amazing and I feel totally supported.' Staff members communicate effectively with each other on a daily basis and share relevant information relating to young people’s individual needs and personalised plans. This ensures high levels of care are consistently applied and young people make good progress in their lives. The staff team already have, or are working towards, the required qualification. This directly benefits young people because staff are supported and well-equipped to provide good quality care.

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Leadership and management

Young people develop and sustain positive relationships with the management and staff team, based on mutual trust and respect. The Registered Manager makes herself available to young people and invites their views on the running of the home. One young person said: ‘The manager is a lovely person and she is a really good manager. I get on very well with my key carer; she makes me laugh because she is really funny.’ Young people have lots of opportunities to discuss and share their views and feelings on a daily basis and through more formal channels, such as house meetings and key carer sessions. They feel valued and listened to and as a result they invest in the home and the people who are looking after them.

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Leadership and management

The home has a development plan in place and managers have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. The home is committed to the continuous development of the service and securing improved outcomes for young people. The Registered Manager continually strives to improve communication systems to further gather the views of stakeholders, such as placing social workers, independent reviewing officers and parents. She is currently planning to re-issue questionnaires to stakeholders, to obtain their views on how the conduct of the home and the services provided to young people can be further improved.

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Leadership and management

The home has a good track record of acting upon any requirements and recommendations from previous inspections and from recommendations made following the visits to monitor the practice of the home in accordance with Regulation 33.

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Leadership and management

Overall, notifications are well-managed and relevant parties are mostly notified of significant events. On one occasion the policy was not followed as Ofsted was not notified. However all other parties were appropriately notified and young people's welfare was not compromised.

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Leadership and management

Records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives and show the progress they have made. Staff regularly review and update these records and they are stored securely. Young people say that they know about and are involved in formulating their placement plans. This encourages and enables them to be actively involved in their care planning and have a say in their lives and future plans.

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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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