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

Unique reference number SC398481 Inspection date 04/12/2013 Inspector Dawn Bennett Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/03/2013 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 home is part of a range of children's services within a private care organisation. It is registered to accommodate five young people 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 outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This home was judged to be outstanding at the last full inspection and continues to be outstanding at this inspection.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people enjoy living at the home and all describe the service they receive as excellent. Young people have an outstanding level of individual support. The staff team provide stimulation and opportunity through daily programmes incorporating educational, social, emotional and physical opportunities tailored to meet individual needs. Young people are proud of their positive experiences, including positive educational achievements, school holiday activities and trips, holidays, birthday parties, and membership of community-based clubs. They are cared for by a long standing team of skilled staff who have highly developed knowledge of each young person. A key strength of this home is the partnership work with other agencies, placing authorities and parents. The home is also very effective in working with the organisation's therapy team which successfully engages and works directly with each young person, as well as with the staff team. As a result, young people's needs are

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Overall effectiveness

thoroughly assessed and reviewed. There are well informed strategies which are professionally implemented, promote young people's safety at all times and address individuals’ needs. The Registered Manager's, and staff team's, high expectations and the outstanding quality of care they provide result in young people making outstanding social, emotional and educational progress.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding . Young people are making excellent progress. They recognise this and are very pleased with their outcomes. One young person stated: 'The home is safe. There are lots of good staff. They don't let us run off, or fight, or sit down and watch TV all day. They want us to do well and achieve lots of goals. I have learnt a lot and I am now doing really well. Staff give me lots of praise and rewards because I go to school and do well, help around the house and make them proud with my good behaviour.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

When young people move into the home their moves are well planned and their views are taken into account throughout the process. The Registered Manager visits them at their placement prior to admission. The young people then visit the home, stay for meals, take part in activities and stay overnight. They, their families and placing authorities are welcomed into the home. Each admission plan is specific to the requirements of the young person. They are fully supported to make a positive start towards achieving the agreed aims of their placement and anticipated outcomes. Staff work to build familiar care and support routines that match each young person’s, and their family's, needs and circumstances.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are in excellent health. They all access the services and support they require to meet their physical, emotional and psychological needs. The staff team work effectively with the company's therapy team and other health professionals. All young people work directly and engage well with a therapist who is appointed specifically to meet their individual needs. Young people also have regular purposeful discussions individually, and as a group, about a wide range of health-related topics. This ensures that they continue to learn about their developing bodies and their health needs and are able to make informed decisions about their health in the future.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are leading healthy lifestyles. They live in an environment that promotes regular exercise and a healthy nutritious diet. For example, this year the whole house became involved in a gardening project. Fruit and vegetables were grown, harvested and cooked. Young people learnt about germination, took responsibly for planning, planting, watering and harvesting and learnt new recipes and tasted new foods. This project was so successful that next year it is going to be developed further. The impact of this and similar projects, alongside the general ethos of the home, has resulted in outstanding health improvements for young people with some medical conditions being managed through exercise and diet rather than medication.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are actively involved in clubs and activities in the home, the company's educational facility and the local community. They try a wide range of new pastimes and activities with staff from the home. Their interests and hobbies are fostered and promoted. They develop age-appropriate skills such as learning to take turns, learning to swim, learning to being a member of a team and riding a bike. Some of these activities are structured through lessons and clubs, such as swimming and football. They result in young people being awarded certificates for achievements which are celebrated by staff. Young people are making excellent progress in building self-esteem and learning new skills such as keeping themselves safe and forming new friendships.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s school attendance is excellent and they are making good and outstanding individual educational progress. Before coming to the home most young people had not engaged with education. They now all attend the company's own educational facility. Staff promote their attendance and reward their successes. Where they are behind in their learning, or when they have homework to do, staff are supportive and proactive in helping to achieve positive outcomes. Homework forms part of the daily routine of the home and each young person is supported by a member of staff to enjoy and complete the task. Daily activities such as laying the table and preparing meals are used to strengthen individuals’ learning. Young people participate in school trips and attend after-school clubs. Young people are experiencing personal successes that build their self-esteem and sense of self. They know and understand the importance of achieving well in their school environment

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Outcomes for children and young people

because of the sharp focus that staff give to educational achievement and progress.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The established procedures and practice for supporting young people when they move into or leave the home are outstanding. These provide staff with clear guidance and practical options that ensure the most appropriate and sensitive approach can be implemented for each young person depending upon their individual circumstances. Before the young person arrives detailed information is gathered from the placing authority and from previous placements. This information is used by staff to establish clear boundaries which ensure that from the outset young people feel, and are kept, safe. These are regularly reviewed and modified through the constant review of young people's progress in relation to their placement plans.

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Quality of care

Young people continue to receive outstanding individual support and guidance which is consistent with their identified needs and overall plan of care. Particular strengths of the provision are the effective key carer system and the therapy sessions. These systems support staff to focus precisely on each young person's needs. Young people value the relationships they have with their key carers and find staff accessible and supportive. Staff provide consistent care and work collaboratively with external professionals, families and placing social workers. The work the staff team have put into the young people achieving stable successful placements has resulted in increased choices and opportunities. For example, all young people are involved in social clubs in the local community, attend full-time education and participate in school trips and events. A social worker stated: 'A key strength of this service is the

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Quality of care

staff team's flexibility. They go above and beyond to meet the needs of the young person and their family.'

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Quality of care

Young people are actively encouraged and supported to have their say about the care and support they receive, in addition to the day-to-day arrangements and routines that affect their lives. Conversations with staff are frequent and demonstrate the team's commitment to involve young people throughout their stay at the home. Where staff are not able to act on young people’s feedback or requests that is discussed with them. Young people feel involved in the development of the home.

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Quality of care

Young people are involved in the planning and review of their care. Detailed written information reflects the individual circumstances and needs of each young person. Plans clearly address daily living arrangements and the aims of the placement. Staff encourage and support young people to talk with their social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers about matters that are important to them in order to ensure that their views are incorporated into the review of their care.

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Quality of care

The promotion of constructive contact with family is outstanding. Young people, parents and placing authorities acknowledge the lengths to which the Registered Manager and staff go to ensure the involvement of family members, not only in their day-to-day lives but also in key events. Staff are creative and flexible when supporting transport, organising contact visits and promoting positive relationships. Regular newsletters, which include photos and key information about the latest personal achievements of the young person, are sent home and to the placing authority. Constructive work is also undertaken in partnership with other professionals to help young people explore and understand family dynamics and relationships.

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Quality of care

The young people feel that the home and garden are outstanding features of this service. The home is furnished and equipped to a high standard and feels welcoming and homely. The young people feel that they are able to make the home their own. Their successes and achievements are evidenced in the photos displayed throughout the house. Young people's bedrooms are personalised and furnished with their own possessions and personal items. The staff are proactive in repairing any damage and maintaining the standard of décor throughout. The home's development plan ensures that the standard of the home continues to be developed with furniture regularly being upgraded and rooms being refurbished.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

This staff team are outstanding at assessing risks and safeguarding young people while promoting their developing maturity and independence skills. Young people do not engage in risk-taking or offending behaviour. They are actively encouraged to improve their awareness and understanding of how to keep themselves safe. They are encouraged to take a holistic overview of their life history, current lifestyle and the impact risky behaviour may have on their future. In particular, they are supported to develop self-confidence, pay attention to their aspirations and where applicable consider how anti-social behaviour can impact on health and emotional well-being in the future. Young people use these skills to make informed decisions, choosing not to become involved in other young people's high risk behaviours either within the home or at school. These positive decisions are rewarded by staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people express positive views about the support and guidance they receive from staff and confirm they are encouraged to consider and take responsibility for their own behaviour and development. For example, one young person stated: 'They are very age appropriate. They treat us all as individuals and with respect. This is based on your age and behaviour. There are certain things they are quite strict about. For example, I can't play certain computer games because I am not old enough. They make sure you are safe. If you give them respect, they respect you.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are supported at all times to understand their own and other’s well- being, behaviour and emotions. Staff are skilled at discreetly managing the environment and individuals’ safety and behaviours. They use a wide range of tools to support young people to develop their communication, understanding, confidence and social skills. Staff are fair and balanced and use their positive relationships with young people to challenge poor behaviour and to positively encourage improving behaviour. Fun activities, community-based clubs and holiday events are used to provide positive opportunities to learn new social skills and behaviour. As a result, there has been a reduction in the frequency and duration of incidents. Where incidents have occurred, they have been referred to partner agencies in a timely manner. The staff have appropriately supported young people to ensure their safety and well-being. They have also used discussions to help young people to express

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Safeguarding children and young people

emotions and learn new strategies to reduce future risks.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's safety is promoted by an established health and safety policy, which ensures risks are identified and appropriate action is taken to manage and reduce them. Risk assessments are very comprehensive, regularly reviewed and audited. All staff are appropriately trained in health and safety matters including first aid and fire awareness. Fire safety procedures and the appropriate records of equipment tests and fire drills are well maintained.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

This service was judged to be outstanding at the last full inspection and continued to make good progress at the interim inspection in March 2013. No requirements or recommendations were set at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

Since the last inspection the home has increased from four to five the number of young people it can accommodate. The company refurbished some previously unused rooms, including an additional bedroom. This work was undertaken to a high standard. More staff were also employed to increase staffing numbers. A fifth young person has now moved in and the home is successfully supporting the five young people.

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Leadership and management

Proactive leadership and management ensure effective support for staff and young people. The Registered Manager is actively involved in the day-to-day operation and life of the home and is provides a very visible role model. The professional staff team are committed to providing an exceptional level of support and guidance to young people. Their professional practice is underpinned by established policies, procedures and staff guidance. Staff also receive a good range of training, including induction and supplementary training, to ensure their professional knowledge is kept up to date.

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Leadership and management

Staff are highly motivated to achieve excellence and this engenders collaborative working and high staff morale. Young people state that another of the key strengths of this home is the staff team: 'The staff are very good. I get on well with everyone. I can talk to any member of the team. I can ask for help. They will challenge me about my behaviour and the decisions I make if they need to. On the whole we laugh and joke. They are helping me become more independent. I am learning lots of new skills. They have helped me turn my life around.' An Independent Reviewing Officer and social worker stated: 'There is a very consistent staff team. This has helped the young person form very trusting relationships. He can seek support when he requires it. His confidence and self-esteem have increased and developed. The staff team are incredibly supportive.'

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Leadership and management

The provider meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. Young people are provided with an environment where boundaries are clear, expectations are high and care is of a consistent high quality. Young people, staff and the placing authorities understand the aims and objectives of the home and what services and facilities it provides.

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Leadership and management

The management team understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and have a development plan in place. There are robust systems in place for monitoring the quality of care provided to young people. For example, information gained from direct feedback from young people, parents, social workers and other significant stakeholders helps to drive improvement. The registered person actively and regularly monitors the quality of care provided, including consultation with young people about their welfare. The home employs a sufficient number of staff who are effectively trained, supervised and supported.

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Leadership and management

Staff are supported and guided to fulfil their roles and provide a high quality service to young people. Records which are clear, up-to-date and stored securely contribute to an understanding of the young people’s lives. All significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home are notified by the Registered Manager to the appropriate authorities and appropriate action is taken.

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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 and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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