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

Unique reference number SC398481 Inspection date 10/03/2014 Inspector Caroline Brailsford Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 04/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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

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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Progress

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

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Progress

This home was judged as outstanding overall at the last full inspection in December 2013. Since that time, the manager and staff have demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care.

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Progress

The nature of the young people’s needs are very complex and the staff are extremely knowledgeable about these. Staffing levels are high, allowing for quality time to be spent with young people. This supports them with their individual needs and enables them to make good progress, whatever their needs or abilities.

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Progress

Young people enjoy their time at the home and are actively encouraged to be energetic within appropriate boundaries. For example, they have fun with each other and staff, regularly playing games and running around in the garden. This also ensures that young people are physically active and promotes their good health.

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Progress

Young people's behaviour has improved overall since the last inspection. Young people are particularly happy and proud about their progress with behaviour. Young people's comments include 'my behaviour has improved so much'. Young people see this as the best thing about the home and attribute this to positive relationships with the staff. One young person said 'staff are brilliant'. Young people's comments also illustrate that they are taught about developing their socially acceptable behaviour. Where young people have patterns or trends in their behaviour, the manager and staff have worked to ensure that opportunities for progress have been created. For example, the manager ensures that a range of professionals are involved so that they can bring suggestions for improvement. In addition, therapists come to staff meetings and the Registered Manager holds internal professionals meetings to analyse behaviour and look for new and more positive ways of working. Where

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Progress

physical interventions are used in the home, young people are very confident that this is only ever as a last resort. The manager personally debriefs the young people, so that learning and development can be optimised.

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Progress

The records of physical interventions in the home meet the Regulations. However, where holds are more complex and need to be changed as a result of the developing situation, the reason for the change is not always clear. This has had no impact on young people, but a full and detailed record of the event may be difficult to find should there be a safeguarding issue or a complaint raised. However, the manager is already looking into improvements to the log so that the record can be more easily scrutinised. Risk assessments are very clear and thorough. They support staff in their work in the area of behaviour management. This is because the steps that staff should take are very detailed and clear in the assessments. This helps towards a team approach. Staff communication is such that young people's behaviour can be discussed at the earliest opportunity, ensuring consistency. As a result young people make good progress.

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Progress

Young people's contacts with people important to them are improved as a direct result of their placement at this home. Contact issues are extremely complex for some young people, yet staff work hard to make sure that all contact arrangements impact positively on young people. Staff are fully aware of how young people can become anxious or worried about their contact arrangements. They are also are very aware of how young people's worries can impact on their behaviour and manage such issues very sensitively. This allows for contact arrangements to be positive, so that important relationships can continue to develop.

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Progress

Empowerment of young people continues to be central to the running of the home. Systems and practices actively enable young people to have a say in the running of the home and what's happening in their own lives. Regular young people's meetings demonstrate that they feel listened to and have a voice. In addition, young people have regular access to an advocate and use this service to assist them in putting their point of view across about their concerns and difficulties. This helps young people to have a say about what is happening in their own life.

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Progress

There is one requirement made as a result of this inspection in relation to the administration of medication. This is in relation to the medication policy. Practice in the home has improved subsequent to a medication error in the home, however the improvements have not been captured within the home's policy. The improvements have clearly been embedded in practice, which protects young peoples safety. However, because the policy does not reflect the change, there is the potential for another error in the future, which could put young people's health at risk.

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Progress

The management of the home continues to protect young people and promote their progress. Regular monitoring visits take place, where the quality of care is scrutinised to create opportunities for improvement. The manager also keeps very detailed records of patterns and trends which identify where further progress can take place. Young people and staff speak highly of the Registered Manager and the deputy. One young person said 'the Registered Manager is the best boss I ever had'. Staff also feel very supported by the managers and as a result are well motivated continue to enjoy their work and provide good outcomes for 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 there are suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home. (Regulation 21,1) 28/03/2014

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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.

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