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

Unique reference number SC398480 Inspection date 14/03/2014 Inspector Mark Ryder Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/07/2013 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 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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection this home was judged adequate with two statutory requirements and four recommendations made. The home has met all of the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection.

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Progress

The current management arrangements are satisfactory. The Registered Manager is currently on maternity leave; it is unclear if or when they will resume their duties.

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Progress

There has been satisfactory progress since the last inspection. However, the home is currently going through a staffing shortage in which deployment of staff from other homes as well as agency workers cover a high number of shifts. Young people expressed concern about the inconsistency of adults working in the home. Although staff are experienced in caring for young people in residential care, they do not all have the experience working at this home. As a consequence some staff are shift leading with minimal knowledge of the home and the young people who reside here. New staff to the home are not always fully familiar with fire safety procedures. This has the potential to put staff, visitors and young people at risk of harm.

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Progress

Young people attend school and are progressing with their education. There are no recent missing from care incidents. Behaviour management is currently challenging for the staff. Outcomes of recent incidents of physical intervention has changed practice to reduce risk. The acting manager recognises this has been an unstable period due to recent staff shortages.

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Progress

The home is in sound structural repair. The home provides a comfortable and homely environment for young people. There has been significant building work to ensure that access to the roof is now limited. The garden has been fully landscaped to address previous concerns regarding young people being at risk in some of the outside areas.

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Progress

Assessments identify the level of potential risk to young people in regards to risk taking behaviour. Since the last inspection there has been a substantial reduction in such behaviour.

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Progress

Young people are aware of their right to complain if they are not satisfied with their care. Complaints are managed by a senior member of the organisation not associated with the running of the home. Complaints are managed fairly, impartially and promptly.

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Progress

Young people currently do not have a phone to use without reference to staff. There is no assessment of risk of young people not having full access to the telephone due to misuse, court order or request by the placing authority. Therefore young people are not able to make contact with their social worker, family or Ofsted without first requesting access to the phone by a member of staff. This has potential to prevent young people contacting external agencies if they are unhappy with the service.

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Progress

Monitoring of the home is satisfactory. Trends, characteristics and patterns of practice and incidents are reviewed in light of safeguarding young people. The acting manager is aware of the strengths of the home as well as its weaknesses and has made some improvements to address identified shortfalls.

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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 children accommodated in the home are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities 02/05/2014 which they may use without reference to persons working in the home— a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private (Regulation 15 (4)(a))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention; and ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home and, so far as practicable, children accommodated there, are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 32 (1) (d) (e)) 28/03/2014

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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 staff members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times (e.g. as leaders of staff shifts) have substantial relevant experience of working in the home and have successfully completed their induction and probationary periods. (NMS 17.5)

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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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