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

Unique reference number SC398377 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Young Options College Limited Registered person address Turnpike Gate House Alcester Heath Alcester Warwickshire B49 5JG Responsible individual Graham Baker Registered manager Kirstianne Pierce Date of last inspection 18/06/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 22/01/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

This home was last inspected in June 2014 and was judged to be adequate. Five requirements and four recommendations were made at this time. Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager has taken appropriate actions to meet these identified shortfalls.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has ensured that all staff know, understand and implement the home’s child protection policy. Clear guidelines and expectations ensure that staff know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. Since the last inspection, where concerns have arisen, prompt referral to appropriate services has been made as required. This means that young people receive appropriate support and that their welfare and safeguarding is promoted at all times.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has reviewed the use of electronic measures to help promote the safety and welfare of young people. Detailed risk assessments are now in place and the routine use of electronic measures is no longer in operation. Where concerns arise over the vulnerabilities of young people, staff now fully risk assess what, if any, additional measures need to be used. Such measures are agreed beforehand and in accordance with the young person’s agreed plan of care. This means that the use of such measures is carefully assessed. This promotes both the dignity and safety of young people in the home.

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This inspection

Where serious incidents occur in the home, swift and appropriate actions are taken to promote the safety and welfare of children and young people. Notifications to relevant bodies, including Ofsted, are now made in a timely manner. This ensures that relevant information is appropriately shared and this further safeguards young people. The Registered Manager has improved links with the local police since the last inspection. As a result, where incidents of missing behaviour occur, agreed 3 of 7 protocols are followed. This results in a co-ordinated response to such behaviour. This, in turn, helps to promote the safety of young people.

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This inspection

Fire safety has improved in the home. The Registered Manager has ensured that all required actions from the last inspection have been completed. Fire doors are now in place and regular checks ensure that all control measures are in place. Fire drills further enhance this practice as all staff and young people know how to safely and quickly evacuate the home.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has established a system that monitors all required matters in line with regulation. This means that the home now benefits from appropriate manager oversight and this contributes to further driving improvements. Although these reports have been completed in a timely manner, they have not been sent to Ofsted as required. This means that the regulator has not been able to review the home’s operation in accordance with regulations. There is no negative impact on young people as a result of this shortfall. However, a requirement has been made to improve practice.

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This inspection

Incidents of bullying are very rare in the home. However, staff are fully aware of the signs of bullying and regularly discuss this with young people. This is further enhanced through detailed policies in the home and regular discussions at team meetings and staff supervisions. Furthermore, the Registered Manager has ensured that training is in place for staff to further enhance their knowledge and understanding. This means that young people are appropriately safeguarded as staff are now more alert to bullying behaviours and know how to respond. This ensures that young people are protected.

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This inspection

Young people are safe at the home. Restraint is used, on the whole, appropriately and in accordance with regulation. There has been one incident of physical intervention since the last inspection that was not used appropriately. This related to an incident where a young person did not comply with a staff request to leave the staff office. The young person was briefly physically escorted. There has been no detrimental impact to the safety, welfare or outcomes for young people as a result. A requirement has been made to reflect this regulatory shortfall.

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This inspection

The home environment is spacious and is suitably furnished for young people. Some areas of the home, however, require attention to further enhance a warm, homely environment; there are unsightly marks to some walls, a door has a small hole in it and there are areas of the home that have not been thoroughly cleaned. A recommendation has been made to improve practice in this regard.

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This inspection

Consultation with young people has improved. Detailed and regular key work sessions explore a range of issues with young people. As a result, young people are able to discuss their feelings, views and wishes with a supportive and empathetic staff team. This has further safeguarded young people as health related discussions, for example, have explored areas such as sexual health and emotional wellbeing. 4 of 7 The Registered Manager ensures that quality monitoring of all records identifies any inconsistencies or inaccuracies. Furthermore, staff now take greater care to ensure that all handwritten records are legible. This is an improvement since the last inspection and meets the recommendations made in respect of these previously identified shortfalls.

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This inspection

As a result of this inspection, the home is judged to have sustained effectiveness. Two requirements and one recommendation have been made to further improve the service given to young people. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This private home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2014 Full adequate 04/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 02/12/2013 Full adequate 25/02/2013 Interim good progress

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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

17A (2001) ensure that subject to paragraph (2) a measure of restraint may only be used on a child accommodated in a children’s home for the purpose of (a) preventing injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained) and (b) preventing serious damage to the property of any person (including the child who is being restrained) (Regulation 17A (1) (a-b) ) 08/03/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply to HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1), and make a copy of the report available on request to placing authorities where the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (Regulation 34 (2) ) 08/03/2015 6 of 7

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel. (NMS 10.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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