Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Oxfordshire

Unique reference number SC482295 Inspector Nicola Lownds Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Hillcrest Childrens Services Limited Registered person address Langstone Gate Solent Road Havant Hampshire PO9 1TR Responsible individual William Mathew Crosby Registered manager Royston Albert Bayliss Date of last inspection 21/10/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 05/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

The home was last inspected in October 2014 when it was judged as good overall with outstanding outcomes for children and young people and quality of care. The four requirements and one recommendation from the previous inspection have been met.

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This inspection

The home has updated its Statement of Purpose to include all matters listed in schedule one. It now includes qualifications and experience of staff, contact details for the management team, and support provided for young people with special educational needs.

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This inspection

Clear records are maintained in circumstances when a young person goes missing. During the inspection the home were managing a situation where one resident had been missing for a long period of time. The missing from care records show a clear picture of the missing from care episode including actions taken by staff and the multi-agency working with parents, social worker and police. This shows staff understand missing from care protocols and carry these out effectively to protect young people from harm.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager completes notifications effectively which are sent to Ofsted in a timely manner. This illustrates progress in this area and adds transparency with the regulator which shows children and young people live in a well-run home.

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This inspection

Risk assessments are followed in relation to missing from care. Risk assessments are routinely reviewed and include risks specific to each young person for example missing from care, drug misuse and child sexual exploitation.

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This inspection

Young people live in a home which is maintained to a high standard. It has undergone some refurbishment with further plans for the lounge and summer 3 of 6 house; young people say they are consulted on these decisions. Bedrooms are personal spaces and include family photos, posters and individual décor choices. This shows staff respect young people’s choices in relation to the environment in which they live which promotes positive identity and self-esteem.

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This inspection

Attendance in education is excellent, care plans evidence young people access the most suitable education provision that is available to them in the area. Some young people have a mixed timetable of school and college which is assessed to meet their need. Staff encourage completion of homework and extra study which young people respond to positively. A reward system around educational achievements works well as a motivator to increase opportunities for additional activities. Young people learn to recognise achievement and reward, this method results in young people increasingly displaying positive behaviour in the home. A social worker reported that, ‘staff communicate very well with young people, and the home works in partnership with us.’

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This inspection

Access to activities outside of the home is exceptional. A young person said, ‘I go to drama club, horse-riding and signing which I love’ . Other young people participate in swimming lessons and trampoline lessons, as well as some having independent time where they like to go shopping. Young people also assist a local homeless charity when they conduct events. This helps young people to build social networks outside of the home and develop a sense of empathy for others.

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This inspection

Young people are equipped with skills to keep themselves safe. Workshops are held on child sexual exploitation and missing from care with local organisations including the police. Staff conduct frequent one-to-one keyworking sessions with young people which include discussions on drug misuse, missing from care, independence, placement plan reviews and education. This means young people benefit from living in a home where there safety and welfare is paramount.

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This inspection

Positive relationships between young people and staff were observed. When young people go missing from care the joint protocol is followed effectively. Searches conducted by staff and persistent attempts to make contact show young people they are cared about. Proactive collaboration with parents, local authorities and police support young people to return home safely. Missing from care incident records are clear which enable thorough monitoring of these events by the Registered Manager.

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This inspection

Staff new to the home are inducted and developed by senior members of staff. When there are shortfalls in their development these are addressed in supervision and probation periods extended. Issues of poor practice reported by young people are listened to and acted on. Supervision records show discussions are meaningful and focus on the well-being of young people. However supervision is not always carried out routinely which means opportunities for reflective practice and development can be missed.

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This inspection

New referrals to the home are considered by the Registered Manager in a well- 4 of 6 thought-out manner. Decisions made consider the present group living in the home and the impact a new young person may have on them. This shows the needs of young are prioritised and considered when planning to increase the homes capacity. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children's home provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It was registered in 2014 because of a technical change to the companies house number. The service was previously operated under URN SC370917 and this is a continuation of that service.

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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 all persons employed receive regular supervision ( Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 01/04/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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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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