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

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 There has been insufficient consistency of manager and staff, which has affected the standards of care practices.

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because:

 The promotion of children’s safety is potentially compromised by insufficient liaison with the police about children who go missing and delays in the reviews of levels of risk. Follow-up meetings with children who have been missing have not occurred.

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because:

 Consideration is not being given to the risks from other nearby children’s homes, which increases the risks to children.

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because:

 Monitoring processes are not implemented effectively enough to raise standards.

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The children's home strengths

 Children benefit from a spacious property and plenty of private space.

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The children's home strengths

 A new manager is in post who has relevant experience and qualifications.

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The children's home strengths

 There is a core of staff who show perseverance and competence.

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The children's home strengths

 Children show steady progress, learn to keep themselves safe, and are ambitious about their futures.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard to ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe, the registered provider must ensure- (2) (a) that staff—

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Requirement Due date

(i) assess, with reference to completing regular reviews of written risk assessments, whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child 30 Aug 2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure the information set out in the statement of purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and placing authority that a placement in that home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child's assessed needs. Emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home's statement of purpose and its capacity and support systems mean that it has the capability to care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high quality care to children already living in the home. This is with regard to describing how and when emergency admissions will occur (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.6)

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Recommendations

 ensure when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. This is with regard to ensuring that such opportunities occur. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 ensure where a child runs away persistently or engages in other risky behaviours, such as frequently being absent from the home to meet with inappropriate adults, the registered person, in consultation with the child's placing authority, should convene a risk management meeting to develop a strategy for managing risks to the young person. The strategy should be agreed with the child's placing authority, the local authority where the home is located and the local police. This is with regard to engaging with the police at an early stage. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.32)

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Recommendations

 ensure Where a child runs away persistently or engages in other risky behaviours, such as frequently being absent from the home to meet with inappropriate adults, the registered person, in consultation with the child's placing authority, should convene a risk management meeting to develop a strategy for managing risks to the young person. The strategy should be agreed with the child's placing authority, the local authority where the home is located and the local police. This is with regard to engaging with the police at an early stage. (The Guide to the Quality Standards Guide, page 46, paragraph 9.32)

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Recommendations

 ensure all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home's care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Recommendations

 ensure the registered person reviews the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home's location and strategies for managing these. This is with regard to recording the likely impact of nearby children's homes. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Recommendations

 ensure six-monthly reviews of quality enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home's care, which will be captured in the written report. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. This is with regard to this process evaluating patterns and trends. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

The service as a whole requires improvement. However, the experiences of individual children are good. One said, ‘It’s more homely here than other places; it’s the way that staff are. They are professional. They make the house look nice too, which is important.’ Children establish meaningful relationships with staff, despite the changes amongst junior staff and of manager. These allow children to develop personally and gain positive control over their lives. Children learn to understand and accept their own progress through the challenging periods they experience in the home. A social worker commented, ‘Staff’s thorough knowledge of my child’s personality enables them to respond therapeutically and safely.’

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requires improvement

Children know what is expected of them and what is written in their files. They also have a direct effect on the day-to-day operation of the home. For example, activity and menu planning, cleaning, cooking and other events involve them. A range of formal and informal consultation exercises serve to sustain effective communication. Recently this was evidenced in the admission of a new resident. As a result, this critical process was a very positive experience for all concerned.

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requires improvement

Children learn how to keep themselves physically healthy through eating appropriate foods, having routine medical check-ups, and acting on specialist advice, regarding, for example, contraception. As a result, they are prepared well for independence. Staff monitor children to ensure they remain well, given their ages and their need to take appropriate risks. Therapeutic support is also provided and children make clear emotional progress. A recent school report for one child said that her ‘increased maturity is evident’, for example, by helping younger children. Formal learning in colleges and schools is supported well. Older children establish career aspirations and undertake relevant courses. This is markedly better than when they were admitted. Packages of learning are devised to help children succeed and attendance rates are high. Pathway planning takes into account the need of children to try new things and to relinquish some of the

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requires improvement

support they previously received, regarding, for example, transport and budgets.

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requires improvement

The social experiences that children have are wide-ranging. One child said, ’We’ve been to some awesome places!’ These include camping, sports activities, Duke of Edinburgh Award events, and city-breaks. Currently, planning is underway for the summer holidays, which has been delayed somewhat by the change of manager. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

Children are kept safe and feel safe. However, there are several processes that require improvement. Incidents of children putting themselves at risk from going missing have been significant but have now almost stopped. When children have been missing management strategies have not extended in having contact with the police. Also, following a child’s return, there is insufficient understanding of the need to arrange a return home meeting, even though relevant procedures are in place. These omissions serve to increase the potential risk to children and reduce the benefits to them of multi-agency liaison. The actual levels of risks are reviewed too infrequently. This means that the risk strategies affecting children are not amended to reflect their changing needs as often as necessary to promote their welfare.

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requires improvement

Children do not put themselves at risk of sexual exploitation and physical intervention by staff is rarely required. Visiting professionals consider that ‘boundaries are appropriately enforced by staff’ through positive relationships and proportionate measures of control. Bedroom door alarms are used but only when required. This shows good understanding of the rights of children. Comprehensive checks are completed of agency members of staff to ensure that only appropriate adults work in the home. This thoroughly addresses a shortfall identified at the last inspection and is understood well by team members. The manager has plans in place to improve staff practices to ensure, for example, there is a clearer overview of physical interventions and safer storage of staff belongings. These are minor shortfalls that reflect the lack of close managerial direction recently.

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requires improvement

Routine health and safety checks are pursued satisfactorily; this includes fire safety and hot water temperatures. These ensure that staff and children remain physically safe. The property is located on a steep slope and work is planned to address slippage that has slightly disturbed external areas and caused minor tripping hazards.

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requires improvement

Since 2013, the service has only achieved adequate inspection judgements. This has been related to a lack of managerial continuity. The previous manager was in post less than a year. There was a gap of several months before the new manager started about a month ago; she is undertaking the registration process with Ofsted. She has extensive relevant experience, a strong track record, and an appropriate qualification. There has also been instability in the staff team, which has been noticed by children. This has been partially addressed by strict control over admissions during this period.

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requires improvement

An up-to-date statement of purpose is available to social workers and parents, which describes the provision of care, education and therapy. Emergency admissions are permitted but the processes and circumstances are not adequately described. This undermines the therapeutic purposes of the service, which, in most cases, rely on carefully planned admissions.

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requires improvement

The staff team is described by visiting professionals as ‘warm, friendly and helpful.’ It includes three senior workers, one of whom also undertakes a deputy manager role. They provide children with some continuity of care and are energetic and knowledgeable, despite the recent pressures. A full team of staff has recently been established. This is important progress as the team grows to meet the needs of a larger and more complicated group of residents. The formal support of staff is being maintained via supervision meetings and appraisals. However, it is insufficiently clear how the views of children contribute to the assessment of staff performance. This means that children’s opinions are not as well established in the quality assurance and improvement processes as necessary. The training of staff is sustained at a reasonable level. Levels of proficiency are achieved through a programme of training and refresher courses. Minor delays in the achievement of

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requires improvement

appropriate qualifications by a small percentage of staff are being addressed by the manager.

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requires improvement

Monitoring exercises occur regularly and are of a satisfactory standard overall. However, the use of the processes undertaken by the manager to raise standards, as distinct from maintaining them, is not established. The effective evaluation of patterns and trends, incorporating issues raised in feedback, is not occurring. This is a key factor in the current quality of the service. Reports are sent to Ofsted as required by the regulations. This addresses a shortfall identified at the last inspection and permits appropriate monitoring by the regulator.

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requires improvement

The property itself is spacious and provides a pleasant ambience for children. There are heavily wooded grounds, including an apple orchard, with space for play. Steps have been taken recently to ensure that trees do not make the home too dark and further work outside is planned. Similarly, steps are being taken to improve the inside of the home, which is, in the words of one professional, somewhat ‘tired’ in places. This process is adequately addressing a shortfall identified during the last inspection. Although the home has a semi-rural feel and is located off a small lane, there is ready access to urban amenities. These and other risks are identified in the locality assessment of the home. However, the implications of living close to other children’s homes have not been assessed. This oversight has an effect on the safety and welfare of children. Children’s needs are recorded well and reviewed regularly with other professionals.

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requires improvement

Children are routinely involved in discussions about important issues. These sessions are carefully planned and contribute to the clear progress that they make. Work is underway to condense this evidence and so demonstrate children’s progress even more effectively. This is an important factor in the development of the service.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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