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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 A new manager has been appointed who is showing exceptional leadership. Morale is high. Staff are fully supported and trained. They speak very highly of the new manager and her aspirations to run a top quality service.  There is excellent placement planning with transitions well managed. The manager challenges other professionals to provide all relevant information needed to provide the best possible care for the children.  Staff ensure children's developmental needs are met. Children are forming attachments with the adults caring for them. Their trust and confidence is growing as well as their self-esteem.  Behaviour is very good. There is a culture of rewarding positive conduct rather than reacting to negative behaviour. Dynamics between children living in the home are extremely well managed.  There is a shared sense of purpose. The aims and objectives of the home are well understood by staff and applied in practice.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff work effectively with other professionals to ensure health and education needs are met.  Children are at the centre of practice. Staff are sensitive to their emotional well-being. They understand the importance of family relationships and are proactive in organising contact.  There is a comprehensive development plan that includes further training in therapeutic childcare.  Children are safe and well cared for. Robust safeguarding procedures are rigorously followed.

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

Give notice in writing to HMCI that a person ceases to carry on or manage the home. (Regulation 49 (b)) 10/10/2015

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 Consider what further advocacy support is required, especially advocates with experience in autism. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, paragraph 4.16)

p.4

Recommendations

 Make full use of independent and internal monitoring to review and evaluate all incidents, especially physical intervention. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, paragraph 10.24)

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home offers care and accommodation for up to six children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Currently only girls are accommodated. The home has been closed for major refurbishment, during which time no children were accommodated. This is the first full inspection since 10 October 2013. It is under new management. A private organisation owns this home and another home in the nearby area.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

23/10/2014 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

good

Children benefit from excellent emotional support. Staff work with other professionals, such as a psychologist, to help children understand the complexities of relationships. They make good progress, such as becoming less withdrawn and being able to engage in meaningful conversation. Children are able to bring closure to previous placements and move on with their lives. They develop resilience to recover from previous trauma. They are able to rebuild other relationships with individuals who are important to them. Staff fully support this. A child said, ‘I am really happy how contact has been set up and I cannot stop thinking about it.’

p.6

good

Staff are attuned to each child's idiosyncrasies. They demonstrate a thorough understanding of their needs. They challenge each other to use the most positive and optimistic phrases when talking to children. Children hear positive language about their lives and their self-esteem improves greatly. Staff work with other professionals to ensure each child has the best emotional support. Innovative solutions are explored, such as pet therapy.

p.6

good

Children have their physical health needs met. They are very well supported to attend routine appointments. Immunisations are up-to-date. Arrangements for mediation are robust. Healthy eating is fully promoted. Children enjoying feasting on a variety of fruit. Staff ensure assessments are scheduled for more specialist health checks, such as the orthodontist. Key workers work sensitively with children to prepare them for future events, such as going through puberty.

p.6

good

Children benefit from the commitment of staff toward their education. A child, recently admitted, was able to continue in the school of their choice and maintain friendships. Staff work sensitively to ensure a successful transition into new settings, such as secondary school. There is close, collaborative working with education professionals, such as ensuring a personal education plan is in place that is relevant to the immediate needs of the child. There is every chance of academic success.

p.6

good

Children have a strong voice. They are able to raise concerns with adults they trust within the home. A child said she could talk to staff, her key-worker or advocate. Arrangements are not yet in place for advocacy for all children, especially advocates who specialise in autism. Children know how to make a formal complaint but have little need to access the formal process. There have been no complaints since re-opening the home. The home has been refurbished to a very high standard. There is a warm, homely environment. Children and staff were observed playing games together in a cheerful and fun way. Children take pride in their home and personalise their rooms. They proudly display their art and personal artefacts in communal areas. They have designed humorous posters that hang around the home, for example to encourage recycling. Children have a sense of belonging.

p.6

good

Staff treat children with respect and dignity and they reciprocate this. There are good relationships with neighbours, such as a local church. Children express a desire to learn about religion. An age appropriate newspaper is delivered especially for the children. They are able to read of world events. Important conversations and questions are initiated by the children with staff.

p.7

good

Children speak warmly of the activities they engage in. They are varied, stimulating and meaningful, such as visiting a safari park, trampoline centre and going to the cinema. Children express what they want to do on a daily basis in a community meeting. They go to the park regularly to play. They have learnt to swim in a local pool and love going to a nearby water-park. Staff ensure this happens extremely regularly.

p.7

good

Children are kept safe. Risk assessments are live, dynamic documents that clearly guide staff. They include indicators to the emotional well-being of each child. A child said, ‘I do feel safe. I have no worries at the moment.’ Children agree and sign the procedures to be followed in the event of bullying. Bullying is not an issue in the home.

p.7

good

Arrangements for safer recruitment are superb. Adults are thoroughly vetted and deemed suitable to work with children before starting work at the home. There is a meticulous approach to answering any queries that arise from the recruitment process, before appointment is confirmed.

p.7

good

Placement planning is particularly strong. The manager challenges other professionals to ensure she has the necessary information to make an informed decision about admissions. Transitions are well planned. Children are fully engaged in the process. There is every chance of a successful placement. Children understand why they are living in the home. They settle well and feel comfortable in their environment.

p.7

good

There is an excellent approach to promoting positive behaviour. Staff consider any underlying psychological reasons for behaviour as well as considering any health reasons. Rewards far outweigh sanctions. Children learn how to behave appropriately. There is currently little need for physical intervention. The manager has ensured there are clear protocols in place, agreed with the police, to protect children missing from the home or at risk of child sexual exploitation. Children do not engage in risk-taking behaviour. There has been no need to activate the procedures since the home re-opened.

p.7

good

The manager ensures that safeguarding procedures are adhered to rigorously. She takes swift and decisive action, for example in the event of an allegation. This is done in consultation with the relevant authorities. Children and staff are kept safe while the necessary investigations take place. There is a good relationship with the local authority designated officer to discuss any issues and agree on strategies. The manager has been successful in reviewing historical events, before her appointment in the home, and using them to improve practice. An example is the way physical interventions are recorded.

p.8

good

Staff are trained in safeguarding. They are alert to what a child may say non- verbally. They are confident in the process to be followed in the event of any concerns being raised by children.

p.8

good

There is a robust approach to e-safety. Children are individually risk assessed how best to protect them in the cyber world. Any restrictions on internet access or use of mobile devices are under constant review so children are not disadvantaged next to their peers.

p.8

good

Health and safety is given a top priority. All necessary checks and certification is in place. Children live in a safe home.

p.8

good

A new manager has been appointed who has the necessary qualifications and experience. She is showing exceptional leadership and is driving a culture of high expectation. Ofsted is aware the previous management arrangements are no longer in place; this requires notification through the formal Ofsted process.

p.8

good

The needs of children are central to practice. They make good progress. The manager was easily able to describe and evidence how well the children are doing. Examples were learning how to swim, making a transition to secondary school, becoming less withdrawn, engaging in meaningful conversation and gaining confidence to access activities in the community. Staff speak in the most positive terms of the new manager. A member of staff said, ‘things have improved ten-fold, she pulls us all together, gives us direction. The staff are confident and happy.’ Another member of staff said, ‘she is brilliant. She is so supportive. She helps us to develop our careers.’ A new member of staff said, ‘she’s been so much help. I’ve not been thrown in at the deep end.’ Equally, the manager speaks highly of the support she receives from the wider senior management team within the organisation. This is a place where people are valued

p.8

good

and their contribution to the quality of care is recognised.

p.9

good

The manager ensures the aims in the Statement of Purpose are known to staff. The underlying therapeutic ethos of the home is delineated in supervision. Discussion is held with the supervisee how the therapeutic work is translated into day-to-day practice. The manager has a comprehensive development plan that includes more formal training in therapeutic child-care. The manager has scheduled other training, pertinent to the current needs of the children placed.

p.9

good

There is good monitoring by an independent visitor. A detailed report is provided to interested parties. The manager uses this and internal monitoring to drive forward improvement, for example how restraint records are documented and that staff follow best practice. Some reports lack a full evaluation, for example, the independent visitor’s report does not give a view as to whether physical intervention has been proportionate.

p.9

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.

p.10

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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12