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

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help protection and care.

p.2

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The young people enjoy living in the home because of their excellent relationships with each other and the staff.  The young people make real progress due to excellent planning and good understanding of their goals  The wishes and feelings of the young people are incorporated in all aspects of their care and obtained often.  Young people have excellent relationship with the supportive and caring staff; they develop trust.  There are no complaints made by young people, they understand their rights and know how to complain if needed.  Heath needs of the young people are met in accordance with their health plans; they receive excellent therapeutic support to address their emotional needs.  Education achievement is encouraged by the staff and the young people have exceptional attendance whilst reaching certain milestones.  The group and individual activities undertaken by the young people are varied

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

and extremely popular, promoting their self-confidence, and peer interaction.  The young people feel safe and substantial efforts are undertaken by the staff to keep them protected.  Effective behaviour management by the staff assist in keeping the young people safe while understanding and improving their behaviours.  The home has exceptional leadership and management that supports the staff and their care of the young people.  Monitoring of the home is extensive and guides the development of the service.  Excellent professional links have been established with education, the police and the local authority.  All requirements and recommendations have been met and those made during this inspection did not have a direct impact on the young people.

p.3

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risk to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 42 paragraph 9.5 )

p.4

Recommendations

 All children’s case records must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, page 62 paragraph 14.3 )

p.4

Information about this children's home

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

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

p.5

outstanding

Upon entering the home, it is apparent the young people are having an exceptional experience whilst making progress towards their individual goals. They speak very highly of feeling safe, their relationships with the staff, and the other young people along with the services that are available to them. The young people use extremely positive words to describe living in the home; such as ‘amazing’, ‘awesome’ and ‘incredible’ that validate their experience.

p.6

outstanding

Care planning for the young people is individualised and detailed with their views being at the core of all work undertaken. They have a good understanding of what their goals are and how to achieve them. The young people expressed that the staff routinely obtain their views and have formal and informal discussions with them about their care. This allows them to be optimistic whilst feeling actively in control of their own lives and not dictated to. Their achievements are celebrated and documented accordingly in the form of life story work detailing their overall time in the home.

p.6

outstanding

The staff were observed to have a natural and caring relationship with the young people that provides a family atmosphere. They role model appropriate, interactions with each other thus teaching the young people the importance of relationships. Their straightforward relationships with the young people have contributed significantly to them being settled in the home. The young people describe the staff as open and honest, whilst identifying them as the main factor that makes their time in the home enjoyable.

p.6

outstanding

The young people were consistent in the view that they feel listened to and appreciate their views are incorporated into the functioning of the home. For example, they felt that all sanctions imposed by the staff were fair because they contributed towards them. The young people understand the process for making a complaint but have not made any, which indicates how happy they are.

p.6

outstanding

The health needs of the young people are a top priority. Many have experienced improved health with the support of the staff team. The staff routinely schedule and attend all their health related appointments. The young people are taught the importance of maintaining a healthy diet by actively contributing towards the menu of the home and limiting their intake of sugar and processed foods. The non- smoking policy of the home is a useful deterrent for the young people and contributes towards them leading a healthy lifestyle. The young people understand the importance of education as indicated by their attendance and achievements. Those that attend the educational provision attached to the home have excellent attendance whilst some have successfully transitioned to mainstream school, college and university. The effective working relationship established with all education professionals has resulted in good

p.6

outstanding

outcomes for young people. A professional for a local school said, ‘The staff are very caring and considerate. They email daily along with actions, they are doing a wonderful job.’

p.7

outstanding

The young people receive exceptional first-rate support from the staff when they transition to mainstream schools. The staff attend professionals meetings and assist in the development of the young person’s educational plan. When young people find the transition to mainstream school difficult, they are able to transfer back to the organisation’s school. When this occurs, young people understand and agree with the decision due to it being well planned and in their best interest.

p.7

outstanding

The young people receive and engage in purposeful therapeutic support to assist with their emotional development. Therapy sessions are held privately in the home allowing the young people to meet in a familiar setting, prompting good engagement. Some of the young people consider therapy as another outlet to be heard and understood.

p.7

outstanding

The wide range of activities undertaken by the young people is having a positive impact on their lives. They routinely engage in activities that are catered to their individual interest such as horse riding, singing lessons, performance arts, to name a few. These activities assist in the development of their self-confidence and establishing age-appropriate relationships outside the home. The group activities undertaken by the young people is key to the very positive relationships they have between them. For example, the young people and some staff attended a team building / obstacle course rather than celebrate Halloween the traditional way.

p.7

outstanding

When young people reside a considerable distance from home, the relationships they had with significant people in their lives is not impacted. They maintain their cultural and identity connections with family and are able to build upon these pre- existing relationships due to the support they receive from the staff. The young people discuss with the staff how they feel prior to and upon returning from contact providing the best opportunity for them to maintain appropriate contact. Judgement grade

p.7

outstanding

The staff use their positive relationships and valuable insight into the behaviours of the young people to ensure that they continuously feel safe and are well protected. Young people said they felt safe and are taught by the staff to keep themselves safe. The staff are aware of potential safeguarding risk such as child sexual exploitation, missing from care and radicalisation, and have passed their knowledge on to the young people.

p.8

outstanding

Records and the young people indicated that the staff use physical intervention as a last resort to keep them safe. All incidents were well documented and reviewed by management. The staff receive quality training in behaviour management and treat the young people with respect. They help them to understand their triggers for inappropriate behaviours, preventing escalation. A young person discussed their most recent physical intervention. The young person said, ‘The staff are so calm all the time that I wanted to get a rise out of one of them. I was pretty out of control so they had no choice but to place me in a hold. They helped me understand I just wanted to be comforted by acting out.’

p.8

outstanding

The staff effectively follow the policies and procedures when issues of safeguarding arise. Incidents are reported to the local authority designated officer for advice and guidance immediately. Whilst incidents are being investigated, there is a high level of cooperation with professionals and risk assessments are updated. This practice keeps young people feels safe and they are encouraged to discuss the concerns that bring about positive outcomes.

p.8

outstanding

Missing from care is not a chronic problem for the young people in the home although some incidents have occurred. There is a robust response when young people go missing from the home. The manager has recently recruited a professional with an extensive knowledge in safeguarding to undertake return home interviews for young people when they go missing in absence of the social worker.

p.8

outstanding

It was evidenced that the staff have very good relationship with the police and report all incidents in a timely manner. The local community officer regularly stops by the home and meets with the young people, specifically when they are new to the home, which allows any bad experience or perception they may have about the police to be dispelled.

p.8

outstanding

The police have recently administered training in child sexual exploitation and internet safety to the young people and report that they really paid attention and asked appropriate questions. The community officer said, ‘I have established relationships with the young people where they know I am a resource for them and they can get the right advice from me.’ It was evidenced that the staff have good relationship with the police, and report incidents in a timely manner.

p.8

outstanding

Safe and appropriate adults care for the young people. Several new members of staff with excellent skills working and understanding the needs of young people were recently hired. Their appointment to the home was undertaken using safe recruitment practises consisting of verifying references, and double-checking their backgrounds had no concerning information.

p.9

outstanding

The serene atmosphere of the home adds to the safety and security of the young people. The home is maintained to a high standard, the rooms of the young people are decorated to their liking providing a private sanctuary. They take pride in the home and the efforts of the staff to keep the environment risk free. Health and safety checks are completed within acceptable intervals. Fire safety and other household checks are conducted at frequent intervals.

p.9

outstanding

The leadership and management is an exceptional attribute of the home. The registered manager is qualified with 18 years of experience with the organisation. He has been in his current position for quite some time and is supported by a passionate team manager. They are confident in making day-to-day decisions about the care for the young people whilst being compassionate and committed, passing it onto the entire staff.

p.9

outstanding

The needs of the young people are high priority of the management team, they provide extensive management overview of the care young people receive They listen to their views and incorporate them into the home. A very good example is how the young people views were the deciding factor regarding a proposed change in the shift pattern for staff evidencing that management really do listen to the young people.

p.9

outstanding

The management are quick to challenge any decisions the local authority may make on the behalf of the young people that may not be in their best interest. They not only challenge, but alternative solutions are offered that the young person supports, prompting changes in their behaviour and attitude.

p.9

outstanding

There are continuous efforts by management to ensure that young people receive the best care possible. Extensive monitoring occurs in the form of the independent visitor’s monthly reports and the managements’ annual reports. The strengths and areas of improvement are identified from this process and conveniently inform the development plan of the home. The management is currently in the early stages of extending the capacity of the home by adding an annex.

p.9

outstanding

The recent changes in regulations and introduction of standards are outlined in the statement of purpose. It clearly lays out the services and support available to young people, polices and information on the staff and their experience. The children’s guide is supplied to all the young people and provides them with information about their rights and responsibilities.

p.10

outstanding

The majority of the staff have been in post for several years. They are very committed and consistent in their approach towards the young people. They willingly support each other and mentor newly hired to staff to establish a strong team around the young people. All staff spoken to during the inspection had a positive view of the support they receive and opportunities for development. The young people benefit from the consistency and stability.

p.10

outstanding

Professionals have positive comments regarding the links that have been established with the home. The staff are praised for their ability to communicate effectively on behalf of the young people. The relationships established with professionals allows the young people to receive support in number aspects outside the home.

p.10

outstanding

Two recommendations are made that do not have a direct impact on the young people: one regarding to risk assessments not being in place for all young people when a potential risk for them was identified; the other to ensure that all documentation for the young people is signed and dated. The management agreed with the recommendations and believe that it will improve the service to young people.

p.10

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.11

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.11

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.11

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.12

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.12

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.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13

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.13

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.13