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:

 The Registered Manager is proving to be an efficient leader who deploys staff effectively to meet the needs of the young people.  There is good interagency working to secure positive outcomes.  Young people enjoy a range of meaningful and stimulating activities in the local community.  Staff work closely and collaboratively with other professionals to keep young people as safe as possible.  Young people can talk to adults who take their concerns seriously.  Behaviour management is good. Physical interventions are proportionate and appropriate.  Young people build trusting and positive relationships with staff. They make good progress, such as in their social presentation.  Young people are in good health and have easy access to all the health professionals they need.  Young people are at the centre of practice. Bespoke arrangements are made in accordance with their level of independence and maturity. They are

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

Ensure, within 24 hours of the use of a measure of restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure 31/03/2016 and details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v))

p.3

Requirement Due date

Ensure that each individual employed at the children's home is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform and that a full employment history is provided. (Regulation 32 (3)(c)(d)) 31/03/2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

Review the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, absent, especially at shift handovers. (Regulation 34 (4)(b)) 31/03/2016

p.4

Information about this children's home

This privately owned children's home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is registered for both sexes. Currently only boys are accommodated. It is one of three homes in the local area, owned by the same organisation.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

24/08/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

good

Young people build trusting and positive relationships with staff. They are able to have a dialogue about anything that concerns them and have no cause to complain. They make good progress, for example being able to talk freely to staff from a starting position of being extremely shy and not able to engage in a conversation. They are polite and courteous in wider society. A placing social worker said, ‘He (young person) has made huge leaps in his social presentation.’ A professional report stated, ‘There is a dramatic improvement and development in social and verbal development and in handling his (young persons) experience of trauma.’ Young people are able to engage with other professionals, such as a personal adviser, as they consider their futures.

p.6

good

Young people have great support towards independence. They are able to use the self-contained flat on site to test their readiness for independent living. Staff support, guide and encourage daily living skills such as cooking, budgeting, communication and taking the first steps towards gaining a driving licence. Young people build confidence in their abilities, such as in swimming after participating in private lessons.

p.6

good

Young people are in good health. The Registered Manager chases key reports, such as looked after child health care plans. Staff have the necessary information to ensure young people’s ongoing well-being, such as being up-to-date with vaccinations and obtaining a prescription for spectacles. Staff work well with other professionals, such as child and adolescent mental health services, for further assessment and analysis of complex needs. They agree key strategies with placing social workers to keep young people safe during this period. Staff treat young people with dignity and respect as they seek to understand their underlying conditions.

p.6

good

Young people are at the centre of practice. Staff arrange the routine of the home in accordance with their level of independence and maturity. They treat them as young adults. Young people are able to have their personal space. They enjoy contact with those who are important to them face-to-face, over the telephone or internet. Staff provide a strong base of emotional support when young people experience a significant event, such as a bereavement.

p.6

good

The vast majority of young people engage with their education. Attendance is generally good. Staff understand the underlying emotional reasons when young people have difficulty attending school. They ensure they provide additional support. Young people’s school attendance improves or staff arrange for their education in the home. There is good progress, such as young people learning how to read. Some young people refuse any kind of education. A professional said, ‘Throughout this difficult period staff have continued to provide good support and care and continued to encourage him to engage with education.’

p.6

requires improvement

Young people live in a safe environment where their needs, some complex, are well understood and managed by staff. Staff protect them as much as possible from bullying, exploitation or risks to themselves. Staff work in close collaboration with others, such as the police and sexual health specialists, to keep young people as safe as possible. Staff put into place clear plans to reduce risk. They follow the agreed strategies diligently.

p.7

requires improvement

Staff work closely with others in the event a young person is missing from the home. This includes discussing any changing patterns of behaviour with relevant professionals. Staff phone, text and actively look for young people in the event of a missing person episode, in accordance with written procedure. The responsibilities to track young people who are missing at key parts of the day, such as handover, are unclear and there is an over-reliance on other agencies at these times. However, the number of missing person incidents is diminishing.

p.7

requires improvement

Staff take the views wishes and feelings of young people very seriously. Young people are able to voice their wishes and concerns in an open, friendly manner. They do not need to access the formal complaints system. Staff provide a written response, such as in a ‘you said, we did’ book. Outcomes are constructive, such as the provision of better wi-fi, a garden shelter and a gaming console. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms according to their interest and particular need.

p.7

requires improvement

Staff consult young people on what rewards they would like to have for positive behaviour. They have recently agreed these. Staff have yet to determine the effectiveness of the reward system. Behaviour specialists train staff in the home’s behaviour management program. Staff demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the issues around any physical intervention, in particular the necessity to use de- escalation strategies first. Records do not always explicitly describe the de- escalation techniques used prior to physical intervention or the specific behaviour leading up to the incident. The Registered Manager has agreed a protocol with local police for their involvement. Some young people have received youth offending team orders due to serious assaults on staff or damage to property. The Registered Manager ensures that new staff are subject to a disclosure and barring service check as well as checking references. Safer recruitment practice

p.7

requires improvement

needs improving as the physical and mental health of new staff are not routinely checked nor, in one case, the full education/employment history.

p.8

requires improvement

Staff receive appropriate training in safeguarding practice. They are well versed in the correct procedures to follow in the event of any concern. There is good interagency working.

p.8

requires improvement

Staff keep young people safe in the cyber world. Young people trust staff to show them any images or ‘pop-ups’ that concern them. Staff take swift and robust action, in consultation with other professionals such as the police, to keep young people safe. Strategies to reduce risk are reviewed. Staff are diligent at following risk assessments consistently.

p.8

good

The manager has registered with Ofsted. She is efficient in the day-to-day running of the home. There is good monitoring by herself and an independent visitor. She has good vision for the future direction and has in place a comprehensive development plan. She keeps the Statement of Purpose under review. She makes notifications of significant incidents to the relevant authorities. She ensures that there is proper staffing and these are deployed to meet the individual needs of the young people. A member of staff said, ‘The manager is very good, approachable and understanding. She is a strong leader when she needs to be.’

p.8

good

Effective and regular supervision provides a supportive framework and professional challenge. The Registered Manager identifies staff training needs. She ensures that suitable courses are arranged, such as training in extremism and radicalisation. A member of staff said, ‘The induction has been brilliant and there is a continuous flow of training.’

p.8

good

Key staff ensure care plans are very detailed. They work with other professionals to ensure there are clear objectives and to secure positive outcomes. Individual placement plans give a good account of each young person’s needs. Young people participate in their care planning and attend reviews in person.

p.8

good

Young people enjoy a range of meaningful and stimulating activities in the local community. The Registered Manager ensures their voice is heard so young people can choose what activity they want to do. Young people have been able to participate in a range of sports such as swimming, snowboarding and go-karting. They gain nationally recognised certificates to show their progress. Young people enjoy a range of other activities, such as cycling, ‘air hop’ and a community fun run.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager actively drives the longer-term plans for young people; in particular the use of the independent flat to test readiness for independence. Young people have the opportunity to try out their daily living skills, with staff nearby to provide support if necessary. The manager ensures the pathway plans in place are kept under review. She ensure that young people know their right to a personal advisor. Young people take up this entitlement.

p.9

good

A particular strength is interagency working. The Registered Manager has formed good professional relationships with others including placing social workers, independent review officers, and health and education professionals. Young people have clear placement planning and assessment of risk, agreed with all the relevant professionals in their lives. A placing social worker said, ‘(name of child) is being taken good care of. I have no concerns. They communicate well and tell me of any incidents. This is a complex child who is undergoing a number of assessments to fully establish his needs.’

p.9

good

Staff work particularly well together as a team. Morale is high. There is good communication using a variety of methods. Important information is not missed.

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.9

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.9

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