Children's home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Havant

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as Outstanding when last inspected and has continued to make improvements. This is particularly so in the area of ‘the impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers’, warranting the interim judgement of improved effectiveness. The requirement and recommendation imposed at the full inspection have been met. The managers’ vision for the home has been embraced by the staff and young people with an emphasis on continually improving practice and achievement. The manager is highly regarded by the young people and it was striking how the three at the home at the time of the inspection wanted to involve him in their day to day lives: one presenting him with art work from school, another asked if he would do an overnight shift and the third wanting him to see an exercise completed in a key work session. Team managers are also making a strong contribution to the well-being of the young people, their life experiences and to the effective management of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several examples of exceptionally good practice. A thorough safeguarding risk assessment for a caravan holiday was produced together with information about each child such as medical details and physical description ready should they become lost, for example. The folder meant that any member of staff on the holiday had ready access to clear and precise information for all foreseen eventualities. A programme of workshops has been developed and planned for the coming year. Some now incorporate tasks for key workers to undertake too. One session observed during the inspection was on putting together a CV. It served to make the young person aware of the skills and achievements she had accumulated that an employer would look favourably on. A resource pack has been put together to help staff and young people understand important days of celebration for different cultures. Creative approaches towards

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

this include internet searches and quizzes as well as trying traditional foods and reading about customs. This resourceful and imaginative practice is resulting in impressive progress by young people. This is demonstrated by the ‘Developmental Dimensions’ assessment tool used to score current performance across a range of indices. Comparisons between the first time it is conducted and the most recent shows how far an individual has come and where efforts need to be concentrated. All have achieved particular successes that illustrate the breadth of progress being attained. These include a young person making a successful transition to secondary school and being appointed hockey team captain, another winning a competition to join a multi-school trip to France; one young person has had a promotion in her part-time job and the fourth has joined a gym, significantly increasing the amount of exercise and socialisation she engages in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The culture of celebrating accomplishments includes adding them to the home’s achievement board and staff members coming on shift (every Friday) writing a postcard for each young person that notes a good point they have heard about them in handover. There are few instances of sanctions or restraints and no cases of young people going missing since the last inspection. Records for incidents that do occur are not always detailed enough for those not immediately involved to know exactly what has occurred. In addition, although they affirm regulation timescales are kept, records of staff de-briefs and discussions are undated. This means that it is not easy to scrutinise the fairness of measures taken or identify trends. Young people are ‘giving something back’; all having raised money for charities on a ‘fun run’ and putting shoe box parcels together to be sent to needy children abroad. One young person volunteers in a charity shop as part of her Duke of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Edinburgh award. Staff at the home work closely with other professionals and families to promote the welfare of young people. This extends to requesting outstanding relevant plans from schools or local authorities, however, these do not always get escalated when they are not forthcoming so some files were missing key documentation. One young person has recently decided to trial returning to her mother’s care now she is 16. Staff make daily visits to her to encourage her to keep up the routines established while with them, particularly attending college, and keeping the option for her to return in the short term. Young people are proud of the progress they make and know that staff share their sense of satisfaction.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children's home providing care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It was re-registered in 2014 because of a technical change to the Company’s House number. The service previously operated under URN SC470894 and this is a continuation of that provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should ensure that incidents of control and discipline are recorded with sufficient detail in order that they may be subject to scrutiny and dated to evidence when discussed with staff and the young person and when reviewed. (Guide to Children's Homes Regulations 9.36, page 46)  The registered person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement, in particular the timely production of relevant plans, including actions taken to escalate concerns. (Guide to Children's Homes Regulations 2.3, page 11)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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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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