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

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . The manager began to work at the home in September 2015 and overlapped with the outgoing manager. This provided a good transition for everyone at the home and her registration with Ofsted is now complete. This initial period led to some administerial shortfalls, which the manager has now resolved. The monthly independent monitoring visits as well as a recent inspection by a local authority verified this progress. The new manager has also made improvements to several documents to help the home run more smoothly. For example, regarding the steps to introduce new residents to the home. Staff and young people feel supported and the home has a pleasant atmosphere. They recently celebrated Easter and

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

enjoyed Easter eggs from a neighbour. As a result of the last inspection, young people’s behaviour management plans are now more streamlined. This means that staff and young people understand the plans and young people willingly sign them. The manager has reviewed shift handover meetings to ensure that they are sufficiently effective in transferring information between staff, such as changes in behaviour management strategies. The last inspection also required closer attention to the description of children’s rights. This is now clearly addressed in the statement of purpose. Another substantial piece of work that has occurred recently is the roll out of an electronic recording system. This is an important step forward and addresses the shortfalls identified at the last inspection regarding the storage of data. The team addresses the complex needs of young people well, even when there are substantial challenges. They engage proactively with professional partners to

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

devise appropriate plans. For one young person, this ultimately meant transferring to a more suitable home within the company, which could offer better support with her independence training. This met her wishes and needs and she remained positive about the home. Another young person has successfully completed what his social worker called a ‘robust introduction’ to a foster placement. The social worker also said that the staff were very helpful and met all the young person’s needs for reassurance and support. In both cases, staff also provided direct help in the new placements after the young people had moved there. This is an important contribution towards helping young people settle into their new homes. Young people make clear progress overall, given their starting points. They re- engage in education and the older ones set their sights on careers. Some pursue their hobbies independently, for example one young person plays competitive ice

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

hockey and another young person enjoys cycling. Staff notice young people’s emotional progress too, including their improved ability to deal with setbacks. Young people’s progress are shown through pictorial records, which are a succinct way of demonstrating changes. Recently, the property has been attractively adapted and improved both inside and outside. This involved increasing the maximum occupancy to four young people and relocating the office to a more suitable position downstairs. The new manager has now assessed the team and some adjustments have occurred. Staff training is ongoing, including the attainment of diplomas, and there is an improved focus on developing staff so that they are able to take on senior positions in the future. Staff feel encouraged by this process, which benefits young people by improving the retention and competence of staff. The young people also benefit from a low level of staff sickness and the manager identifies and addresses

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

any shortfalls in performance. The one-to-one supervision meetings with staff are up to date. However, staff (and the manager) do not routinely receive the minutes of such meetings as required. This detracts from the importance of these meetings and their role in monitoring and developing the skills of members of staff. Staff address the safety of young people well and written risk assessments clearly identify and assess their individual needs. A potential risk is that staff do not always lock the key safe. This compromises the security of prescribed drugs, vehicles and cash.

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Information about this children's home

Ofsted has registered this home to accept up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is part of a large organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/11/2015 CH – Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2015 CH – Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

31/03/2014 CH – Interim Satisfactory progress

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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

12: The protection of children standard 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)(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. This is with regard to the key safe remaining locked. 30/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Keep a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions and ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations’, page 61, paragraph 13.4).

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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

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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