Children's home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Stratford-on-Avon

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three young people have been admitted into the home and three young people have been discharged. One young person’s placement ended after only a short period as the registered manager felt that the home could no longer meet the needs of the young person. Because of this, the registered manager has reflected on how he assesses the suitability of new admissions. This includes applying greater scrutiny and consideration when matching new admissions to existing young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two complaints since the last inspection. Both complaints were handled efficiently. This has enabled young people to feel empowered. Young people report that they are happy at the house. One young person commented to the inspector that they wanted to stay for as long as possible because the staff were so nice. Young people feel able to confide and open up to staff because of their strong, trusting relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are intuitive, caring and therapeutic in their approach. One young person benefits from a bedtime routine each night. This is an opportunity for the young person to spend quality time with staff on a one-to-one basis before they go to sleep. The young person values this time, which is helping them to manage their emotions and to reduce the risks of self-harming.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In some instances, staff have shown an increased competence in managing safeguarding issues. This is particularly evident in their response to one young person’s self-harming behaviour. Staff are vigilant and use effective planning and a therapeutic approach to help reduce the severity and frequency of self-harming behaviours. Despite this, in other aspects staff are less proactive and this is particularly noticeable in respect of the staff team’s response to situations of conflict with young people, and the steps they take to reduce the likelihood of missing-from-care incidents. Staff have a reactionary approach, responding to each individual crisis, and therefore do not utilise opportunities to reflect and develop future practice to ensure that young people become increasingly safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff success in supporting young people to access education is variable. One young person accesses full-time education and is showing a positive attitude to learning. However, another young person has been reluctant to re-engage with education despite the proactive steps of staff. Notwithstanding this, there have been some early signs of success since the start of the new academic term and staff are working hard to maintain this progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager recognises that there are areas for ongoing development. This includes creating an environment that promotes creative thinking. Staff are encouraged within team meetings and supervision to come up with new ideas and different ways of working. As a result, staff are motivated, keen and enthusiastic.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the five requirements raised at the last inspection, the registered manager has successfully addressed three. This has seen improvements in how staff help young people to express their views and wishes, with adaptions made to the format of house meetings. There have also been improvements in how staff engage with partner agencies, in particular the police, child and adolescent mental health service and placing authorities. However, a few shortfalls remain, and while there is evidence of progress, not all young people are supported to overcome the barriers to accessing education, and risk is not consistently assessed and reviewed to ensure that strategies are in place, and are effective at keeping all young people safe.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and forms part of a large social care organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2015 Full Good 26/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, with particular reference to ensuring that all young people access full-time education, the registered person should ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (i) help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans. 28/02/2017

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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 that 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

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

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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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