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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced an unsettled period. There has been an increase in young people’s risky and challenging behaviour. This has included some young people going missing from care and damage to property. However, in the last six weeks the home has become more settled. Despite the unsettled period, young people have made gradual progress in respect of their educational, emotional and social development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s and the staff team’s understanding and analysis of the triggers to the unsettled period are limited. This has created a missed opportunity to fully reflect and to develop practice to better manage risk-taking behaviour. For example, staff do not consistently use risk assessments to analyse patterns in young people’s behaviour or identify what strategies are most effective in managing challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On the rare occasions that physical interventions have been necessary, the manager has missed the opportunity to review the record in a timely matter. This has hindered the manager in making sure that physical restraints are proportionate and appropriate and that lessons are learned from incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good examples of partnership working, including staff working with the police, schools, the clinical therapy team and some placing authorities. However, this is not consistent. For example, one professional commented that sometimes there are barriers to collaborative working and that communication is not always as effective as it could be. This has affected care planning for one young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to access full-time education even when they display a lack of motivation to attend. Some young people’s behaviour in school can result in exclusions which impact on the young person’s attendance. Staff work with the school to overcome the barriers to learning. This includes using behaviour reward charts to promote positive behaviour and engagement at school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people reported that they feel happy at the home, they said that staff listen to them and that they get on with the majority of the staff team. The registered manager’s strategies to address the three requirements identified at the full inspection have not been effective, with two shortfalls remaining. As such, staff continue to be inconsistent in how they assess and manage risk-taking behaviour. Furthermore, staff have not provided young people with the skills and knowledge required to reduce the likelihood of child sexual exploitation, in particular when using the internet.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two 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 25/10/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 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 that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. This is with specific reference to the review of risk assessments. The registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (i) that staff 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. 30/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with specific reference to online safety and exploitation, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (vi) that staff help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful. 30/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)). 30/03/2017

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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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