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

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The three young women at this home continue to receive a good service from staff. Staff have sustained their effectiveness because there have been very few changes to the staff team, none to the management arrangements, and no changes have occurred to the resident group. This means there is the high level of stability needed to address the young people’s complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During 2016, the company amalgamated with another. Staff consider that senior managers organised the transition well. Benefits have included improvements to the grounds and agreement to improve the inside of the house. Work will start imminently and include an additional bedroom (subject to registration by Ofsted). The house is attractive, spacious, and has displays of young people’s achievements and activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people feel settled and safe. They have good relationships with the staff and gain in self-confidence. They know that staff take their views seriously and act on them whether it be about their treatment or the improvements to the home. Incidents, such as physical interventions, of going missing, and self-harming have fallen to very low levels. The police praised one young person’s progress saying ‘she seemed like a different child.’ Another young person became confident enough to attend a medical check-up. During this inspection, two young people played musical instruments for the inspector and one reported that she had performed solo at a Christmas concert.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Negative incidents decrease in intensity and frequency. Qualified therapists guide the staff who have received training to help them deal with the particular needs of the young people. They demonstrate this through thorough direct work with each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people require close supervision. The manager ensures that professionals agree how to address young people’s right to appropriate levels of freedom. In consultation with their social workers, she allows young people to take proportionate risks. For example, by having their own money or free time. She is instrumental in encouraging local authorities to take legal action when there appears to be a deprivation of a young people’s liberty. This takes skill and perseverance because social workers are often inexperienced in this area of practice. Social workers confirm that the team maintain close contact with them. One recently wrote, ‘I am really impressed with the level of care and support they offer my young person. She has made massive progress here. Staff get back to me immediately and ensure she is involved in many activities.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff give education a high priority and young people attend school regularly. Their progress is clear. Occasionally, young people engage in negative incidents at school. Staff discuss such incidents with them. Consequently, young people learn to recognise the signals and avoid engaging negatively with their peers. Staff encourage positive behaviour effectively. The young people find the wide-ranging activities at school and home stimulating. They all enjoy sports, performing, and horse riding. Some are confident enough to make plans for the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has high expectations of her staff. She has recently altered the senior team and the three senior staff are clear about their responsibilities. The team consists of qualified permanent members of staff and there is only one vacancy; agency staff worked at Christmas only. Monthly monitoring exercises have identified minor shortfalls in record keeping. This is not yet fully resolved, but the manager has improved how the senior team oversee it. The manager completes analyses of the service every six months and sends copies to Ofsted. These are satisfactory but include minimal evaluation. Similarly, the manager obtains feedback from social workers and other professionals but it is not always clear how these improve the service. This means that she is overlooking some of the opportunities to improve the service. At the last inspection, Ofsted raised concerns about staff temporarily withholding young people’s pocket money. An improved

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Information about this children's home

A large private company operates this three-bedded home for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/05/2016 Full Good 02/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 22/01/2015 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):  Make best use of information from internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24).

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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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