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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, changes to the team and the difficult behaviour of some young people have challenged the service. The manager has ensured that staff maintain their focus on young people’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff liaise well with other agencies. A social worker said during the inspection that he ‘couldn’t fault’ them. The manager ensures that staff maintain a strong therapeutic approach. This means that they work as part of a larger team of professionals to identify and address each young person’s underlying difficulties. Young people are educated in ways that meet their needs. Recently, some young people have found school particularly difficult and their education package has been adjusted to accommodate their needs. Some young people have undertaken animal welfare and other specialised courses that were of particular interest.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a wide range of activities, including attending local groups, such as scouts, and going on trips.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of young people are older teenagers. Therefore, they have undertaken independence training in the home. However, the manager acknowledges that the rural position of the property does not facilitate this function, which is now under review.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The resident group has changed since the last inspection. This resulted in some periods of unsettled behaviour and some young people have been violent towards staff. The manager has liaised well with the police so that young people receive as much support as possible. The manager omitted to notify Ofsted about a small number of serious incidents, which reduced the ability of the regulator to monitor the service. Staff frequently de-escalate incidents successfully but use physical interventions to ensure the young person’s safety. Some agency staff have not completed the relevant training in holding young people, which compromises their effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The vast majority of new young people experience a planned admission from other homes in the company. However, these positive starts have not always been sufficient to ensure ongoing success. For behavioural reasons, some young people have subsequently moved to settings that are more specialised. Another young person has successfully returned to his family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people need two staff at a time. In addition, sickness, pregnancy, promotion, and suspensions have disrupted the team. Consequently, the company engages agency staff who occasionally outnumber the permanent staff. This means that, although the manager endeavours to minimise the number of different agency staff, a higher number of unfamiliar carers than is desirable looks after the young people. This puts pressure on the relationships between young people and staff. It also means there is less expertise available to undertake administration tasks in the home. The manager and other permanent staff work extra hours to reduce the impact. The company has acknowledged that it has insufficient staffing capacity to prevent these predictable difficulties. Consequently, senior managers are undertaking a wholesale review of staff recruitment and retention.

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Information about this children’s home

A large national company operates this home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/07/2016 Full Good 03/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/08/2015 Full Requires improvement 19/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 24/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

Notify HMCI without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 27/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Implement a workforce plan, which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of Regulation 16, Schedule 1. (paragraphs 19 and 20) The plan should: – detail the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of Purpose. This is with regard to the training in behaviour management of agency staff. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that no more than half the staff on duty at any one time, by day or night at the home are from an external agency. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.17)

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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 whom 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 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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