Children's home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Havant

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This is a home that consistently provides a high quality of care to young people. Thorough assessments are undertaken prior to a move being agreed, and this ensures that appropriate offers are made. Good arrangements for introducing young people to the home, staff and other young people ensure that young people settle well. Young people are nurtured and cared for as individuals and quickly develop a strong sense of belonging. A social worker said of a child she works with, ‘He is in a far better place.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people’s relationships with staff and each other are excellent. A social worker described how the older boys act as mentors for the young person she works with. She also praised how the young person is becoming more mature in his relationships with his family.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff develop an excellent understanding and knowledge about each young person’s needs and know how to minimise the risks to them. Direct work with young people supports their development in all areas of their lives. For example, a young person described how his work with a therapist, ‘Helps me to think about things and deal with them better’. Young people develop confidence in their skills, and this improves their self-esteem and emotional well-being. As their emotional well-being improves, they are more able to manage their behaviour appropriately and effectively. Clear and consistent boundaries and an incentive scheme support young people to make changes.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people thrive in their education. They develop high aspirations and follow these through. They speak with confidence and hope for their futures. One young person said, ‘You have to take up the help and then you do well.’ The young people spoke about how they enjoy the many activities available to them. For example, during the inspection some of the young people went on a four-hour bike ride with a member of staff, returning exhausted but content.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The frequency of the use of physical intervention is low. Staff are trained in de- escalation techniques and these are generally successful. When a young person has been held by staff, they have an opportunity to discuss the events with a member of staff. However, sometimes this is a staff member who has been involved in the incident, which does not give the young people the opportunity to talk to an independent person.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people know that staff are committed to helping them grow and develop, and they trust staff and confide in them when something is worrying them. A young person said, ‘Staff will do anything for you to make life easier.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Safeguarding issues are dealt with appropriately. Notifications are made to all relevant people. The manager and staff work in partnership with professionals to ensure that young people are kept safe and their well-being is promoted. However, there is central system of recording safeguarding incidents, and this makes it difficult for managers to monitor and audit the actions taken and the outcomes.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

There are few incidents of young people going missing from the home. When young people do go missing, staff act promptly in conjunction with the police and other relevant agencies to ensure their safe return. Staff work with them to help them understand the dangers posed to them when they are missing.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people who leave the home maintain their strong sense of belonging and keep in contact with staff. Staff offer them advice and support when needed.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The aims and objectives of the children’s home are clearly set out in a statement of purpose and these are met to a high standard. Some shortfalls in this document, that had no direct impact on the young people or the operation of the home, were found and addressed during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Effective monitoring systems ensure that areas for development are identified, and these are addressed promptly. The manager has met the recommendations made at the last inspection and, as a result, alarms on young people’s bedroom doors are only used when it has been assessed as necessary to safeguard young people. Staff are now receiving supervision at the stated frequency. However, some staff supervision sessions have been too short in duration to ensure staff and the supervisor have had sufficient time to reflect on practice and the needs of the young people. Actions set during a supervision session are not always followed up during the next meeting.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager and staff maintain strong working relationships with other professionals and agencies to ensure that young people’s life chances are enhanced, and as a result young people make excellent progress overall.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home. It provides care for up to eight young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The organisation also runs a registered school that young people living in the home can attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/08/2016 Full Outstanding 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/07/2015 Full Outstanding 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 The home’s record of the significant event must include a description of the action taken and the outcome of any resulting investigation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.14) This is with specific reference to ensuring records of safeguarding issues are easily accessible for auditing purposes.  Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60) This is with specific reference to providing the young person with the opportunity to discuss the incident with an adult who was not involved in the incident.

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) This is with specific reference to ensuring staff are provided with sufficient time to discuss and explore fully any issues they choose to raise.  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  Homes are required to develop and keep under review a ‘statement of purpose’ (Regulation 16 and Schedule 1). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) This is with specific reference to ensuring that any review of the statement of purpose includes checking it remains compliant with Schedule 1.

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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

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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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