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

This service is sustaining a good standard of care. Outcomes for a large majority of young people are positive. The manager has taken important lessons from difficulties presented by some young people. These are framing his approach to the admission processes. Since the last inspection, the service has increased in size by one bed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy living in the home. Several young people who now live elsewhere keep in touch with members of staff and express positive feelings about the home. One had been with the company for four years. Most young people have experienced smooth and constructive moves to their new homes. Staff endeavour to keep young people gainfully occupied and young people pursue healthy hobbies, such as ice hockey and football. This is successful more often than not. However, during some periods since the last inspection, the group dynamics have compromised the staff team’s control. After close liaison with police and social workers, this resulted in early departures for two young people. The manager has taken important and clear lessons from these events. In particular, attention is required to ensure that all new young people are suitably matched to the group, especially when they arrive at very short notice. Another new young person was

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

outside the age range permitted by the statement of purpose. This represented a lack of understanding of the statement of purpose by the company and the placing authority. However, he is a good match with the other young people in placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from a relatively stable staff team. Apart from as a result of sickness, and the associated use of bank and agency staff, young people see the same carers regularly. Young people develop positive relationships and the atmosphere in the home is warm and appropriate. Agency staff have occasionally outnumbered permanent staff. The manager and responsible individual are aware of this shortfall and contribute to the current internal review of staffing arrangements. The manager has recently improved the staffing arrangements to ensure that each shift has a balance of genders and experience. Consequently, young people experience greater consistency of care. Staff undertake meaningful work with each young person on ad hoc and planned bases. Young people’s liveliness reflects the natural exuberance of four teenage boys. A social worker recently gave her particularly valuable first impressions, which were positive. She

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

thought the home was ‘lovely’ and the staff were ‘very friendly’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following discussions during the last inspection, staff pay much attention to the therapeutic approach of the service. This keeps staff members focused on understanding young people’s behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff arrange good packages of education for each young person and adapt them promptly if difficulties arise. Most young people attend the company school, but older young people attend colleges. Young people’s success fluctuates. One young man is particularly interested in sports and undertakes associated voluntary work. To his credit, this led to job opportunities. Staff facilitate increases in young people’s independence well. The urban location of the property is suited to this task. For example, one young person who recently arrived from a rural location is using public transport independently for the first time and bicycling to appointments. This has increased his self-confidence and access to social opportunities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recently, the company made several major changes to the property. The new bedroom is complete and furnished to a high standard. Its two windows provide lovely views of the nearby countryside. Downstairs, a large impersonal playroom is now a comfortable lounge. This means that young people have ample space to undertake separate activities. One young man has the benefit of an attached flat, complete with kitchenette and shower room. However, some parts of young people’s bedrooms are not clean enough. This detracts from the effective work that members of staff have completed in helping young people to value their bedrooms.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have set minor fires off site. The staff undertake regular checks of fire safety arrangements in the home. These include regular fire drills, which aim to educate staff and young people. However, these have lapsed into a predictable routine that does not prepare staff for emergencies, especially if one were to occur at night. The security of the office has improved. The last inspection raised concerns about young people’s access to the office and to private belongings, keys and confidential information. This has now ceased.

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Information about this children’s home

A large company operates this home for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/08/2016 Full Good 10/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/09/2015 Full Good 20/01/2015 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirements Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirements Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must–

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Requirements Due date

(2)(b)(1) ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose. This is with regard to admitting only children who are within the stated age range. 10/04/2017

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Requirements Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirements Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered provider must ensure that staff–

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Requirements Due date

(2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. This is with regard to keeping children’s bedrooms sufficiently clean. 10/04/2017

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Requirements Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered provider must ensure–

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Requirements Due date

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. 10/04/2017

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Requirements Due date

Ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 10/04/2017

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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 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 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, 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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