Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

Staff are sustaining an excellent standard of care for the five children. They apply rigorous attention to details and routines. As a result, children feel safe and progress substantially. This inspection identifies no breaches of regulations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in November 2016, no children have arrived or departed. However, one boy told the inspector, ‘You won’t see me again!’ He is preparing to move to foster care, which is very exciting for him and slightly unsettling for the others. The other children know that they will probably move to foster care when they are ready. This is a clear and helpful focus but it also creates some anxieties. To address the complex feelings, staff implement excellent transition plans, usually via the organisation’s own fostering agency. The boy who is leaving soon will retain his therapist, continue at the same school, and see the other residents regularly. Staff designed these arrangements to help him acclimatise to the change. The timescales are adapted to meet the needs of each child. Another boy has started to see a foster carer for several hours at a time so that he can get used to being with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

another family. He feels this imaginative programme is going well. He has great insight and said, ‘I want to go to foster care but I don’t want it to break down.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children experience a high level of consistency of carers. The level of personalised care is excellent even though a marginal increase in agency staff has been necessary. At busy times, children have one-to-one attention. Importantly, each member of staff is motivated and knowledgeable. They advocate strongly for the children with other professionals and continually implement therapeutic methodology. This means that, despite their diverse and complicated needs, children experience a calm and supportive environment where the adults keep them safe. One boy said, ‘It’s nice here and the staff are the best!’ A social worker recently wrote, ‘I’m pleased with the placement. Staff offer consistency and a structured routine, which [my child] responds well to. Staff reply promptly to my emails and send me a weekly update.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff fully understand the risks to each child and, consequently, dangerous situations rarely occur. Negative incidents decline markedly over time. Staff successfully use positive strategies. They avoid using physical interventions to manage children’s behaviour and for the vast majority of children they are rarely required. Children fully engage in learning to manage their emotions. They progressively shorten the time it takes themselves to recover from setbacks. This is important progress towards their goals of returning to family life. The children enjoy being close to staff and being cuddled. Staff regularly reassess children’s individual situations, including those of their families, where necessary. Staff seek and use expert advice. For one child, they obtained additional information and training about his particular culture. This resulted in important fine-tuning of the risk assessments and placement planning for that child. Staff explain these issues

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to the children and use child-friendly documents. The manager is keen to use new initiatives in the service. As part of her management-training course, the manager has arranged for the police to undertake a series of sessions with the children to help them stay safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The company recently integrated the paddock into the garden to give children a very large uninterrupted outdoor space. Football is a favourite pastime. Staff usually find at least one special activity for each child, such as a club of some sort. Each child routinely enjoys trips, sports, cinema and seasonal events, such as the well-planned Halloween party. They are starting to think about the summer holidays.

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Information about this children's home

A large national provider operates this home. Ofsted has registered the service for five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Outstanding 26/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

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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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