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

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are not safe living in this home. Risk assessments are poor. For example, a young person at risk of child sexual exploitation does not have a risk assessment about this. There has been an increase in the number of times this young person goes missing and staff are struggling to manage the young person’s escalating behaviours safely. As a result, young people continue to put themselves at risk and staff have no effective preventative strategies to reduce the likelihood of this happening. Consequently, the home’s day-to-day care is not delivered effectively and therefore does not protect young people from harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical interventions do not promote young people’s emotional well-being. Young people do not have the opportunity to provide their views regarding the physical intervention. Consequently, there is a failure to review any of the risk management strategies or to learn new ways of managing difficult situations. Staff do not manage challenging behaviours well. Clear and consistent boundaries are not used routinely with young people. Poor staff supervision of young people results in one young person continuing to go missing. This is despite the fact that two members of staff are assigned to support the young person at all times. After episodes of going missing, young people do not receive return interviews by someone independent from the home. Consequently, opportunities for staff to learn from these incidents is minimal. The responsible person does not take effective action to escalate concerns about going missing behaviours appropriately with the placing

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

authority. Furthermore, staff do not understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting young people in their care. As a result, young people are at risk of further harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The standard of presentation of the property is poor in some areas. Young people’s bedrooms are dirty and untidy; for example, food on the floor, and rotten fruit in a bedside drawer. One young person had a black bin liner in the wardrobe full of rubbish that smelled. Young people’s en-suite bathrooms were also poorly maintained; one bathroom smelled of damp, and both en suites are unhygienic. Young people do not benefit from a warm, nurturing environment that provides them with a sense of being valued. Staff do not take into account young people’s histories of neglect and they do not provide them with a well-maintained home that they deserve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not enjoy positive relationships with each other. Poor dynamics between the young people mean they have to spend large parts of time apart. As a result, young people do not reach their full potential and do not feel comfortable in their home. Managers and staff do not create a culture where young people’s safety in the home is a priority. Staff do not record all visitors. For example, the responsible individual visited the home to talk with a young person. There is no evidence of the responsible individual being at the home, nor of any recorded conversations with the young person. As a result, staff are unable to monitor who visits the home. This potentially compromises young people’s welfare and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible person has not made sure that the home is working in accordance with the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. Management oversight of this home is poor and ineffective. As a result, the registered person has failed to promote the welfare and safety of young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home may provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/07/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/09/2015 Full Good 20/03/2015 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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure that children’s needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust

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Requirement Due date

(c) positive responses to other children and adults. 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans*

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Requirement Due date

(v) staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person

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Requirement Due date

(vi) staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare 12/05/2017 (b) the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm

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Requirement Due date

(d) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.*

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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:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(b) enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that promotes children’s welfare

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose

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Requirement Due date

(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within five days of the use a measure of control, discipline or restraint, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)(b)) 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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

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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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