Children's home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Stratford-on-Avon

Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 1 SC461275 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and forms part of a large social care organisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The new registered manager has energised and inspired his staff team.  Managers and staff have high aspirations for young people.  Staff understand the individual needs of young people well.  Staff provide personalised care and support young people to make progress.  Young people have a voice and staff empower young people to share their views and wishes.  Young people receive support and develop the skills they need to keep themselves safe.  Staff provide young people with help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings appropriately.  A stable staff team provides young people with consistency and stability.  Staff develop effective working relationships with relevant partner agencies including the police, school and local authorities.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not review the use of bedroom door alarms to ensure that they meet the needs of young people.  Case records do not clearly reflect young people’s day-to-day lives.  Staff do not support young people to access their case records and contribute to them.  The quality of some restraint records does not allow the manager to identify patterns and trends easily.  Young people’s risk assessments vary in quality.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected; any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 15/09/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Case records must be kept up to date. Information about the child should always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Ensure that children are actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)  Ensure that records of restraint are kept and enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge.

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Recommendations

The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59) In particular, ensure that records specify what techniques are used and the duration of each restraint.  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risk to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) In particular, that risk assessments consistently contain clear guidance to staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff plan well for children moving into and on from the home. Staff understand the individual needs of young people well and young people receive good support to help them with their transition. A social worker told the inspector, ‘They did work really hard to make the transition smooth; she came to visit the home and met the staff, and they really did put her at the centre of the planning. They really understood her wishes and feelings.’ Because staff work hard to reassure them, young people who are new to the home settle quickly. They make the young people feel welcome from the very first moment they visit the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress in different aspects of their development. For example, thoughtful staff have made bath time for one young person a special part of the day. The staff have purchased a waterproof radio. They also ensure that the young person has an array of bath bombs and cosmetics to use. As a result, the young person enjoys a relaxing and therapeutic night-time routine. This routine has also helped the young person to develop their personal hygiene skills. A social worker commented, ‘The help and support [the staff] give her is personalised, of high quality and consistent.’ Individualised care supports young people to make positive changes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people speak highly of the staff. They say that they can talk to staff and like living at the home. A young person told the inspector, ‘It is excellent. I would say the house is a 10-star rating, its cosy.’ One young person recently bought the registered manager a pink unicorn toy, telling him that it reminded her of him. This is an example of the affection and banter that the staff and young people have with each other. Staff care and show a genuine interest in young people’s well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the views and wishes of young people well. During house meetings and key-work sessions, young people share their views. A young person told the inspector, ‘If I ask [the registered manager] for things, they get sorted.’ Staff do not always ensure that young people can have access to their records. This is a missed opportunity for young to contribute to their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to engage with education and overcome barriers to their learning. For those young people who need it, staff go to school with young people so that they can offer reassurance and support. An education professional told the inspector, ‘We can really count on the staff; there is a combined approach, staff are really receptive and work as part of our team.’ Staff use rewards and praise to recognise young people’s good work in school. The staff also encourage young people to complete their homework. Young people receive the support they need to make academic progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the physical and emotional health needs of young people well. They use the input of specialist services, such as the child and adolescent mental health Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 5 services and the clinical therapy team, to develop personalised healthcare plans. Early signs of success are evident. For example, young people are beginning to learn how to manage their emotions more effectively and they seek support from staff when they are struggling to do this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to stay in contact with their families even when they live a long way from their home area. The use of video calls for one young person helps to bridge the gap between family visits. As a result, young people feel less isolated and are able to stay in touch with their loved ones.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people benefit from clear and consistent boundaries. Young people know what is expected of them and generally behave well. Rewards and incentives, which are meaningful to young people, motivate them. As a result, they work hard towards individual goals. For example, one young person is working towards getting a hamster and another a fish tank. Staff successfully promote positive behaviour. A social worker commented, ‘She has made such positive changes in these early stages.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a clear understanding of how to manage any safeguarding incidents. They receive regular safeguarding training. This training includes a range of topics, such as children going missing from home and child sexual exploitation. Good training raises staff awareness and equips them with the skills and knowledge to respond to concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond swiftly to incidents of going missing. This minimises the potential risk to young people. Staff learn from each episode of going missing and work hard to identify what has been the trigger for the behaviour. For one young person, there are early signs of success. She has not been missing for two weeks, indicating that staff have interrupted this cycle of behaviour. Staff support young people to develop their sense of belonging and feelings of safety. As a result, young people are able to ask for support when they are feeling anxious or upset, rather than running away.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Established links with the police help to develop both the staff’s and young people’s understanding of the risk associated with child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Young people are starting to develop the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves safe, both online and in the community. Furthermore, the staff are alert to the dangers and this helps them to keep young people safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff ensure that the home is well maintained. This means that young people experience a homely, pleasant and safe environment.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Effective behaviour management means that staff do not use physical intervention often. However, sometimes young people’s behaviour escalates and physical intervention is necessary to keep young people and others safe. Some records do not include the restraint technique used and the duration of the restraint. Consequently, this makes it difficult for the manager to identify patterns and trends to minimise reoccurrence. Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 6 The use of bedroom door alarms forms part of an effective strategy to keep young people safe. The use of such systems is proportionate. However, there is currently no system in place to review the ongoing use of these devices, to ensure that they continue to meet the individual needs of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand young people’s vulnerabilities. The quality of some risk assessments varies. Although this has had no impact on young people’s safety to date, it weakens the registered manager’s ability to review the effectiveness of the strategies in place to manage risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced, diligent and child-focused registered manager has been in post since February 2017. He has completed the level 4 national vocational qualification in leadership and management for care services. Of the six staff, five have completed the level 3 diploma for residential childcare or equivalent. One member of staff is still in their probationary period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager strives to provide excellent care for young people. This approach motivates staff to deliver personalised care to young people in line with the statement of purpose. The registered manager creates a supportive and inclusive culture. As a result, staff work well together and prioritise the needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the registered manager. They describe him as being approachable and helpful. In addition, staff receive regular supervision and a range of training opportunities, to enable them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to meet young people’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager uses internal and independent monitoring systems well to review the quality of care that young people receive. The registered manager understands the strengths of the home and continuously strives to develop and improve. This has a positive impact on young people’s experiences. Young people are doing well and making progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with partner agencies. A collaborative approach helps the staff to provide tailored care to young people. Staff communicate well with others and professionals compliment the staff on their joined-up approach. Staff coordinate the input of partner agencies. This ensures that young people’s short-term needs are met and their longer-term plans progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records do not always contain up-to-date information. Furthermore, staff do not always record information clearly. As a result, records do not reflect the individualised care that children receive or outline the positive impact this has on their progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Health, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

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Inspector

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC461275 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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