Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 1 SC398386 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

A large national provider operates this home. Ofsted has registered the home for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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: 21 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and staff benefit from clear and effective leadership.  Children settle into the home and make clear progress.  Children establish trusting relationships with a consistent group of carers.  Children learn to express their views effectively, which makes a difference to their self-confidence.  Staff work closely with other professionals so that each child receives coordinated care and makes as much progress as possible.  The manager introduces new ideas to help children thrive. She challenges those who do not contribute effectively to children’s care.  Children fully engage in their education and it has become an important feature in their lives.  Staff address each child’s health needs well. Children benefit from specialist help, when necessary.  Children stay safe and learn how to manage their emotions.

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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

 Further improvements are required to the property to maintain a good standard throughout.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/07/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 3

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation; however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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Recommendations

Specifically, ensure that any damage to the home is repaired in a timely way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a positive experience of living in this home. Things do not always go the way each child would like and there is a lot of competition between them. However, as this group of four boys settles, there are clear signs that they are making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn to trust the staff and raise concerns with them. The high level of consultation is especially valuable when new children join the group and they all feel anxious. Children know that staff listen to them and try to resolve their difficulties. The staff involve other people when necessary, such as the police and neighbours. This helps children learn that their views have an impact. One of the newer boys said, ‘All the staff members are very caring and help us.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the manager has improved the admissions process. Children’s records now clearly describe why the manager agrees that the home is suitable and able to meet their needs. This helps children to understand their history and ensures that decision-making is clear. In one case, the manager formally challenged a local authority because of the lack of accurate information it had provided about a child. This jeopardised the placement, but, due to the efforts of staff, has not resulted in the child having to leave. Staff make children feel welcome and support them to be able to settle in quickly. Consequently, children have positive memories of their admissions. The highlight for one was the house and garden. He wrote, ‘When I first came, I said WOW, this is humungous! There is a big garden too, and trees [around] to build dens.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Social workers report positively on the standards of the care given to children and the impact that this care has on their experiences and progress. One social worker said about her child, ‘I must say they are doing a great job with [him]. His improvement all round over the past year is fantastic. No complaints but praise from myself!’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the last inspection, one child was expressing his feelings by repeatedly Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 4 causing substantial damage to his bedroom. This had reached a low point at which the room was at a safe but poor standard. The unsatisfactory cleaning regime made the situation worse. Since then, damage has continued, but the child has felt increasingly secure, and has been allowed more items into his room. Staff clean all areas regularly. Staff have used imaginative ways to encourage children to invest in their bedrooms. For example, one has a pop-up tent in which he can have greater privacy. The kitchen and dining room are showing signs of damage, including broken cupboard doors. However, the manager has a refurbishment booked for when the children return to school. This shows that the manager and staff are taking action to maintain and improve the environment so that it is pleasant and homely for children to live in. A recommendation

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

is raised to ensure that the manager implements the planned improvements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff successfully help children prepare for the future. The children are aged between 10 and 14, which means that some are preparing for other placements rather than independence. After making substantial progress, one boy recently made a very positive move to be with his father. His independent reviewing officer said, ‘Staff did a marvellous job in supporting [him] and moving him forward. It’s great to see how much he has developed.’ Staff are sensitively supporting another boy to decide where he would like to live next.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff successfully encourage all the children to take responsibility for themselves and their belongings. For the younger ones, this includes their personal care and the care of their bedrooms. The home is within walking distance of shops and other amenities. The older boys have greater free time and one is gaining confidence when using public transport. One boy recently celebrated his birthday by going for a meal with friends. Another went to a local carnival after seeing the advert in a newspaper.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have school placements. Their rates of attendance are excellent and they demonstrate a commendable level of focus. This is a substantial improvement for them all. Staff proactively support their learning by communicating well with teachers and attending meetings and other events. Staff and the other boys recently supported one child at his sports day. Three boys attend the organisation’s school and one attends a mainstream school. One recently took examinations. He has made several visits to the school he will move to in September and he knows the assistants and teachers who will be there. This is an important contribution to this delicate transition, which staff have supported well. The school report for another boy said, ‘Excellent work and attitude.’ Staff identified that another child needed additional help with his reading. In consultation with the school, the manager arranged for two staff to receive specific training, and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

purchased suitable books. A programme is in place for staff to listen to him read and this supports his learning. The manager identified tensions when the boys returned from school. Therefore, staff and the children meet after school to discuss the day and plan the evening. This helps to avoid difficulties at this sensitive time and allows for helpful reflection on the events at school. The children’s social workers consider that the staff work well with the children’s teachers, and apply the consistency that the children need. Consequently, children make good progress with their learning, and gradually catch up with their peers. Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 5 The children enjoy healthy lifestyles. Staff make sure that health professionals address the children’s individual health needs fully. For example, some children require prescribed medication and staff ensure that doctors review this regularly. Staff receive

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

invaluable guidance from the organisation’s therapists. They use this to give consistent personalised care to each child. This nurture is gradually, but clearly, benefiting the children. For example, one boy has learned how to deal with other children’s irritating behaviour. This helps him when he visits his grandparents. They told staff how much better he is now with younger children in his own family.

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

Staff keep children safe and children gradually learn to anticipate and avoid difficulties. The two children who arrived most recently have challenged staff. This resulted in a high number of incidents within the home, which was unsettling for everyone. Staff skilfully work out how to respond to children’s individual needs. They have learned, for example, that one boy benefits from eye contact and very short instructions. They have tried various techniques and resources to encourage the children to express themselves positively. For example, staff bought one child a ball-throwing game as an alternative to his stone throwing. This helped the child understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable throwing. The staff also help the children to see how their good behaviour translates into credits. For example, as part of a new incentive young people add pieces of foam to a jar and receive rewards as the jar fills up. Young people like the

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

visual and tactile nature of this scheme. They also enjoy the rewards! The rules that staff and young people have agreed upon are on the wall in the hall as a constant visual reminder. Certain actions lead to clear and immediate consequences. Children acknowledge that they can irritate each other, but say that the rules are sensible. They are particularly sensitive to the fact that the staff apply the rules to each of them equally. Consequently, children’s understanding has improved and they are learning to modify their behaviour. Incidents are falling in number and severity.

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

Children sometimes describe the behaviour of other children as bullying, but say that they feel safe in the home. Staff closely monitor children’s interactions with each other informally and through formal complaints. They conclude that what happens amounts to bickering. In fact, all the children get on reasonably well with each other most of the time and there are sufficient staff for them to enjoy individualised activities.

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

Risks, such as those of exploitation, radicalisation and going missing, are very low. One child has walked away from staff on a small number of occasions, but stopped when staff altered their strategy. Staff have a clear understanding of the main risks faced by each child and address these appropriately, for example through regular key-work meetings. This work reflects each child’s care plan. A social worker said at one child’s recent review meeting, ‘Staff have provided firm boundaries, routines, and nurturing care.’ Staff have removed the main risks that children faced previously, such as those posed by illicit drugs and unsafe adults. As a result, children are safe.

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

Although staff have reported a number of incidents to Ofsted, only one required the Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 6 police to attend and the frequency is falling markedly. The social worker for the most recently admitted child said, ‘I am impressed with the high level of communication and the insight into [his] behaviour and how staff support him.’

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

On four occasions since the last inspection, children have said things that sound as though staff have harmed them. In each case, staff followed the correct procedures and the local authority and the manager investigated. Children made some allegations in order to mimic each other. Staff have dealt with such challenges well and remain fully engaged in supporting children. Some children occasionally benefit from having two staff with them, but the manager reduces this as soon as possible. The manager understands that excessive restrictions, such as high staffing levels or physical interventions, may indicate the need for a court order. One boy required staff to hold him at least once a day and now, a few months later, he rarely requires this type of support. This reflects the progress that he has made.

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

The fire safety officer has assessed the home since the last Ofsted inspection, and raised several suggestions. The manager has considered the recommendations and is compiling a response, which she will send to the fire safety officer on completion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 2015, and has recently completed a suitable management qualification. She leads the service with increasing confidence and clarity. The manager makes her expectations clear to staff. She has established a team that is performing well and the team delivers good standards of care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit because she ensures that other professionals respect their rights, for example, to educational placements and up-to-date documentation. She shows initiative by using ideas from other homes, specialist professionals and research to help each child. The manager commands the respect of her staff, who respond by rarely being off work and showing patience and fortitude. Consequently, children rarely receive care from anyone they do not know well. This consistency is hugely beneficial to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager encourages staff to take the initiative and try out new ideas. Two staff recently created with the children a pictorial device on which children show their own progress. Her leadership encourages the staff and contributes to the positive and inclusive atmosphere in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the service effectively. As a result, the manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and needs of the service. She ensures that staff undertake meaningful direct work with each child, based on their care plans and any emerging issues. Staff discuss this work in staff meetings and it is the core way of helping children progress. The manager and staff understand what progress children make from their starting points. They also recognise the areas in which the children need continued support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring exercises identified a shortfall in medicine administration procedures. The Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 7 subsequent investigation led to changes in the company’s procedures. These improvements help avoid reoccurrences, and reduce the risks to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the matters raised during the previous inspection. For example, fire drills are now more educational because the staff ask children to deal with different scenarios. This unpredictability increases children’s understanding, and therefore their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monitoring undertaken by the external visitor now benefits from routine reviews of children’s bedrooms. This helps to ensure that staff sustain children’s standard of living at a good level.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes her expectations clear to staff. She has established a team that is performing well. Staff benefit from regular supervision and an extensive training programme. They attend training courses regularly and either have a qualification or are on track to become qualified within the required timescales. The manager allocates extra responsibilities to staff so that they understand how the home runs. As a result of a recent initiative, staff have conversations with children about issues of race and nationality. This helps children to think about, understand and celebrate difference. The allocation of tasks to staff members encourages the team and highlights those who have managerial potential. This is a key part of the manager’s drive towards incremental improvement.

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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 who 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: SC398386 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: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited, Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Health, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

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Inspector

David Morgan: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC398386 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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