Children's home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Havant

Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 1 SC482301 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services 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 privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is registered for young people irrespective of gender. Currently, only boys are accommodated. It is one of three homes in the local area, owned by the same 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 outstanding

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

none. Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Key professionals, such as a clinical psychologist, provide meticulous oversight of the young people, providing advice and guidance to staff as a group and on an individual basis.  Young people have easy access to therapy, such as play therapy. All professionals communicate well together and agree strategies with the staff team. Staff can phone specialists for advice in between scheduled meetings.  The registered manager has been successful in overcoming staff shortages, providing cover using a skilled team of bank staff and, more recently, in recruiting new staff. There is a good gender balance in the staff team, which provides good role models for young people who struggle with boundaries and social skills.  Young people are motivated in their learning. All young people are in education, some from a starting point of refusing school.  An improved behaviour management programme is now embedded into

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Key findings from this inspection

practice. Young people have engaged with the recently introduced positive reward system. Staff are successful at reconciling relationships after an incident.  Young people’s behaviour has significantly improved. They have developed self- management competencies. They feel safe and secure and do not go missing.  Young people read their case files, and correct and agree behaviour support plans. They sign their key-worker notes as an accurate reflection of the discussion.  Staff demonstrate a commitment to the young people, for example by attending a statutory review for their key child on their scheduled day off.

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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

 The registered manager does not obtain relevant plans from the placing authority in a timely fashion as part of the admissions process. Some important details were not known about current occupants until after their admission.  The statement of purpose and website are not consistent with the conditions of registration. This has the potential to cause confusion as to the type of service provided.  Staff have not had formal training, such as in autistic spectrum disorder, in order for them to meet the needs of the current cohort of young people living in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2017 Full Good 06/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/02/2016 Full Good 24/08/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 4

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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

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person is required to ensure children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)) 08/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

Keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it and if a home has a website, the registered person must ensure that a copy of the statement of purpose is published on that website unless the registered person considers that such publication would prejudice the welfare of children in the home (Regulation 16(3)(a)(4)) 08/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 08/01/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have easy access to therapy. For example, a play therapist does regular individual work with young people. Young people are able to express themselves in a safe environment and explore underlying reasons for their thinking and behaviour. The play therapist works extremely closely with the clinical psychologist who provides guidance to staff. Staff speak very highly of this professional advice. They value the input and opportunity to discuss the needs of individual young people. A member of staff said, ‘The clinical psychologist gives us fantastic input, we value the time with her.’ Young people benefit from professionals who work together, providing an overarching view of the young people’s needs and support, resulting in a holistic approach. Young people value their education. Some young people, who previously were refusing to attend, are now in school full time. Young people demonstrate their commitment to

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

learning, for example by getting up early every day to be on time for transport to school. Young people, especially those on the autistic spectrum, benefit from the structured approach. This reduces their anxiety and improves their attendance. Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 5 Staff listen to young people. Young people value their relationships with staff, especially with their key worker. Young people use the complaints procedure if necessary. They are confident that staff will take their concerns seriously and deal with any issues. Staff spend time with young people doing activities in the home, such as computing or reading. Staff support young people to pursue the activity of their choice outside of the home; for example, staff found a local parkour instructor so that a young person could pursue the sport safely. Other young people enjoy healthy exercise such as judo, boxing and gymnastics.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet young people’s health needs, ensuring that young people have access to the health specialists that they need. Staff treat young people who are sensitive about their health needs with dignity and respect. Staff safeguard young people’s privacy, for example by installing a flashing light to alert a young person with hearing difficulties that a member of staff wants to come into their bedroom. Young people develop an awareness of how to look after themselves properly, for example by choosing fruit as a snack. Staff ensure that young people can speak to or see their family and other individuals who are important to them. For example, staff will drive long distances to make sure this happens. Staff are on hand to help young people process their emotions, such as after speaking to a family member whom they have not had contact with for a considerable period. Young people look forward to spending time with their families, sometimes

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

overnight. Staff encourage young people to develop their independent skills according to their age. Young people tidy their rooms and assist with the laundry or washing dirty dishes. Some young people cook their own meals. They take pride in creating their culinary delights. One young person, who has moved on to adult services, stays in contact. He feels free to come to the home to see staff.

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

Staff are aware of the individual needs of each young person. They carefully analyse incidents so that there is learning and understanding of their antecedents. This means that there is a realistic possibility to improve practice and give the young person the most appropriate support that is required. Strategies are successful and significant incidents are not repeated. Staff demonstrate a thoughtful approach to safeguarding young people on a daily basis. For example, staff play games with younger children to allow older ones to watch their favourite television programme undisturbed. The registered manager works with others to assess risk. She produces comprehensive risk assessments and keeps them under regular review to inform staff. This means that staff are able to keep young people as safe as possible, for example young people who have historically self-harmed. Young people live in an environment where they can

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

express their frustrations and feelings without resorting to such behaviour. Bullying is not an identified issue. Staff are on hand to explain events to young people Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 6 who find it hard to interpret social situations. Young people are accepting of each other and their differences or preferences. For example, one young person likes to sit at a different dining table for the evening meal. Young people do not feel the need to run away. There have been no episodes of missing from care since the last inspection. Young people feel a sense of safety and belonging. The registered manager puts bespoke arrangements in place to keep young people safe, such as waking night staff for a period of time if young people are unsettled. Some young people are now able to sleep at night, from a starting point of having night terrors. The registered manager has been successful at embedding the new behaviour

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

management programme into the culture of the home. Staff speak highly of the approach, saying ‘it is fantastic’ and ‘a great improvement’. Staff appreciate the focus on de-escalation and distraction. Staff have recently adopted a positive reward system for young people. This is a home with a positive culture. Staff promote good behaviour rather than applying sanctions for poor behaviour. As a result, young people have made significant improvement in their conduct. The use of physical intervention is minimal. This is significant for some young people, for example those who have been isolated in previous settings because of their violent behaviour. Young people show a thorough knowledge of how to keep themselves safe in the cyber world. Staff are not risk averse, which means that young people can access the internet while staying safe within the boundaries agreed with other professionals. Staff advocate

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

for young people to have more access to the internet when they believe that their key child has the necessary maturity and skills to keep themselves safe with less supervision. The registered manager has established a strong safeguarding culture. Young people’s physical and emotional safety are paramount in this home. The registered manager ensures that staff understand the comprehensive procedures to be followed in the event of any concern. She ensures that staff are up to date with their child protection training. Staff demonstrate that they know what to do in the event of an allegation or disclosure. The registered manager demonstrates her knowledge of wider safeguarding practice. For example, she follows safer recruitment practices. She ensures the ongoing safety of the environment by having the necessary health and safety certification in place. The registered manager has excellent arrangements in place to ensure that young people

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been successful in overcoming staff shortages. She adopts strong interview techniques to help with the selection of the best-quality applicants. This means that she has turned some applicants down, thereby extending the period of staff shortages, but with clear reason. She has utilised the organisation’s skilled and experienced bank team during this time. More recently, she has successfully recruited new staff. Existing staff spoke of the challenges and a dip in morale since the last inspection. They said that the staffing situation is much improved now. One member of staff said, ‘The staffing ratios are fantastic now.’ The registered manager has been successful at employing individuals of both genders who provide good role models for Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 7 the young people. The registered manager is clear about the service that the home provides in accordance

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

with the conditions of registration. However, the statement of purpose and website contradict this. This has the potential to cause confusion to other professionals wanting to place children in the home. The registered manager follows an admissions process, that includes requesting looked after child documentation. She has not considered the timeliness of key information, such as placing authority care plans. In one case, a local authority provided a looked after childcare plan some weeks after admission. This meant that the registered manager did not have all the detailed information at the point of admission. Staff have not had formal training in autistic spectrum disorder. However, staff speak very highly of the input from a clinical psychologist who visits the home weekly. Staff gain insight and understanding of young people’s behaviour. All professionals work together to agree strategies to provide the best possible care and outcomes. Staff speak

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

of the need for further training and guidance in autistic spectrum disorder from the clinical psychologist. The registered manager has plans to provide this training. The registered manager has responded to the requirements made at the previous inspection to improve the monitoring of the home. She has acted on the recommendations from the independent visitor, for example to provide written supervision records. She has introduced a system to monitor and analyse incidents to maximise the opportunity to find patterns and trends. The registered manager also learns from the complaints procedure, for example revising how she communicates with parents and the detail/frequency of the information she provides to them. Staff speak highly of the registered manager. Staff say that she is approachable and experienced. They value her leadership style and feel their skill set is well used. A member of staff said, ’We are a good team, close knit.’ Staff communicate well so that

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

there is a consistent approach. Young people, who need structure and routine because of their disability, value the approach. Staff keep detailed case records reflecting the work done with the young people in their care and the progress that they are making. Young people check their key-work session notes for clarity and sign their agreement to them. They check their care plans and contribute to them. Young people help write their individual behaviour support plans so that staff are clear about how best to support them when they are anxious or dealing with difficult emotions. Young people live in a warm, comfortable home. They personalise their rooms, thus giving them a sense of identity and belonging. The registered manager has made substantial improvements to the environment such as refurbishing the bathrooms. The registered manager notifies significant events to relevant agencies, including Ofsted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 8 people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences 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: SC482301 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Keith Riley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482301 10 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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