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

Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 1 SC398481 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 private provider of children’s services operates this home. Ofsted has registered the home to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 October to 1 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are highly motivated and extremely well organised. The team membership rarely changes, which means that children receive a high level of continuity of care.  Exceptional leadership inspires staff to be aspirational for all children.  New initiatives keep the service fresh, which is stimulating for children and staff.  Staff work creatively with children to help them to develop new skills, to feel a sense of belonging and to understand more about themselves.  Children flourish because of the exceptionally high standard of care that they receive.  Staff keep up to date with research and clearly fulfil the therapeutic aims and objectives of the service. Children do exceedingly well not only in light of their starting points, but in being ready to move to foster care.  Children feel safe and are safe.  The property that children enjoy is of an exceptionally high standard inside and out. It shows clear evidence of the contribution by children and the staff to making

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Key findings from this inspection

the home a lovely place in which to live.  Children are treated with respect and insight. Staff collaborate exceptionally well with other agencies and parents to get the best outcomes for children.  The attention to education, both formally and informally, is excellent. The vast majority of children make marked progress with their learning. They benefit from the close integration of care, education, and therapy.

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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

 Ensure that children receive feedback with regard to any concerns that they raise.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any allegation of harm or abuse is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Specifically, ensure that staff record the feedback that they give to children about the outcome of any concerns that they raise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children enjoy a particularly high standard of care. Staff focus on the individual needs of each child. Each child receives consistent support that makes them feel safe. At the time of inspection, all the children and staff were immersed in a full evening of exciting Halloween activities. These events create valuable memories. One child said, ‘This is tradition here.’ Children know their carers well and feel secure because changes in staff are rare. Consistently positive relationships between adults and children provide a platform from which children make excellent progress. One social worker said, ‘Staff have really figured out [my child]. He’s much calmer and happier now.’ Children have the benefit of a large detached house that has substantial space inside and out. The bedrooms and communal areas are presented to an excellent domestic standard which reflects children’s views and wishes. For example, one child likes to have

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

very few additional items in his bedroom, while others have posters, photos and certificates that reflect their interests, memories and achievements. The lounges and hall are comfortably furnished and include many pictures and photographs. Staff invest substantially in decorating the house for seasonal events and provide games, toys, and other child-friendly items. Outside, the manager has made significant improvements. The children have helped make wooden signs, bird boxes and seating; they have also planted flowers, vegetables, and sunflowers. Through this, the children have learned practical skills which may be useful to them in the future They have eaten their own garden produce, and found out about the wildlife in the adjacent fields. These are exceptionally well-organised experiences that are invaluable to the children. The large dining table is a focal point of many routines in the home. Around it, the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

planning, preparation, and eating of meals provide a clear framework to each day. Children learn vital practical and social skills. All the children sit together after school to reflect on each other’s day. Staff prepare carefully to make sure that these events are productive and enjoyable. Children learn to be patient and respectful. These routines merge seamlessly into the management of children’s behaviour. Critically for children’s self-esteem, staff identify children’s difficulties and adapt things so that they can all participate. Staff helped one child remain at the table by involving him in making and giving out pudding pots after the main meal. He now concentrates on his meal without Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 4 interruption. A social worker said of another child, ‘He has blossomed since arriving here. It is very evident how much he has changed and how settled and happy he is. Well done

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

to the staff!’ Most children attend the organisation’s own special school nearby, where their attendance rates are exceptional. This is a substantial improvement for them all. One child received recognition from his local authority for his remarkable progress. Two children have moved to mainstream schools. These successful moves are a source of pride for all concerned. The vast majority of children are achieving their academic targets and they are all experiencing success. One has achieved an award in sport and leisure, which helps him feel optimistic about the future. Another child reads to staff before bed, whereas less than a year ago he could barely read at all. When children find progress difficult, the staff liaise closely with teachers to urgently implement alternatives. For one child, this meant slowing down his progression to a higher class. Staff remove obstacles created by bureaucracy or funding deficits as much as possible. External

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

professionals recognise that staff help each child to be the best that they can be. One said, ‘I don’t know how they do it! He’s surprised us all.’ The staff routinely arrange imaginative and educative activities, such as games that require measurement, finding out about wild birds, and learning words in foreign languages. This informal learning supports children’s progress. Another outstanding feature of the service is the children’s support of charities. This promotes social diversity and helps children understand the needs of others. Staff help the children complete Saturday routines, such as tidying bedrooms, as well as helping in the kitchen and doing jobs on a Sunday to earn money towards a charity. This has developed from children’s concern for the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. Fundraising is now a monthly event and the number of charities that benefit has widened. Staff

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

reward children for their contributions. All the children participate in fundraising activities. This helps them to focus their concern on other people and shows them ways of assisting. One child said, ‘It’s good to help children who haven’t got as much as us.’ One member of staff said, ‘We’re always looking for ideas to [promote] the outcomes for all our children.’ The service specialises in preparing children for moving on to foster care. Most children move to foster placements, often within this organisation’s fostering agency. This provides children with a high level of continuity. Staff plan these moves in detail over a long period and they are seen as a major sign of each child’s success. The vast majority of children stay in the home for substantially longer periods than any previous placements. The organisation is reflective on its practices. It has found that, despite comprehensive preparation, some children require additional work to help them settle

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

into foster care. To this end, one child visits his practice family regularly to help this transition. Also, the organisation has improved its method of assessing the feasibility of each child moving to foster care. As with all aspects of children’s care, staff effectively integrate consultation exercises into everyday life. Consultation occurs at many levels. This means that children know that their views play an important part in all aspects of their care and many aspects of the running of the home. In addition, children attend formal meetings and compile their own memory books which help them describe their views and feelings. Staff compose a Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 5 personalised monthly newsletter that summarises, in child-friendly ways, what each child has achieved recently. Children’s key workers undertake excellent direct work with them, discussing and explaining issues such as difficulties at school, fundamental British values,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

and puberty. Staff respect and promote children’s rights. An advocate routinely visits all the children to ensure that children have the opportunity to talk to someone independent of the home about things that may worry them and about their achievements. In one case, it is not sufficiently clear that a child received feedback about a concern that they raised. The manager reflected on this during the inspection and immediately made plans to rectify this. All the children enjoy excellent physical health. Their lives are full of social and recreational opportunities that keep them happy and fit. Children have achieved success in sports that are new to them, including swimming and cross-country running. Some join clubs in the local community and bring friends home. The children spoke to inspectors about choosing an annual unique experience, such as being a zoo keeper for the day. One said he would choose to go to a theme park this time. The children are

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

looking forward to Christmas. These exceptional elements add interest and excitement to each child’s life. The vast majority of children engage in regular sessions with a therapist, including the youngest child, who is aged seven. This is a key feature in the children’s marked emotional progress. Children start to understand why they live here; they become aspirational, and experience success. They learn to talk about frightening feelings and show empathy, often for the first time. Therapy sessions give children the opportunity to learn about themselves and to understand their early life experiences. This progress and the insightful support of staff has led to several children developing stronger relationships with their own families. Some have resumed contact after substantial gaps, while others have met some family members for the first time. This gives children peace of mind and vital supportive networks.

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

Children are protected from harm exceptionally well. All staff have a thorough understanding of the risks to each child. No child runs away, safeguarding issues are rare, and children seldom raise concerns. Staff are alert to risk and take appropriate measures to minimise risks to children. This keeps children safe. Staff set clear boundaries that children understand and focus firmly on celebrating each child’s success. Children respond well to the encouragement and rewards that staff offer. In liaison with other agencies, where necessary, staff help children take proportionate risks. This applies to the use of climbing equipment and other outdoor activities, the use of mobile telephones, and helping in the kitchen. Consequently, children develop necessary skills in safe ways. Children say that they feel safe here. When they suggest something to the contrary, staff take immediate steps to investigate and resolve the issue. This is usually reflected

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

thoroughly in documentation. However, inspectors noted that one child had not received clear feedback about a concern that she had raised. In other regards, staff carry out excellent direct work with individual children in helping them to understand their Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 6 feelings. Staff help children to understand their behaviour and the impact that this has on themselves and others. Consequences are restorative and meaningful. When appropriate, this includes repairing the relationship with an injured party. Sometimes, children benefit from input from the police officers who are linked to the home. These are valuable lessons for children that challenge their preconceived ideas. Staff think of creative ways to promote positive behaviour among the whole group. As in other areas of care, staff show great skill and use a diverse range of techniques. This is complicated work that shows a high standard of careful day-to-day management. The

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

variety means that every child experiences success and is, therefore, encouraged to continue trying. Awards are given to the child who is the ‘Ray of the Day’, the ‘Most Improved of the Month’, and the ‘Star of the Day’. Children understand how well they are doing and what they need to improve. One child learned to hold the hand of a member of staff when crossing roads rather than just running across. His daily acts of aggression have ceased entirely. All children learn how to remain alert in an emergency, for example during fire evacuation drills in which the obvious exits are blocked. Because the children are young, staff often need to use physical guidance. For example, staff may put their arm around a child and guide them away from a situation that is causing the child or others difficulty. This intervention is appropriate, proportionate and recorded. In extreme instances, children’s behaviour escalates to the point where staff

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

have to restrain children in order to stop them hurting themselves or others. However, the staff avoid using physical restraint wherever possible. The manager reviews all incidents that occur in order to identify any learning. The organisation keeps its behaviour management strategies under review and is developing its electronic recording system, which will further improve oversight of such incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been in charge of this home since before Ofsted first judged it to be outstanding in 2011. Sustaining the service at this level is an exceptional achievement that benefits children and staff. The manager has a suitable management qualification. She is extremely knowledgeable about the children and passionate about improving their lives. She applies this in an affectionate but highly organised way and continually improves the service. The manager is very clear about the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Her high ambitions for each child mean that there are very few shortfalls. The staff team maintains strong relationships with other professionals. Staff advocate well for children. This ensures that children’s care plans progress and these plans incorporate children’s views. The manager keeps practice fresh and standards high by introducing new initiatives to staff and children. Since the last inspection, there have been many incremental

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

improvements. For example, key workers now audit their own files regularly, which serves to ensure that the files are complete. This practice also develops the workers’ understanding of children’s needs. The outside of the property has improved and is now a lovely space for children to enjoy. To encourage and facilitate feedback about the service, the registered manager has implemented individual books for each child that Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 7 professionals complete during their visits to the home. These now provide the staff with regular feedback which helps the manager to monitor the service. Recently, the organisation has improved the ways in which managers of all the homes share information with each other. This has increased the opportunities for the manager of this home to share her knowledge with colleagues. Children and staff recognise the manager’s commitment. One child recently nominated the manager for a local authority

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

award for keeping her safe. Staff meet the manager’s high standards. For example, the morning after the Halloween party, the house was already clean and tidy with no sign of the evening’s activities. The staff team is made up of individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, age groups, and genders. Staff are very strong role models for children. Staff go about their tasks calmly and regularly review the effectiveness of the care that they give to the children each day. This is excellent practice that helps staff to maintain high standards. The very low rate of staff turnover means that they are all fully familiar with the busy daily programmes. Staff deal with difficulties systematically and with full respect to each individual child. For example, staff preserve each child’s confidentiality and self-respect. One member of staff wrote, ‘It is magical here. The children thrive and flourish and so

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

do the staff. The team is very experienced and staff genuinely all get along with one another, which leads to a stable and secure environment for our children to live in.’ Each staff member is suitably qualified, except a new worker, who has completed a thorough induction course. Staff appreciate the extensive training that they receive and have an excellent rate of attendance. The training prepares them well for the complicated demands of the role. The staff spoke highly about the complex trauma training that they had attended and how it addressed the potential effect on staff of supporting children who have been badly harmed. This, and regular purposeful supervision and appraisal meetings, helps them to look after their own emotional well-being. A member of staff wrote, ‘There is excellent management. The manager ensures [that we] achieve high standards of care. [Senior staff] challenge us to improve – [they do it] in a motivational

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

way.’ All staff are well versed in the theoretical basis of the home’s statement of purpose, which is therapeutic parenting. Also, they regularly meet the company’s therapist who helps them apply theoretical models in a meaningful way. The therapist likened the staff to a ‘well-performing sports team’. Children are familiar with the information contained in their own files. Of particular importance is the fact that children have their own records and mementos to take with them when they leave. The recent investment in a new electronic recording system has improved accessibility but is, naturally, taking time to become established.

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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 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 8 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: SC398481 9

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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: SC398481 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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