Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in West Sussex

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 1 SC482300

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Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to 14 children and young people who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The company also provides an on-site education provision.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following concerns arising from information provided to Ofsted since the last inspection which suggested that a breach in regulations may have occurred. The information related to a number of allegations, made by five children, about some staff members, together with concerns in relation to observations of staff practice. The home had also shared concerns with Ofsted, about an escalation in risks to children and young people and an increase in the frequency of ‘missing from home’ episodes.

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This monitoring visit

In April 2018, allegations were made about some staff members working in one of the two houses. The allegations arose following the registered manager’s review of an audio recording evidencing staff malpractice which met the threshold for emotional harm. The child protection concerns were appropriately reported to the local authority designated officer and the social workers of two children living in this house by the designated safeguarding lead. The registered manager ensured that the four staff members did not work with the children while the child protection enquiries were being completed.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to this monitoring visit, Ofsted asked the organisation to undertake an internal investigation in respect of the allegations. The registered manager had already commissioned an internal safeguarding review which concluded that there had been ‘practice issues in relation to behaviour management, therapeutic ethos and safeguarding practices’. The home’s internal disciplinary procedures addressed these serious concerns through a range of disciplinary action, including dismissal. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 2 Following these concerns, a separate allegation was made in relation to a staff member having allegedly harmed a child during a restraint. The child protection concerns were appropriately reported to the local authority designated officer and the child’s social worker. The house manager ensured that the staff member did not work with the child while the child protection enquiries, and subsequent internal

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This monitoring visit

investigation, were concluded as part of the commissioned internal safeguarding review. The staff member’s use of restraint was found to be disproportionate to the level of risk posed, but no intent to harm.

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This monitoring visit

There were separate concerns raised in relation to the observed practice staff members in one of the houses. There was a delay in the designated safeguarding lead discussing these concerns with the local authority designated officer. These were subsequently addressed as practice issues through individual supervision of staff by the responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

The response of the registered manager to the concerns relating to members of staff was appropriate, with each concern being considered within the independent safeguarding review. Systems for staff reporting safeguarding concerns internally have since been improved, following a review by the designated safeguarding lead, to ensure that there are no delays in responding. Safeguarding training for senior staff has been identified to support the development of their knowledge in relation to reporting and responding to allegations about staff. Inspectors noted that the organisational safeguarding lead conducting this review had been thorough and transparent in their findings, resulting in clear decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

Disciplinary hearings for the staff members concerned were based on the robust internal investigations undertaken by the organisation’s safeguarding lead. The disciplinary outcomes in respect of all relevant staff members were based on clear evidence. The independent chair ensured that comprehensive and proportionate action was taken, as demonstrated in the outcomes of the disciplinary hearings. This supported the registered individual’s view that some staff members had breached professional expectations in relation to safeguarding children, responding appropriately to their behaviour and demonstrating empathic and respectful care of the children in accordance with the therapeutic ethos of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The information provided to Ofsted following the last inspection pointed to an emerging pattern of concern due to previous allegations made in relation to particular staff members. These had been reported to the local authority designated officer, and child protection enquiries had been undertaken where the threshold was met. However, these were looked at individually and in isolation, rather than in the wider context. This resulted in missed opportunities to safeguard children; the concerns were not addressed in staff supervisions. With no reflection on practice, the individual staff members and team were not provided with clear expectations about their professional practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 3 Following the outcome of the internal safeguarding review, the registered manager has identified a number of actions to improve staff practice. These include improving

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This monitoring visit

the quality of supervision and providing further training for staff. The registered manager has ensured that all staff understand the whistleblowing policy and their responsibilities in relation to reporting concerns. Wider practice issues in terms of embedding a therapeutic approach to care have been identified by the registered manager, with a clinical psychologist and therapists having recently been employed to support this. The registered manager and senior leadership team acknowledged the significant changes required to implement this approach and develop the culture across the staff team. The service development plan in respect of this had been agreed by the registered manager and senior leadership team on the day of the monitoring visit. As this practice is not currently embedded it is not possible to evaluate its impact.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager had identified an escalation of concerns, particular in relation to one young person while they were missing from the home. The manager had maintained effective oversight of these concerns and had responded appropriately to them, working in partnership with the young person’s social worker. During the inspection, there was no evidence found to link the missing-from-care episodes to issues at the home. Placement plans in respect of a young person recently admitted to the home were detailed and identified specific support to meet their individual needs. Inspectors did not have any concerns that children were not currently being adequately safeguarded, due to the appropriate management monitoring and oversight in place.

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This monitoring visit

While the manager’s response to the concerns about staff behaviour has been appropriate and proportionate, the behaviours of some staff towards children will have had a detrimental impact on the children’s ability to feel safe and secure in the home. The significance of the children’s lived experiences was acknowledged by the registered manager and senior leadership team through their response to the concerns relating to staff practice and the subsequent actions taken to address these.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 31/01/2018 Full Good 17/10/2017 Full Inadequate 18/01/2017 Full Good 01/06/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that 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. (Regulation 12 (2) (b)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child).

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1) (a) (b) and (2)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 30/06/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 5 ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (a) (b) and (2) (a) (b) (c) (e) (f)) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1) (a) (b) (c) and (2) (a) (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) and (xiii)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 30/06/2018 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken by the children’s home following notifications received under Regulation 40 ( Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015) since the last inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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(s)

Maria Lonergan, social care inspector Kenneth Smith, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482300 8 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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