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

This home provides care for up to five children whose adverse childhood experiences and trauma can lead to them exhibiting complex behaviours. The home cares for younger children, aged six and over, where there is a plan for the child to move on to a family setting. A large national provider operates this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager is registered with Ofsted and has been in post for 18 years. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 February 2019

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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 outstanding

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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

Date of last inspection: 31 October 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2017 Full Outstanding 14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress because of the consistent, well-planned care that they receive. One social worker told the inspector, ‘He is a very different little boy, he likes his bedroom and is proud of it… he sees that his wants, his wishes are listened to and acted on.’ Dedicated staff ensure that children receive everything that they need to thrive physically, emotionally, educationally and socially.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience exceptionally well-planned moves into and out of the home. Staff have developed creative ways of helping children to think about what they want to achieve. For example, as part of moving into the home all children make their own time capsule of their hopes and wishes. The capsule is then buried in the nearby countryside. The staff create a treasure map of where the capsule is buried and when the child is ready to move out of the home their time capsule is retrieved. The child is then able to review what they have achieved during their time at the home. Staff then ensure that the child’s successes are celebrated. Each child leaves the home with a book of letters from staff, which detail the staff’s aspirations for the child’s future. These sensitive touches enable children to understand their journeys and reflect on their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to make significant progress with their education. School attendance forms part of the daily routine. Children who have previously been out of education now attend school full time. For one child, his progress has been so great that he will move on to mainstream school later this year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work hard to create a homely and nurturing environment that has children at its heart. Staff proudly display children’s art work and photos throughout the house. Children and staff have completed projects together. For example, they have made garden furniture and are currently creating an interactive garden space where together they can grow plants and watch birds. Children are very positive about their home and told the inspector that living here is ‘amazing’ and ‘awesome’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to play and have fun. The large garden is equipped with climbing frames and a football pitch. Children enjoy being outdoors and this encourages a healthy and active lifestyle. Children join local clubs. This enables them to develop local friendships. Staff also take the children on an annual holiday each year. These varied opportunities enable children to form positive childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to keep links with people who are important to them. One social worker told the inspector, ‘The staff have just taken over his contact as they recognised that he wasn’t having a consistent contact worker. This has really improved his contact.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to learn new skills through the home’s ‘charity chores’. Children complete weekly chores to raise money for a monthly charity of their choice. Children have also taken on a walking challenge with staff, to raise money for charity. This innovative approach to developing children’s self-care skills also increases their self- Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 4 esteem, with children taking pride in the achievement of raising the money.

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

Staff use a wide range of positive strategies to help children to manage their emotions. These are supported by a calm, well-informed approach which leaves children clear about the staff’s expectations. This excellent practice results in children making significant progress in improving their behaviour.

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

Children do not go missing from the home and incidents in which staff are required to physically intervene are low in number. Despite this, the manager has clear systems in place for continuously monitoring staff practice and identifying patterns in children’s presenting behaviours. She then works with the clinical team and the staff to agree how to respond to this. This inclusive practice ensures that children receive well-informed care.

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

The manager ensures that clear risk management plans are in place, and that these are regularly reviewed. This means that staff are well informed about current risks and how they can safeguard children against these. Staff are well trained in understanding the risks children might face if they were to go missing from home or were to become at risk of sexual exploitation. The registered manager is quick to respond to new developments. For example, during the inspection, the manager implemented new training regarding the risks for children who are exposed to gangs and county lines.

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

The registered manager ensures that staff who come to work in the home are safely recruited. This ensures that children are not placed at risk through contact with unsuitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked in the home for 18 years. She is supported by a deputy manager who has worked at the home for over 10 years. This extensive management experience and consistency are evident in the outstanding judgement the home has received at its previous seven full inspections.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked hard to develop strong professional networks. Feedback from professionals was overwhelmingly positive, with no areas for improvement identified. A social worker told the inspector, ‘It’s not often that you get to work with people you feel so confident in; I have that with these people.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about the support and training that they receive to enable them to fulfil their roles. Staff morale is high and staff turnover is extremely low. The staff have pride in the children they care for. A member of staff said, ‘People don’t leave, we love it here. That means the kids know us, they know what they can do, they trust us. The kids are just a massive part of what we do here, they are a big part of this Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 5 house; that’s what makes it so special.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has taken action to address the only recommendation raised at the last full inspection. Children now receive notification of clear outcomes regarding any concerns or complaints that they raise. This ensures that children know that their voice has been heard.

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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 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 6

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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) Ltd, Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Heath, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Millward

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Inspector

Tracey Coglan Greig: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 7 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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