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

Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 1 SC437128 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Ltd

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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 registered to provide care for up to three young people who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours. It is one of a number of privately owned homes in the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 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: 13 November 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2017 Full Outstanding 18/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/07/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 2

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Recommendations

 The health of looked-after children must be assessed at regular intervals and the child’s care plan must include an individual health plan setting out the approach that the placing authority will follow, and the desired outcomes required to meet the child’s health needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.4) In particular, ensure that all children have an up-to-date copy of their health plan on file.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive an outstanding level of care. As a result, they enjoy positive experiences and make significant progress from their starting points. Staff manage transitions for young people moving into and on from the home exceptionally well. A social worker said, ‘Staff have gone out of their way to support [young people’s] transitions to the home to a level that I have never seen before.’ Staff involve young people in care planning and share highly individualised care plans with them. This means that young people are aware of the reasons why they live at the home, what the plans are for their futures and what support is available to help them to achieve their potential. Staff develop very positive relationships with young people. These meaningful relationships are key to young people’s development and progress. Young people are positive about the staff and the impact they have had on their lives. A young person

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

gave the following feedback about his care: ‘The staff have gone above and beyond to help me. I have come out a better person; I know how to deal with myself and I know right from wrong. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the staff.’ Effective key-working arrangements ensure that young people receive excellent support to address issues that may be causing them, or others, concern. Staff and young people also recognise and celebrate the achievements of young people. Staff write a monthly newsletter with each young person, which enables young people to share their successes with their families and professionals involved in their care. Staff also compile, ‘Why we think you are great’ booklets for each young person, celebrating their individual qualities and achievements. Because of the support young people receive, they develop greater self-awareness and improve their self-esteem. Young people enjoy a range of opportunities. They attend activities such as ice skating,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

football and army cadets. This promotes young people’s physical health and helps to improve their confidence and social skills. Children have also enjoyed holidays in this country and abroad, which widens their experiences. Young people maintain positive and safe relationships with family and friends. Staff provide effective and sensitive support and keep arrangements under review so that Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 3 these continue to be in the young people’s best interests. Staff meet young people’s health needs well. A dedicated therapy team provides support to young people, helping them to develop better emotional health. Therapists also advise staff, helping them to understand and respond sensitively to young people’s needs and behaviours. The therapy team provides valuable insight about young people’s needs, which helps to inform future plans. One young person does not have an up-to-date

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

health plan from the placing authority. However, this has not had any direct impact on the young person as, in practice, he is receiving good support. An aspirational staff team promotes young people’s learning. As a result, young people make strong educational progress. Most young people attend school full-time, and for those that do not, plans are in place for them to do so imminently. Staff work collaboratively with the organisation’s school and they regularly share information about young people’s achievements and challenges. The registered manager’s role on the governing body at the school helps to cement the staff’s awareness of young people’s academic development and the importance of education for young people. Young people enjoy a very pleasant and comfortable home. Young people have had input into the decoration and furnishings in the home, and their own rooms are highly individualised. One young person won a summerhouse in a competition set up by the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

organisation, and this makes a pleasant addition to the garden. In addition, the young people have helped to ‘upcycle’ a table in the home. Young people clearly invest in their home with the support of staff. Although no complaints have been made, young people are aware of how to raise concerns if they need to. Staff respond promptly to any issues raised, and to requests made by young people. This helps young people to feel listened to and valued.

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

The staff’s excellent understanding of young people’s individual needs and vulnerabilities promotes young people’s safety and welfare. Bespoke, high-quality risk assessments have been developed in conjunction with professionals, young people’s families and the young people. As a result, there is a shared knowledge of risky behaviours and young people are more aware of behaviours and situations that could cause them harm. Furthermore, young people learn how to keep themselves safe and know the actions staff will take to protect them. The registered manager and staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of child protection thresholds and referral processes. Safeguarding policies are clear and concise. Staff understand their own responsibilities, and the responsibilities of others, for protecting young people. Although no young people have been missing since the last inspection, staff know how

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

to respond to such incidents should they occur. When necessary, staff search the young people’s rooms. Records show that staff discuss this with young people, carry out the searches sensitively, and help the young people to understand that the actions they take are to protect them and others from harm. Staff constantly praise and reward young people when they display positive behaviours. Staff have implemented innovative reward charts that incentivise young people to make Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 4 good choices about their behaviour. Individualised records help to reinforce what young people have done well, for example acknowledging when they have been helpful or kind to others. Excellent behaviour management has helped to promote an environment in which young people get on well together. Young people also learn how to control their own negative behaviours using different management strategies.

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

Incidents requiring physical intervention are rare. When they do occur, well-trained staff respond well. The registered manager provides excellent oversight of all restraints and uses conflict resolution practice to reflect on what has happened with those involved. This reduces the likelihood of incidents happening again. Diligent recruitment procedures ensure that all necessary checks are completed. This means that only safe adults are employed to care for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is led by an exceptional registered manager, who shows strong leadership, is sufficiently qualified and has a range of residential experience. She constantly strives to develop the staff and their ability to meet the young people’s needs. She uses a range of initiatives, which motivate staff to work well together. This provides young people with consistency and care from energetic and ambitious staff. The registered manager and young people’s key workers maintain excellent oversight of young people’s care plans. As a result, young people’s progress and development are carefully monitored. When action is needed, the registered manager and staff respond quickly and are strong advocates for young people. This ensures that all young people’s needs are met. Detailed external and internal monitoring systems drive forward improvement. The registered manager uses this information to highlight patterns and trends and identify

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

any areas for improvement. Effective consultation with others, including the young people and staff, is embedded into this process. As a result, everyone involved in the home is part of its development. The registered manager challenges services to provide the best support for young people, raising concerns to placing authorities when necessary. This results in improved outcomes for young people. Staff receive regular, constructive supervision and annual appraisals. Both the supervisions and appraisals are used to examine and develop staff’s skills and effectiveness in supporting young people. The registered manager links outcomes from staff appraisals to the home’s training and development plan. This ensures that courses are targeted to promote the staff’s continued development. Staff undertake a varied and comprehensive range of training courses. These ensure that they are suitably skilled to meet the young people’s needs. The registered manager

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

has written a course to help staff promote young people’s cultural needs and heritage. This is now delivered throughout the organisation and has helped to disseminate this good practice example. Most members of the staff team have completed, or are in the process of completing, their level three qualification. Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 5

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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: SC437128 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Ltd

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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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Inspector

Andrew Hewston, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC437128 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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