Children's home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258095 1

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Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company that operates a number of children’s homes across the country owns this home. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has had three managers since registration in December 2017. The current manager has been in post since 2 September 2019. He has a level 5 qualification in leadership and management and intends to apply to be the registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. A compliance notice was issued following the inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this inspection was to review the provider’s action in meeting the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has met the compliance notice. Managers have ensured that staff receive training in helping them to understand children’s risk assessments, and that staff read them when they have been updated. This improvement has given children greater consistency of care from staff who better understand their vulnerabilities and needs.

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This monitoring visit

Some progress has been made in meeting the nine requirements set at the full inspection. As a result, six requirements are now met. The following actions have been implemented to address the requirements:

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This monitoring visit

 The home’s location risk assessment is now up to date and includes better details about potential risks in the local area. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258095 2  Managers have improved their consultation with stakeholders.

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This monitoring visit

 Staff have addressed risks to children’s safety. For example, hazardous materials and sharp objects such as knives are now safely stored.

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This monitoring visit

 The laundry room is no longer locked, and children can now do their own laundry. This change in practice has enabled children to develop essential life skills.

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This monitoring visit

 Staff have removed furniture that was being stored in a bathroom. This has enabled children to safely use the toilet and the washbasin.

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This monitoring visit

 Managers are carrying out daily checks to ensure that food is safely stored.

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This monitoring visit

 Children are now being cared for by a more consistent team of staff, whom the children are beginning to trust and respect.

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This monitoring visit

 Recruitment practices are now safe and effective.

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This monitoring visit

Despite all this good progress, children are still not being given enough opportunity to express their views. Furthermore, not all children are being helped to participate in varied activities that reflect their interests.

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This monitoring visit

Some children do not have enough clothes. Inspectors found that one child was wearing clothes that were too small and grubby. The same child did not have suitable school uniform. This demonstrates a lack of oversight by managers to ensure that all children have enough physical necessities such as adequate clothing.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of behaviour management is weak. This creates inconsistency in how staff use consequences and rewards to manage children’s behaviour.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/09/2019 Full Inadequate 22/11/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2018 Full Good 06/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258095 3

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(b)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific reference to ensuring that children have enough good-quality clothes to meet their needs. 27/12/2019

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

to ensure that staff— 27/12/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258095 4 help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and—

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1)(2)(a)(ii)(b)) 27/12/2019

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(2)(h)) 27/12/2019

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted 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: 1258095 5

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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: 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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Inspectors

Karen Gillingwater, social care inspector Ms Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1258095 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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