Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 1 SC398377 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who have adverse early childhood experiences and trauma. A large national provider operates this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2019. He holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 November 2019

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2019 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Good 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress as a result of the good-quality care that they receive.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff invest in children’s education. Consequently, children who have previously missed significant time in school attend regularly and are positive about their learning.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff receive specialist training to help them to meet the specific health needs of children. This knowledge has helped the staff to help one child to have a better understanding of their medical condition. As a result of this individual care, the child’s long-term health outcomes have significantly improved.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children take part in a range of activities, such as playing in a football team, attending a drama group and going horse riding.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who leave the home experience well-planned moves. Staff work closely with new carers to ensure that they understand children’s routines. Staff make sure that children leave with photograph albums and memory boxes. This gives children positive memories that they can refer to in years to come.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly carry out individual work with children. For example, staff have sensitively supported one child to feel comfortable enough to explore their identity. This positive response has helped the child to feel more accepted.

p.4

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

Staff work tirelessly to safeguard children. Because of this diligent care, children’s risks reduce significantly.

p.4

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

Staff devise comprehensive risk assessments in consultation with the organisation’s clinical team. Staff implement the agreed strategies into their everyday practice. Consequently, incidents are rare.

p.4

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

Staff receive comprehensive training in relation to safeguarding children. Staff also receive specialist training that is relevant to the children who live in the home. As a result, staff are extremely well informed on how to provide safe and effective care.

p.4

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

The home environment is safe and well maintained. Staff carry out regular checks and ensure that any concerns are quickly reported and dealt with.

p.4

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

The manager’s diligent oversight of the recruitment of staff means that only staff who are safe to work with children are employed. Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was appointed in March 2019. He is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All new staff who come to work at the home receive a comprehensive induction programme. This means that new staff quickly understand their roles and have the essential skills required to enable them to meet children’s individual needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported and receive regular supervision. This ensures that staff have opportunities to reflect on and develop their practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff work closely with a range of professionals. This ensures that there is a cohesive approach to children’s care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has implemented a range of systems that support his oversight of the home. However, his review of case records has not identified that records do not always contain sufficient detail of events. This prevents the manager from identifying and responding to any patterns that are emerging. Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 6

p.5

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 difference 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.

p.6

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: SC398377 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Heath, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Millward

p.7

Inspector

Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC398377 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8