Children's home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Havant

Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 1 SC482344 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited Full inspection 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 eight children. The organisation also runs a registered school that the children living in the home may attend. The home has a suitably qualified manager who has been registered with Ofsted since August 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2018 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Good 13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/08/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 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

Subject to paragraph (6), 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)) 31/01/2020

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Recommendations

 It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 13.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The process for children moving in and out of the home is well managed. The manager is forward thinking and focuses on preparing the children for their futures when they first arrive. Children’s plans are used effectively to guide the staff’s practice and the children are helped both emotionally and practically for leaving. The staff go above and beyond what is expected of them to support this. As a result, there are several good examples of children experiencing hugely positive, and successful, transitions from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from secure attachments with the staff. The staff have been able to help the children to form these emotional bonds by responding sensitively and appropriately to their needs. This has positively affected the children’s overall development and progress, including increasing their confidence and self-esteem. As a result, the relationships that exist between them are warm and nurturing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is keen to ensure that all staff fully understand the model of care described in the home’s statement of purpose. However, while there is a basic understanding of the principles, they are not used consistently across the team and they are not evident in children’s case records. This is a missed opportunity to reflect the high level of care and support that the children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are very settled. The staff have supported them to live happily alongside Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 4 each other. Bullying-type behaviour is not tolerated at all. The staff know the children extremely well and have worked hard to ensure that children treat each other with respect. This includes addressing any subtle comments or behaviours quickly and before they worsen. This approach has reduced incidents significantly and given the home a lovely atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a high level of importance on the children’s education and learning. The children know and understand what is expected of them and the staff support them to meet these expectations. The staff achieve this by explaining the rules and boundaries to the children when they move in and by ensuring that daily routines are implemented consistently. The staff also advocate on their behalf to ensure that they are in the right provision. This means that all children are in school or college, attend regularly and are making progress.

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

The registered manager has worked hard over the past year to reduce the number of incidents in the home. This has included reflecting on the reasons why they occurred and putting plans in place to prevent them from happening again. For example, following a serious incident where a child had accessed the roof, anti-climb devices were put in place, guidance for staff was updated and individual work took place with the child to outline the risks and consequences of this type of behaviour.

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

The approach to behaviour management is good. The staff use the relationships they have with the children to positive effect. Children are kept busy and enjoy taking part in activities related to their specific hobbies and interests. This helps to prevent them from engaging in risk-taking behaviours. Children’s plans also give the staff clear guidance on how to reduce negative behaviours. This has resulted in a reduction in incidents with, for example, physical interventions, going missing and bullying.

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

Children are helped to manage their behaviour and emotions. The children will seek the staff out when they are upset. The children spoken to during this inspection talked positively about what the staff do to support them, including using time on activities to discuss sensitive topics. As a result, the children have learned lots of ways to deal with their feelings and different ways to express them.

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

Allegations made by the children against the staff are taken seriously. The registered manager listens to them and takes appropriate action to keep them safe. This includes working with the appropriate professionals to ensure that these are investigated thoroughly. In situations where these are proved, the staff and children are supported throughout the process. Where appropriate, relationships are rebuilt and repaired to good effect.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an excellent role model who leads by example. He is highly thought of by children, the staff and senior managers. He has a clear vision for the home Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 5 and he has created a culture where the staff continually learn and develop. His passion and enthusiasm are evident and, with the support from the staff, the children are put first in everything they do. As a result, the children speak fondly of them all and really feel at home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment and retention of staff are very good. The registered manager utilises the mix of skills and experience within the team to positive effect. He is continually thinking of ways to help the staff to develop and progress within their roles. This includes giving them opportunities to take on extra responsibility and to learn new things. The staff are very committed and passionate about what they do, and morale in the staff team is positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems implemented by the registered manager are effective. The team administrator supports these processes by collecting information and data. This, together with constructive feedback from the independent visitor, means that the registered manager has good oversight of practice. It also means that he knows what is working well and what needs improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision meetings take place regularly and the quality of discussions between the staff and the managers is good. However, while there is a lot of evidence to show that staff are supported in their roles, the records of supervision are brief. While this does not have a negative impact on the staff or the children, it is a missed opportunity to hold the staff to account, for example by setting clear targets and recording actions and outcomes.

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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: SC482344 6

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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: Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited, Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Heath, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

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Inspectors

Amanda Harvey: social care inspector Kelly Monniot: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482344 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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