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 is registered to provide care for up to five children whose adverse early childhood experiences and trauma may result in them exhibiting complex behaviours. A large private provider of children’s services operates this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2009. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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 February 2019

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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

13/02/2019 Full Outstanding 31/10/2017 Full Outstanding 14/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress as a result of the high-quality, individualised care that they receive. One social worker told the inspector, ‘Staff really get to know each child individually. They really understand the child; they listen to them and this helps children to trust them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged to play and to have fun. They live in a house that is alive with laughter. Staff encourage the children to develop an interest in nature and the wildlife that surrounds the home. The children are involved in growing their own fruit and vegetables, which they then cook with the staff. Children have initiated a plastics recycling project for the home and have built bug and bird houses to encourage wildlife into their garden. All these experiences are helping to enrich children’s lives and to provide them with positive childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children’s education extremely well. Staff will go into school when a child is unsettled, working closely with teachers to help the child rebuild their confidence in the classroom. This means that children have every opportunity to learn and to fulfil their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience improved physical and emotional health as a result of the care that they receive. All children benefit from weekly therapy and staff work closely with the clinical team to implement new and creative ideas into their daily care of the children. This informed approach plays an important part in improving children’s resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are committed to helping children to maintain meaningful relationships with the people who are important to them. For example, staff have devised individual prompt sheets to help children prepare for telephone calls from their family. This encourages positive family relationships as children are well prepared to share their current news with their family.

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

Staff work tirelessly to ensure that children are protected from harm.

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

Children’s needs and potential risks are clearly laid out in risk and behaviour management plans. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new and emerging risks. This means that staff are always well informed about how to safeguard children.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviour exceptionally well. Clear routines and boundaries are intrinsic in children’s progress. Appropriate staffing levels mean that children flourish as a result of high levels of positive attention. Staff ensure that children receive supportive hugs and cuddles and frequent praise. Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 4 Children are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and understand how they can make good choices. A daily ‘Bees’ meeting allows children to share their successes of the day and to consider what they could have done differently. Positive behaviour is reinforced with a range of well thought-out rewards.

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

The manager is diligent in her oversight of staff recruitment. This ensures that only people who are safe to work with children are employed at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an impressive, highly experienced practitioner who has worked in the home for 18 years. She sets high standards of professionalism for her staff and is the integral driving force within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads a passionate and committed team of staff who are aspirational for the children that they care for. Staff engagement is high, with low staff turnover and minimal staff absence. This means that there has been no agency staffing in the home for over 14 months. This high level of consistency allows children to develop strong, trusting relationships with the people who care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported by readily available managers. In addition to regular supervision, staff take part in daily reflective debriefs and regular group consultation. This excellent support ensures that staff have the opportunity to regularly review and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive a range of training that reflects the complex needs of the children who live in the home. This is supported by regular training with the clinical team. These child- focused learning opportunities guarantee that staff have access to current research. This informs creative and sensitive work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager forges strong, effective working relationships with professionals. Overwhelmingly positive feedback from social workers and teachers confirms that open communication is a strength of this service. This ensures that there is a joined-up approach to progressing children’s care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains constant oversight of the home, using a range of review and monitoring systems. As a result of her attention to detail, the home has sustained its outstanding rating for the ninth consecutive full inspection.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC398481 5 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: 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 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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