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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482293 1 SC482293

p.1

Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to seven young males with complex social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, who may have also suffered traumas, such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Young people are supported towards independence by using the two self-contained flats on the premises.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Ofsted registered the manager on 21 November 2019.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 17 and 18 December 2019. Following this monitoring visit, we have made a new full inspection judgement in line with our inspection framework. The children’s home’s new full inspection judgement is: good .

p.1

This monitoring visit

Following the last inspection, Ofsted served a notice restricting accommodation and a compliance notice. In addition to these measures, several requirements and recommendations were also made. The purpose of this monitoring inspection was to:

p.1

This monitoring visit

■ check the provider’s compliance with the notice restricting accommodation ■ ensure that the steps in the compliance notice have been met ■ review the provider’s progress against the other requirements and recommendations.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been an effective response to the identified shortfalls. The restriction notice has been complied with as no children have been admitted to the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482293 2 The steps in the compliance notice required the provider to review and report on staff training and monitoring systems.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The management team has ensured that these actions have been fully addressed. For example, a full review of staff training has taken place. All staff are now appropriately trained and there are improved monitoring systems in place to ensure that staff do not lapse in their training or skills refreshers. Therefore, the compliance notice has been met.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The monitoring of the home has also been fully reviewed. This identified some further shortfalls, which have been resolved promptly. As a result, the registered manager has improved some monitoring systems and the organisation has engaged the services of an external consultant to test these systems. This thorough approach to scrutinising and reviewing the home’s systems means that there is now greater confidence that the management team is able to identify and act upon weakness and developmental areas.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The day-to-day care of children in the home is good. The provider has ensured that, despite some challenging situations with the children, safeguarding has been promoted and is central to staff practice. For example, risk assessment processes continue to be improved and refined. The staff team continues to discuss how best to support children and the team is now benefiting from enhanced support from external clinical professionals. Staff supervision has also improved, with all staff now well supported by appropriately skilled managers. Supervision records show open and reflective discussions. Staff are encouraged to think about their practice and identify their own areas for improvement. They are supported to be child-centred in their approaches.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The management team has addressed further some areas for improvement from the last inspection. For instance, clearer processes are now in place to outline how children can remain in touch with the home if they so wish. There is a better understanding of the need to increase the rigour of monthly independent visits. For example, the two most recent visits for December 2019 and January 2020 were much more focused on the views of, and discussions with, children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Further improvements since the December 2019 inspection include a full review, by senior managers, of all recruitment files. This identified some further errors and discrepancies, which have been quickly resolved. The management team has worked hard to make improvements. Restraint practice has been revised. The management team has reflected on how it challenges other agencies and reminded staff to be alert to slow responses and actions from others. Staff are clear about how to raise concerns should this be necessary. Managers are confident to address these concerns with external services as required.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been some challenging incidents. All have been well managed, and the safety of children has been kept at the heart of staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482293 3 Risk management has been continually reviewed by all staff and children have been protected from harm. Staff are vigilant and are committed to giving children the opportunity to take age-related, and appropriate, risks. Children benefit from this approach as it engenders trust and increases their confidence. When children find it difficult to make positive decisions or overcome challenges, staff are quick to intervene and support them to find improved ways of managing their own behaviours and responses.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The children and the staff have gone through some distressing situations in the last year. The staff team remains largely unchanged and this is largely due to the support managers from within the home and wider organisation have provided to staff. The children continue to make steady, and in some cases very good, progress. For example, when children are old enough to learn to drive they are supported to access driving lessons. Children are also helped to develop their independence through part-time work and increased time with their friends in the community. Some children engage in community-based activities, for instance supporting other local children in sports clubs and activities. The children are encouraged and enabled to make a positive difference to the home and in the local community.

p.3

This monitoring visit

As a result of the actions taken by the provider, and the markedly improved management of risk within the home, Ofsted has changed the judgement from the December 2019 inspection. The home is now judged to be:

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.3

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.3

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.3

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/12/2019 Full Inadequate 19/09/2018 Full Outstanding 30/08/2017 Full Outstanding 12/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482293 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rodrigo Ferreira

p.4

Inspector

Pete Hylton, regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482293 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

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 http://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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5