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

Assurance visit report: SC482293 1 SC482293

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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.

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Information about this children's home

Ofsted registered the manager on 21 November 2019.

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Information about this children's home

Previous inspection date: 30 January 2020

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children's social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills is leading Ofsted's work into how England's social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC482293 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children express their feelings well. Some children enjoy living at the home and make full use of the activities available to them. These include playing football, learning to drive and enjoying the swimming pool which was provided throughout the summer. Children take pride in their bedrooms, which are well presented, individually decorated and contain many personal items and photographs. During the lockdown period, children spoke to staff about having more time to have fun. Children enjoyed activities which included water balloons, movie nights and ‘come dine with me’ evenings.

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The care of children

There are good transition processes in place. The registered manager has a clear focus on children learning key independence skills. This is to promote life skills, but also to enable children to be successful when they move on from the home. As a result, several children have experienced progress, stability and positive experiences when they have left the home.

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The care of children

All children have made progress in their lives. For example, some children have a part-time job and others have had a significant reduction in physical interventions. Achievements are recognised and celebrated.

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The care of children

Children’s educational needs continue to be met, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. This is the case even for children who have difficulties attending school. The registered manager demonstrates a clear focus on the importance of education and advocates for children when things do not go as planned. For example, challenging professionals when they have not acted as planned or delivered what was promised. When children first move into the home, the transition to a new school is extremely well supported. A variety of different stakeholders are involved so that each child has a bespoke plan to ensure a successful start.

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The care of children

Despite the limitations of COVID-19, children have been able to maintain much- needed contact with family members and important individuals in their lives. Since living at the home, some children have resumed relationships, where appropriate to do so, which were previously considered estranged. This has been achieved by the registered manager and their staff team carefully planning and having consideration for the needs of all of those involved.

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The safety of children

Not all children feel safe. This is due to there being an issue of bullying between children within the home. Leaders and staff are not addressing the situation effectively. More could and should be done to protect children from the detrimental effect that bullying can have on their emotional development, positive relationships Assurance visit report: SC482293 3 and feelings of self-worth. Some of the bullying behaviour has consisted of racially abusive language and attitudes. These have not always been challenged, which means the behaviour has continued.

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The safety of children

Key-worker sessions have taken place to tackle the bullying and racist remarks. This is because the registered manager and their team have identified that there is an issue. However, the effectiveness of this input is limited and has not addressed the situation fully.

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The safety of children

There are also occasions where children’s cultural and religious needs are not fully met. The registered manager and leadership team capture the relevant information when children first move into the home. However, they do not enable children to incorporate all their religious practices in their everyday lives or ensure that cultural needs are kept under continual review.

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The safety of children

The presentation of the home and decor could be better. There are areas which need repair and decoration. For example, there are water damage stains on the kitchen ceiling. This has been caused by an upstairs shower which previously leaked and is now fixed. Furthermore, the design of the back garden does not reflect the detailed risk assessments that are in place for children. For instance, there is an easily accessible roof which children could climb onto. This could place children who display this type of behaviour at risk. However, this had not been identified and measures had not been taken to make the area safe.

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Leaders and managers

Staff report that they feel happy and well supported in their role. Staffing levels are currently stable. This is a credit to the leaders and managers, in what has been a difficult year. Staff receive regular supervision which is reflective, nurturing and relates to practice and professional development. However, this is not the case for the registered manager. Although the register manager has regular discussions with their line manager, there is little recorded evidence to demonstrate that good-quality supervision and professional development are being implemented. This means that there is the potential for agreed actions or plans to be subject to drift or delay.

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Leaders and managers

Permanent staff members have completed up-to-date essential training. This enables them to fulfil the requirements of their role. However, members of staff who are employed on a casual basis have not completed the same essential training. Even though these individuals are classed as ‘bank’ staff, some work at the home on a regular basis. This means not all staff have the relevant training for their role. This includes safeguarding training.

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Leaders and managers

There have been several complaints raised by children. These have not been dealt with in line with the home’s statement of purpose. For example, complaints relating to the bullying and racist comments had been logged, but not fully investigated. This means the registered manager has not ensured that children have an outcome to the issues they raise. It also means there have been missed opportunities for learning and reflection of practice. Furthermore, when children make concerning Assurance visit report: SC482293 4 comments during physical restraints, these are not identified as a complaint. Therefore, they have not been explored or investigated. As a result, children lack confidence and trust in the complaints process.

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Leaders and managers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, regulation 44 visits have continued to take place. This have been conducted through a balance of virtual and on-site visits. This has provided an additional layer of checks to the home. However, the visitor has not consistently evidenced whether children’s views have been sought. This is despite children being good at expressing their views. This potentially means that children’s wishes and feelings have gone unheard during a very difficult period in their lives.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s own quality checks have identified some areas that require improvement. However, the shortfalls identified from this inspection had not been identified. This includes the lack of training for bank staff, weaknesses of the regulation 44 reports, issues with the premises and associated risks, and the lack of robustness for complaints.

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that staff— understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xii)(xiii)(b)) 15/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC482293 5 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; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 15/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 15/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 15/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 15/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 15/12/2020 Assurance visit report: SC482293 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children's Services Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Hillcrest Children's Services Ltd, Turnpike Gate House, Alcester Heath, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5JG

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Inspector

Kelly Marchmont, social care inspector Assurance visit report: SC482293 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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