Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in West Berkshire

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a privately owned organisation with many homes around the country. The home provides assessment and treatment for children who present challenging behaviour due to their traumatic early life experiences. It is set in a rural village location. Most children currently attend the organisation’s school, located five miles away.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 26 July 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 7 October 2019

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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.

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Information about this visit

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: 2483715 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 are well cared for. The manager carefully considers information in referrals, and detailed plans are in place for children joining the home. This has led to children making progress emotionally and with their communication skills. One child has made improvements in their communication because of careful planning between the manager, social worker, parents and other specialist agencies. The manager is active in ensuring that all agencies are involved in the care planning for children. As a result, children receive a high level of care from trained staff.

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The care of children

Children benefit from seeing their wishes come to life with creatively designed bedrooms. This gives children a safe space and feeling of security in the home. Children are involved in the furnishing of all areas of the home. This has created a culture of warm positive relationships, with one child describing people in the home as being like family.

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The care of children

Children are supported to keep in contact with family and those who are important to them. One parent commented that the ‘dedication and commitment to support during contact time has been fantastic’. This is a view also shared by professionals.

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The care of children

Education in the home has been a success despite the challenges of COVID-19. Children have received a structured timetable through periods of lockdown with work set and completed. Staff have been proactive in planning this through their individual supervisions and children have benefited from the passion of adults who provide this educational support.

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The care of children

Staff support one child to attend school some distance away to maintain a continuity of care. The manager declined arranged transport to ensure that trusted adults supported the child to attend school. This has resulted in the child attending education regularly and the staff are able to support the child’s learning outside school with direct liaison with the child’s teachers. This provides highly effective, and individualised, support for the child. As a result, the child remains settled in education.

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The care of children

One parent explained that, ‘Considering the challenges that COVID-19 brought to all our lives, I believe the provision is remarkable and ultimately led to us having a happy son as a result of everything they do.’

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The safety of children

The manager ensures that risk assessments are effective. This enables staff to manage and minimise risks inside and outside the home. As a result, children have a strong sense of safety and well-being and do not go missing from the home. Assurance visit report: 2483715 3 Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Children benefit from learning about new themes and topics monthly. For example, children recently focused on learning about race and religion. One child, who uses discriminatory language, was able to benefit from education around this topic. The child’s progress in this area was measured using a gold star incentive and noting a reduction in the use of discriminatory language.

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The safety of children

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques and creative alternative strategies that are specific to the needs of each child. Children benefit from bespoke behaviour support plans with individual strategies to support children. The manager ensures regular reviews and use a clear colour system for staff to follow.

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The safety of children

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. Incidents are followed up with a thorough debrief and children feel safe to talk about what triggers their behaviours or anxieties. Furthermore, staff respond with clear boundaries about what is safe and acceptable and seek to understand the triggers for behaviour. The manager promotes the use of natural consequences to behaviours in the home. For example, one child who damaged a computer tablet was given a one-day period of time away from the computer tablet and completed a key-work session about the impact of their behaviour. This led to the child developing an awareness of the consequences of their actions in an age- appropriate, supportive and non-punitive manner.

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The safety of children

Restraint is used only in strict accordance with the legislative framework to protect the child and those around them. All incidents are reviewed, recorded and monitored and the views of the child, dependent on their age and understanding, are sought and understood.

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Leaders and managers

Children benefit from being placed at the centre of all decisions made in the home. The manager fully understands the needs of the children and this is reflected in children’s plans and in feedback from parents, professionals and staff.

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Leaders and managers

Positive partnerships with external professionals are in place and the manager has a real focus on multi-agency working. The manager has created a local safeguarding hub. This has built excellent relationships with key professionals in the local network, including the designated officer, and children benefit from the shared skills available.

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Leaders and managers

Swift and appropriate action is taken to address complaints or issues of concern. The manager has taken effective action to address any concerns raised in the home. The manager ensures that there is continuous learning and development to ensure that the quality of care continues to improve.

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Leaders and managers

Recently, there was an error in medication administration. The manager acted quickly to ensure the child was safe. The error was addressed in a timely manner and strategies were put in place to ensure the risk of reoccurrence was minimised. Assurance visit report: 2483715 4 Staff and managers receive good individualised support, including effective training and supervision. Supervisions are reflective and address areas of improvement for staff. Staff speak positively about the supervisions they receive. Children benefit from a skilled workforce who are consistent in their approach.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is highly capable, experienced and suitably qualified to fulfil the needs of the role. As a result, staff have an excellent understanding of the children’s needs. There is a passion for the care of the children in the home, and this is shared among the staff team and led by the manager. When asked about the effectiveness of the manager, parents responded with comments such as, ‘[The manager] has been brilliant,’ and ‘sympathetic and understanding to me as a parent’.

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Leaders and managers

All recommendations and requirements from the previous inspection were met. No recommendations or requirements were made at this inspection

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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: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2483715 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.

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