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Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 1 SC482299 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 is a privately-owned children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to 10 children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2019 Full Good 29/11/2018 Full Good 02/03/2017 Full Good 04/10/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a caring and skilled workforce. Staff really know and understand the children. This enables staff to create highly personalised care and support plans that promote good progress for children. One child is being enabled to explore their gender and identity in a supportive and open environment without fear of judgement. One child who came to the home after a high number of placement failures is settling well and professionals are impressed with the speed of progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are rightfully proud of the way in which they have supported children through the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial anxieties about the children’s capacity to manage the impact on their routines and freedoms proved unfounded. Children had a lot of fun despite the restrictions in place. Staff organised some creative activities including their own music festival in the back garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When necessary, home schooling was successful in the main. School staff praised the joined-up working with the staff at the home. One member of a school team said, ‘The deputy manager has been exceptional throughout this time and I feel deserves special recognition for her role in the progress made by [children].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in regular consultation, which often includes children contributing to decision-making. Meetings are just one part of the wider consultation with children. Staff make sure that they always ask for children’s input. The results of this are clearly evidenced in the children’s choice of toys, play equipment and the interior decor. Children are vocal, confident and always keen to put forward their ideas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is in good condition. There have been some positive changes in the use of spaces for playrooms, communal spaces and a new music room. Children’s rooms are age appropriate and highly personalised, with each child having freedom to design and create themes. One child was very proud to show that his entire room was painted to give the appearance of being under the sea.

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

Staff demonstrate a well-developed understanding of their roles and responsibilities as regards the safeguarding of children. Staff know how to report safeguarding concerns within their own organisation. Staff also recognise how the home sits in the wider safeguarding networks around a child. Staff spoke confidently about the importance of whistle-blowing when required.

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

The home has cultivated constructive working relationships with the designated officer for the local authority and multi-agency safeguarding hubs.

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

Staff also benefit from close links with the organisation’s own clinical team. This team supports staff with bespoke safeguarding training which reflects the needs and Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 4 risks of children. The clinical team also supports staff to complete in-house risk assessments. Staff say that this has been invaluable in creating safe spaces for children to flourish.

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

The registered manager’s review of a recent placement ending highlighted communication breakdowns between the home and the placing social worker. The home did not take all practical steps to raise these concerns at a higher level. This breakdown in partnership working was detrimental to the children concerned.

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

In addition, when the departing child made an allegation about a member of staff, there was a delay in reporting to the designated officer for the local authority. The manager has reflected on this and systems are in place to ensure that there is no recurrence. There has also been positive reflection on recognising allegations when they occur, and working with children who make multiple allegations to ensure safe practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, work has taken place to enhance the senior team in the home. Two team managers now work alongside the deputy, providing senior level support for staff on every shift. This has, in turn, supported the registered manager to have more time to work on her own operational responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are benefiting from a new training system. This is individually tailored to offer a wide range of training opportunities built around the staff’s developmental needs and personal interests. Staff say that this is working well, and they feel invested in. Whilst the registered manager has compiled a workforce plan, it is not effectively used as a planning tool for future staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff praise the quality of support from their managers. The registered manager also says she feels well supported. She demonstrated improvements in the consistency of support and supervision at all levels. There are clear lines of reporting and direct access to senior-level support when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new support planning database has been introduced which staff are getting used to. Staff are optimistic about the benefits of the new system. Staff have experienced changes to the organisation’s structure and leadership since the last inspection, but have shown adaptability and managed this change well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager demonstrates a well-developed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She uses thorough internal and external monitoring to ensure that she keeps track of progress against the home’s current development plan. The registered manager also shows good oversight of operational practice, record-keeping, and the quality of support and supervision delivered by her senior team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the previous inspection, there have been some changes to the aims of the home. There is a clear focus on supportive transitions to fostering or family Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 5 reintegration. Staff enjoy this model of working. They feel it gives the home a strong identity and sense of purpose. The average age of children living in the home is lowering, as young children are getting short, intensive placements to stabilise them for fostering. Children benefit from well-planned and carefully considered endings. Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 6

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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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 30 July 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the staff team works in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child, but particularly the child’s local authority and statutory social worker. The registered person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement, including any actions taken to escalate concerns. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC482299 7

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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: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Peter Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482299 8 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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