Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 1 SC398482 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children. It is part of a large social care company. The home provides therapeutic care and education for children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home registered with Ofsted in May 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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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 who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 22 January 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2020 Full Good 29/08/2018 Full Good 14/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 3

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outstanding

Children receive outstanding support from staff who they know care about them. They are provided with a warm, safe and nurturing environment in which they thrive. There are photos of children’s experiences, memories and drawings displayed in every room of the home. Staff provide the children with a calm and relaxed environment where they feel listened to and supported. One child described the home as ‘lovely, amazing and homely’. He also said, ‘I love it here, I love everything about it.’

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outstanding

Children feel a sense of belonging when they move into the home. This is because the manager ensures that children have excellent introductions, and moves are well planned. Children plant their own tree in the garden and each tree has a personal meaning to each child. For example, one child chose a silver birch tree because this was his favourite. Children add their handprint to a wall and their name to a leaf on the home’s family tree. This helps children to feel highly valued and settle into the home well.

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outstanding

Staff understand and meet children’s needs with sensitivity and care. For example, one child who has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has received exceptional support from staff to understand what this means, and he now knows how and when to ask for help. He took the lead in creating a sensory garden, personalised to his sensory needs and preferences. It includes a hammock and a barefoot walk.

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outstanding

Children who experience bereavement receive excellent support to help them process loss. One child created a peace garden for quiet reflection. All the children take pride in maintaining this area. This is because they have shared values about respect and supporting each other.

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outstanding

Children engage in therapeutic support and are emotionally healthier as a result. This is because the care they receive has helped them to feel safe to explore trauma and difficult experiences. The children’s psychologist told the inspector, ‘For me as a clinician, the manager and staff have helped these children feel safe and it has made such a difference to therapy.’ Staff have an excellent understanding of each child’s therapeutic journey. The therapeutic model used is embedded in direct work with children. This allows children to develop a safe and secure base, from which they can begin to process their trauma and develop positive coping strategies for their futures.

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outstanding

Staff work hard to provide the children with valuable and memorable experiences. Children enjoy a wide range of social and community activities that help them to explore their interests. For example, two children recently went on a holiday to Scotland. Children benefit from other enjoyable experiences, such as spa days, swimming and local clubs. The journey children have navigated throughout their Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 4 time at the home is creatively illustrated through a scroll, rather than a memory book, and children have this to look at with staff and take with them when they leave.

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outstanding

Given their starting points, children have made exceptional progress in their education. This is because staff work closely with educational provisions to ensure that children receive individualised support. Three children attend mainstream college because of the progress they have made. One child has been for a job interview and, with the support of staff, embraced this learning experience. Another child attends school full time and incidents in school have significantly reduced. The manager developed excellent partnership working, which helped teachers to understand the strategies that work best for this child. He is now a school prefect and part of the school council.

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outstanding

The manager and staff go above and beyond to support children to maintain relationships with those who are important to them. For example, they provide excellent support, such as transporting the children and supervising time they spend with their families. This means that children spend time with significant people in an environment that is relaxed and natural. They build positive relationships with relatives. This means that when difficulties arise, staff can intervene and support and help relatives to understand children’s needs. As a result, children have enjoyable experiences with those who are most important to them.

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outstanding

Children are made to feel very special. Difference is celebrated and each child is valued for their uniqueness. The children create the home’s values, so that everyone works towards the things that are most important to them. Children and staff regularly discuss important topics, such as bullying, sexuality and racism. This helps to raise children’s awareness of sensitive issues and to understand their own and others’ identities.

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outstanding

Children say they feel safe. One child told the inspector, ‘I feel safe, because I am supported even when I make bad choices.’ As result, children feel safe to make mistakes and are confident that they will be supported to learn from their actions.

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outstanding

The manager and staff use research-informed practice to help children reflect and understand risk. For example, staff have used research creatively to help children understand risks online. They have done this in partnership with a local police community support officer (PCSO). As a result, children have a good understanding of their vulnerabilities, and understand the steps they need to take to keep themselves and others safe online. Two children who were unable to have unsupervised access online are now working their way towards greater independence in this area.

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outstanding

Dedicated, nurturing and exceptionally hard-working staff ensure that children receive clear and consistent expectations and boundaries. Staff help children Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 5 respond to their feelings safely, through the promotion of reflective learning. As a result, children know what is expected from them, which helps them to feel safe. Consequences are proportionate and logical, and children are confident about sharing their views on the consequences they receive. Because children feel safe and settled, they do not go missing from home. In addition, staff do not need to restrain children to keep them safe.

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outstanding

Very experienced and highly skilled staff respond promptly to safeguarding issues. They work very closely with the police and social workers when they develop risk management plans. Staff follow detailed and comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour management plans. These are carefully tailored to the children’s individual needs. This means that staff understand potential triggers and agreed strategies. As a result, they are well equipped to safeguard the children they care for. Children also understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and are included in the risk management planning process.

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outstanding

Staff undertake purposeful and highly reflective pieces of work with children. Staff and children develop actions and outcomes together. Children understand the model and were able to tell the inspector the specific areas they were working on. For example, together with staff they have opportunities to research a wide range of issues, such as online safety, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans awareness, sexual health and using mindfulness for emotional regulation. This is exceptional practice that influences change in children’s lives. This dedicated practice means that children have a good understanding of the areas of risk they face. They feel a sense of achievement when they complete actions, and are equipped with the skills to make better-informed choices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A passionate, experienced and inspirational manager leads a committed and motivated team. She has high expectations of staff to provide excellent care for children. The manager and staff work well together to provide outstanding care. They do this because they are continually seeking ways to improve the experiences of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places high value on the emotional well-being of staff and children. During the COVID-19 pandemic she has created well-being boxes for staff and children. She went above and beyond to ensure that one child received a pamper box when he was unwell. Staff have all participated in a well-being questionnaire to ensure that they have received additional support if required. Because of this nurturing approach, children receive excellent care from well-supported and motivated staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager inspires her staff team. The children are her top priority. One member of staff told the inspector, ‘The thought that [the manager] puts into every aspect of [the children’s] lives is incredible. She is inspirational, which is contagious.’ The manager acts a positive role model to others, and children flourish because of the high-quality care they receive. Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 6 Staff are committed to training because the manager makes sure that this a priority. There is a strong culture of learning and development in the home. Reflective practice is at the centre of upskilling group supervisions, key-work sessions and therapeutic work. Each of the staff’s individual strengths and skills are used to benefit the children. This helps staff feel valued and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. She continuously thinks of ways to improve the experiences for children. Two children participate in the company’s children’s forum, to share their ideas and experiences. Children are continuously encouraged to participate in their care, and their views are highly valued and respected. This is evident through improvements to the home that have been led by the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are encouraged to be part of the local community. They have enjoyed raising money for charities that are important to them. Staff keep abreast of current trends and themes. For example, the children were recently involved in creating a bee garden, in line with current concerns about nature.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from external stakeholders is outstanding. A local PCSO described the manager as ‘brilliant’, and also said, ‘She listens, takes on board advice and is good at problem-solving.’ The manager knows that it is essential to build strong working relationships, and that this a pivotal part of safeguarding children. These close working relationships mean that staff can promptly access external support for children when needed. This promotes children’s safety and welfare. Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 7

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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: SC398482 8

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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: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC398482 9 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 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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