Children's Home run by Hill Top Children’s Care Limited in Redbridge

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 1 Registered provider: Hill Top Children’s Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two children. The provider states in their statement of purpose that they provide care for children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2020. The home has not had a registered manager since October 2021. The manager intends to submit an application to register with Ofsted in April 2022.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance and progress in relation to the notice to suspend the children’s home issued on 31 January 2022. The notice to suspend the home was issued following the interim inspection conducted on 27 January 2022. The inspector identified widespread shortfalls across all areas of care, with significant shortfalls identified in the leadership and management of the home.

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This monitoring visit

In response to the requirements raised at the interim inspection, leaders and managers provided an action plan identifying the action they would take to address the shortfalls. There has been some progress made against these actions. However, there is still a significant amount of work to be completed. Some of the timescales outlined in the action plan have already passed and the actions have not been completed. Only one of the requirements raised at the interim inspection has been met in its entirety, namely the requirement in relation to children’s bedrooms being painted and their wardrobes being secured to the wall.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been appointed and intends to submit an application to register with Ofsted. The interim manager has limited experience in the role and has been Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 2 provided with a manager’s induction pack. However, although this document provides some clarity in relation to the home’s internal processes, it does not specifically detail how the manager will develop the necessary experience and skills to fulfil the role. Leaders have identified that the interim manager would benefit from the support of a mentor, however, this has not yet been provided.

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This monitoring visit

A new training matrix has been introduced which makes it clearer to see what training has been undertaken by staff. Staff have completed some training to support them in their role and to help them to meet the needs of the children in their care. However, staff have not undertaken all training relevant to meeting the needs of the children the provider aims to provide care for as outlined in its statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has taken steps to address the requirements raised at the interim inspection and recognises the work that is still required. This includes reviewing and updating a number of safeguarding policies to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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This monitoring visit

There is more still to do in respect of meeting the requirement in relation to complaints and representations, the complaints policy and the allegations against staff policy. Leaders and managers have identified the need to review and update these policies and to create a flow chart that details the steps to take when a child makes an allegation or complaint. However, this has not yet been completed.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has devised a tool to help to ascertain the views of children, to include these in the manager’s six-monthly quality of care review report. However, more is still to be done in relation to gathering the views of placing authorities, parents and other professionals connected with children’s care.

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This monitoring visit

A supervision template has been devised to track the timeliness of supervision. Some improvement in the quality of supervision is evident. However, supervision records still do not show sufficient reflection or identify the means by which staff can develop their skills further to meet the needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

There is still some work to do to ensure that staff have sufficient knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of children in their care. Furthermore, not enough staff are employed at the home to meet the needs of the number of children that the home is registered to care for. The provider is taking steps to recruit additional staff.

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This monitoring visit

Although some progress has been made, this is limited. Therefore, the grounds for the notice to suspend the children’s home still apply. A further monitoring visit will be undertaken to review the provider’s progress and to consider if grounds remain for the notice of suspension to remain in place. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 07/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 4

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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 provider must appoint a person to manage the children s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day to day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the interim manager submits an application to register with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 15 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 5 the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; 15 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 6 ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the home should ensure that children’s information is recorded appropriately in the home’s register.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff undertake specialist training that helps them to meet children’s individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 April 2022

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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—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 15 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 7 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The relates to leaders and managers ensuring that safeguarding arrangements are strong and that that safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed. This includes ensuring that staff have the knowledge and skills to protect children in their care.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that complaints made by children are dealt with effectively. 15 April 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home has a plan in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hill Top Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Francis Road, Edgbaston, West Midlands B16 8SP

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Inspector

Andy Whippey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2594629 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 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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