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

Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 1 SC482293 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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

There has been no registered manager in post since 15 November 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 8 October 2022, to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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 requires improvement to be 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

Date of last inspection: 30 January 2020

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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: SC482293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2020 17/12/2019 Monitoring Full Good Inadequate 19/09/2018 Full Outstanding 30/08/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress. They are supported by a caring and nurturing staff team. Staff are child focused and have a good understanding of every child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their education. Children who did not attend school now attend and engage well. School placements are immediately sourced for those children who have just moved to the home, with one child being educated from home while awaiting a start date. Staff share plans and approaches with the school team to promote consistency. As a result, children enjoy being at school and progress in their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a positive model of care to encourage children to voice their views and contribute to the decisions made in the home and their own lives. The regular house meetings, key-work sessions and daily conversations at mealtimes enable children to share their thoughts, make daily plans and catch up on each other’s daily experiences. As a result, children have the gained confidence and self-esteem to express themselves to their peers and adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun engaging in clubs and activities in the home and in the community. They enjoy experiences such as swimming, playing football, cadets, drumming, guitar lessons, horse riding, fencing, ju-jitsu and going away on holiday, where they engage in sailing and surfing. These experiences provide opportunities for children to socialise and build positive relationships with peers and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The communal areas of the home are nicely decorated, clean and feel homely and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are tidy and decorated with pictures and collections from their past. Some children have well-cared-for pets, such as a guinea pig and a snake, in their bedrooms. However, some bedrooms, the garden, gym sheds and chillout room require redecorating and better maintenance. This will enable children to take pride in the upkeep of a well-maintained home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn life skills that are appropriate to their age. Children are supported to implement independence plans that guide them in completing a variety of skills. Children cook, do their own laundry, clean their bedrooms and spend time in the community with their peers. As a result, children become more independent and are well prepared for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain positive, safe relationships with their families and friends. Those with family members who live far away are transported to meet them and spend quality time with them. Staff understand the importance of these relationships and time spent with family, so they ensure that thorough planning is completed. This results in positive outcomes for children. Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 4

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improvement to be good

Staff prioritise the safety of children. When safeguarding concerns occur, the manager and staff react swiftly to manage them. Reflective discussions are held regarding incidents and how to improve practice. As a result, there is a reduction in the number of incidents that occur, and children become increasingly safe.

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improvement to be good

Good-quality discussions are held with the children. Staff do not shy away from conducting in-depth, reflective discussions with children on how to keep safe in the home and out in the community. When children experiment with drug use, despite the best efforts of staff to stop them, the staff work alongside drug and alcohol groups and the internal clinical team to raise children’s awareness of the risks/dangers of substance misuse.. A social worker said, ‘The help sourced out by staff has made him [the child] aware of the dangers of drugs.’

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s safety needs. Staff regularly review individual risk assessments to promote children’s safety. Nevertheless, in some cases, these documents are not clear about the actions to be taken by staff to maintain safety and they lack managers’ oversight.

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improvement to be good

Some children sometimes go missing from the home. When this happens, staff work alongside other agencies to ensure that protocols are adhered to and children are returned home safely. When children are away from home past their curfew, staff phone them and encourage a safe and welcoming return home process.

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improvement to be good

Staff administer medication to some children. Where medication is administered by school staff and parents during visits, staff complete a well-managed transfer of medication process. However, some of the transferred medication has not been signed off by staff or those receiving it.

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from the consistent care that is provided by staff and the manager. When children struggle with emotional difficulties, staff respond in a nurturing and companionate manner, in line with their model of practice. This has resulted in children developing skills in self-soothing and reflecting on their emotions and feelings thereafter. A social worker said, ‘Staff are 100% prepared, skilled and trained to support him [the child] when he is struggling.’

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improvement to be good

Leaders and the manager complete the recruitment process. However, on occasions, safer recruitment processes are not fully adhered to. For example, some applicants’ identity documents are not signed off to confirm that original copies have been seen, and on one occasion a photograph of a document was sent without an original copy being provided. As a result, stringent measures are not taken to ensure that suitable people work with children. Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager has been appointed to the home and is applying for registration with Ofsted. She has a clear vision of ensuring that there is progress, and of providing a high level of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff receive regular, supportive supervisions. These enable them to develop as they reflect on their experiences of caring for the children. The leaders and manager ensure that this space is protected, to allow staff to openly discuss issues that may impact on them emotionally and affect their practice. In some instances, further support is provided by the clinical team. As a result, staff feel appreciated, cared for and listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff are supported well. They receive mandatory training and complete an induction programme during their first six months in post. Training is made available to help staff meet children’s needs. Further training is provided in line with children’s current needs. This helps staff respond to children in a consistent manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On occasions, leaders and managers have not notified Ofsted of serious events. However, the actions taken as a result of the incidents were appropriate. Nonetheless, the failure to report these meant that Ofsted could not review the safeguarding practice in the home and ensure that children’s safety and welfare are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff promote equality, diversity and identity effectively. Child- friendly processes and creative plans help staff to challenge any bullying and discriminatory language from children and their families. Children’s cultural needs are met. One child is supported to visit a hairdresser that specifically provides care for his hair through plaiting and providing hair products suitable for Afro hair. Every child’s opinion is valued. This helps children to feel included. Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 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 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the registered manager has oversight of children’s risk assessment records. 2 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)) 2 May 2022 Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained, as set out in regulations 31 to 33. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a homely and domestic environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than institutional impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered and recorded in line with a medically approved protocol. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: SC482293 8

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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

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482293 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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