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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 1 SC437128 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children whose adverse childhood experiences and trauma can lead to them exhibiting complex behaviours. A large national provider operates this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since September 2022 and is yet to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit examined the progress made in meeting the compliance notice which was reissued at the last inspection. Furthermore, this visit was carried out to review the suspension notice issued by Ofsted on 9 August 2022.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last visit, the manager has carried out a review of staff’s skills and knowledge. She has used systems to encourage staff to reflect and assess their own strengths and areas for development. Furthermore, the manager has carried out observations of staff’s practice when working with children in the company’s other homes. This has assured the manager that staff have the skills and confidence to take action to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have introduced systems to upskill and develop staff’s knowledge and understanding in relation to safeguarding children. For example, in team meetings and supervision sessions, staff have engaged in focused workshops and scenarios relating to whistle-blowing, allegations, key work, responding to complaints and physical restraint. The manager has tested staff’s knowledge and used feedback from children and leaders from other homes to assess staff’s performance. This means that staff are more confident in applying strategies to safeguard children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 2 The manager and acting responsible individual have ensured that all internal investigations into previous allegations made by children have been completed. Findings from these investigations have meant that leaders have used learning to take action to improve staff’s practice. This reassures Ofsted that leaders can take

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This monitoring visit

action to improve the care received by children.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have attempted to recruit and redeploy staff to work in the home. However, the recruitment programme has been unsuccessful. At the time of the inspection, there were only three members of staff available to work in the home. Furthermore, the manager’s assessment of the staffing situation was that two members of staff were not yet suitably experienced or qualified to be able to lead shifts in the home. Consequently, the home does not have enough staff to provide care for children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, Ofsted found that the compliance notice had not been fully met and the notice suspending the registration of the home has been reissued. Some of the requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection were not reviewed during this inspection and are restated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/08/2022 Full Inadequate 16/06/2021 Full Good 15/01/2020 Full Good 27/02/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 3

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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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)(a)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must ensure that the home has sufficient and suitably experienced staff to work with children and protect them from harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 13 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so 13 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 4 as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all medicines are stored in a secure place to prevent children from having access to them.

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the responsible individual’s oversight and monitoring of the home and ensuring that the home’s child protection policies are followed. Furthermore, the responsible individual should ensure that systems are in place to support the registered manager in reviewing significant incidents with children in the home. 13 January 2023

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders must ensure that all allegations made by children against adults are notified to the regulator in a timely manner. 13 January 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant time frame listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the time frame if the member of staff has not worked in the role for a prolonged period, for example if they have been on sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete the qualification in this time frame due to the hours they work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 5

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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: SC437128 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Childrens Services (2) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC437128 7 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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