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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 1 SC482344 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 for up to eight children. The organisation also runs a separate registered school that the children living in the home may attend.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 22 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/02/2022 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Full Good 11/09/2018 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are collectively known as ‘adults’ to the children rather than ‘staff’. They are a committed and friendly team, providing good and individualised care to children. Children feel secure and cared for. One child said, ‘I like it here and adults look after me really well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults have positive relationships with children and their families. Family visits are well planned, with views obtained from children and their families. A parent said, ‘Adults plan our visits well. They give my son and I choices of activities to take part in during the visit and they cover all costs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults and the manager take time to fully understand and connect with children before they move into the home. A child-centred approach ensures that children feel welcome and reassured when they move in. The manager and adults also consider the needs of the children currently in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from the outset. Children who struggled with their education before moving in now attend full-time education. A parent said, ‘My child now attends school and is pleased that he will be taking part in the school Christmas play.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have gained confidence and improved their social skills. They participate in local charity events and clubs such as cadets, where they interact with the wider community. This gives children a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a well-maintained home. Children and adults take pride in the presentation of their home and ensure that it is homely and welcoming. The home is decorated with personalised and meaningful artwork and festive decorations were up at the time of inspection. Children’s bedrooms are well furnished and personalised with toys, pictures and other treasured items. One child told the inspector that the home was ‘amazing’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to and their views influence the decisions made in the home. The manager and adults use a variety of ways in which to capture children’s voices. Regular direct work, discussions with the manager and house meetings are held with children to address their needs and provide feedback on actions taken. One child said, ‘Adults listen to me and help me get the things I need.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend a variety of exciting and enriching activities at home and in the community. Children have fun going fishing, mountain biking and swimming, and watching football matches at local football stadiums. This means that children enjoy quality time with their peers and adults. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 4 When children are considering a return to their families, adults diligently plan the process, taking it slowly, according to the needs of the children. Children’s wishes to return to their families are thoroughly assessed and actioned by a collective of professionals. Regular planned visits and effective communication between children and their families assures smooth and positive transitions.

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

Adults know how to keep children safe. Clear and well-documented risk assessments are in place to ensure that effective guidance from adults keeps children safe. Child-focused handover meetings and open communication between the adults and managers reduce the risk to children.

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

Some children have gone missing from home. Adults work collaboratively with other agencies, local authorities and parents to locate children and return them home safely. Clear protocols are in place and adults are guided by these in response to children going missing from home.

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

Children understand the home’s rules and guidelines. Adults use therapeutic interventions and guidance from the organisation’s clinical team to help children calm and regulate their emotions effectively. Restraint is only used as a last resort. As a result, incidents have reduced, and children express their feelings and emotions in a calm manner.

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

Managers and leaders adhere to safer recruitment processes. Thorough checks are carried out before individuals are recruited. This assures safer care for children.

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good

There is a new manager in the home who started in their role on 23 May 2022. The manager has not yet resubmitted their application form for registration with Ofsted since it was returned to him for alterations.

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good

The manager uses the organisation’s electronic systems to measure and review progress made by children. He also holds regular key-work meetings, team meetings and supervisions with adults. Discussions on progress and areas for development regarding children take place during these meetings. This ensures consistency of practice, which helps to achieve positive outcomes for children.

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good

The monthly independent monitoring visits to the home lack rigour and challenge. The scope of the visits is at times limited and lacks consistency. The independent person does not provide clarity on the sources of her findings and evidence- gathering. This provides a narrow scope of independent assurance and impacts the regulator’s ability to monitor the home effectively between inspections.

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good

Leaders and the manager have failed to obtain children’s updated local authority documents. Children’s care plans and educational health assessment documents Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 5 have not been received since their last review meetings. This limits guidance on the children’s current individual care needs.

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good

Adults receive regular and effective supervisions. The manager has implemented processes to ensure that adults are provided with protected space and time to reflect on practice and identify areas for professional development. A managers’ induction course has been implemented to support newly recruited managers to understand the internal management systems and confidently settle into their new role.

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good

Leaders and managers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have identified areas that require improvement and have acted promptly. For example, they noted the staffing shortage in the organisation and stepped up their recruitment drive to improve cover, core and bank staffing ratios. This alleviates the need to use agency staff and maintains consistency in the care given to children.

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good

The manager and adults promote equality and diversity effectively. They ensure that adults are recruited from diverse backgrounds and share their experiences with children. One child’s personal care is supported through him being given suitable hair and skin products. This promotes a culture of uniqueness that is respectful of every individual. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 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 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

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

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

This specifically relates to the manager submitting an application to register with Ofsted. 28 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit 28 February 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 7 (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the effectiveness of the independent visitor.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager obtaining local authority documents relating to each child. 28 February 2023

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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 for children’s home: SC482344 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, Greater Manchester BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Alphie Khumalo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482344 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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