Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children‟s Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 1 SC398377 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who have had adverse early childhood experiences and trauma. A large national provider operates this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in July 2022. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/08/2021 Full Good 27/11/2019 Full Good 07/01/2019 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 3

p.2

improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the previous inspection, two children have moved into the home and two children have moved out. Most children moved in and then later moved on in a planned manner. One child’s transition was positive, moving back to live with family members. However, one child moved out of the home sooner than anticipated. Staff were unable to keep them safe because of multiple incidents of going missing, despite staff’s efforts. This resulted in the home serving notice on the placement, which ended abruptly.

p.3

improvement to be good

Two children have made some good progress since coming to live at the home. One child told the inspector, ‘I feel safe and that the staff care for me.’ However, staff do not provide sufficient support to maintain this for all children, to help them to progress further. Another child said they did not like it at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The registered manager did not seek relevant information from professionals about a child who moved into the home. This undermined her ability to make an informed decision about whether staff could meet the child’s needs effectively. She was not professionally curious enough to ask additional questions that would have helped her and her staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities better. This has led to instability and, at times, there have been unsettled periods at the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The quality of relationships between staff and children is inconsistent. Some staff build positive relationships with children, which has a positive impact on children’s progress and experiences. However, not all children benefit from this engagement. One child told the inspector, ‘I wake up and spend most of my day in my bedroom, watching television and doing stuff. This is what the week looks like.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s educational progress varies significantly. Two children are supported well and have made progress with their learning from their starting points. However, another child’s progress in education and independent study has deteriorated. For example, staff do not always engage one child effectively each day in structured learning and education and independent activities. Consequently, the child is at times left to their own devices during the day. Although staff support them to engage in education and some progress has been made, there has not been a coordinated and timely review of the child’s educational needs. As a result, this child has low aspirations and expectations for the future. The registered manager recognises that this is unacceptable and has taken some steps to address this.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff do not regularly review and update children’s records to capture their progress. For example, personal care and placement plans do not contain relevant information about the children’s needs. Furthermore, on occasions, staff have failed to log relevant information in children’s daily records. This means that, if children want to Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 4 access their files in the future, information may be limited, misrepresenting their journey.

p.3

improvement to be good

Most children are supported to attend routine medical appointments. Healthcare plans identify children’s individual needs. Statutory health assessments have been completed and children attend specialist appointments when required. However, this is not consistent for all children. Despite efforts from staff, they have not been able to engage one child effectively in attending routine appointments. Another child has not been referred to the general practitioner to have their health needs assessed.

p.4

improvement to be good

The home is not maintained to a good standard throughout. Children’s bedrooms are clean and personalised, as are other areas of the home. However, repairs and maintenance to the interior and exterior have not been completed in a timely manner. In addition, one child’s bedroom and the lounge area have ligature risks. This does not create a nurturing and homely environment. The registered manager took some action during the inspection.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff work alongside their in-house therapist and other professionals to provide children with specialist and well-informed care. For example, staff have regular meetings to monitor and evaluate one child’s mental health needs. They receive bespoke training on the organisation’s therapeutic model, which helps them provide care which meets children’s needs. However, work with children has been disrupted after the in-house therapist left the organisation. A new therapist has recently been appointed.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children maintain important and positive relationships with family members. Staff communicate with social workers to review the arrangements for children to spend quality time with their families. Staff show a good understanding of the importance of children spending meaningful time with those who are important to them. As a result, children benefit from this care and understanding.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff encourage children to express their wishes and views regarding their care. There are regular individual sessions and house meetings between staff and children. As a result, most children feel that they are listened to by staff.

p.4

improvement to be good

Managers are inconsistent in their approach to managing risk. There are some examples where staff receive good guidance, with strategies to support children and manage risk. However, in other examples, risks are not always identified, such as ligature points in the home, and risk assessments are not always up to date. This does not ensure that staff have the most up-to-date information about how to keep children safe.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff are not always curious enough about the safety of children in their care. On the occasions when staff show professional curiosity, this has been effective in safeguarding children from harm online. However, staff do not always ensure that Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 5 regular checks are undertaken or fully understand the amount of time children spend online on devices.

p.4

improvement to be good

Not all staff have a good understanding of the organisation’s therapeutic model of care. For example, one child did not receive a nurturing and sensitive approach from staff when trying to manage difficult emotions. One social worker told the inspector, ‘I feel that staff really struggled to understand [name of child]’s needs.’ As a result, on occasions, this child’s emotional needs went unmet.

p.5

improvement to be good

When children go missing from care, they receive a well-coordinated response. Staff follow plans to reduce the risk to children by liaising with the social worker and police to find children and return them home safely.

p.5

improvement to be good

Overall, incidents of restraint are managed well. Staff demonstrate skill in supporting children with their behaviours and know how to de-escalate behaviour which may become challenging. The registered manager reviews all physical interventions, using records that contain all the relevant information. Restraints are used proportionately when there is a risk or serious concern for children or staff.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children can raise concerns or make complaints to the registered manager with confidence that they will be listened to. For example, when one child complained about a staff member’s behaviour, the registered manager was responsive and thorough throughout the complaints process and provided feedback to the children. As a result, children felt listened to and saw that appropriate action was taken.

p.5

good

The registered manager does not always use her monitoring and review systems effectively to provide her with a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. For example, she has failed to ensure that staff have clear guidance and advice when managing children’s risk. This limits the capacity of the home to make sustained improvement.

p.5

good

Children have experienced inconsistent staffing, which has impacted on the quality of care they received. Since the last inspection, there has been a high turnover of staff. Managers have covered the shortfalls with staff recruited through an agency and staff from other homes in the organisation coming in to care for children. Over the past 12 months 44 different staff have worked in the home. The high turnover in staff has meant staff do not know the children well and understand their needs.

p.5

good

The registered manager did not obtain all the relevant information about agency staff or find out whether they had the skills to meet the children’s needs.

p.5

good

Not all core and agency staff have the skills and training to meet the complex needs of children. For example, agency staff do not have training in the organisation’s therapeutic model of care. In addition, some staff have not received training in Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 6 safeguarding, ligature awareness, medication and first aid. This limits staff knowledge and their skills in meeting children’s needs.

p.5

good

Staff said they feel supported by the registered manager and have a positive relationship with her. However, the quality of supervision that staff receive is variable. Some staff receive regular supervision, but others do not. Furthermore, new staff do not always receive regular supervision in accordance with the statement of purpose. This does not promote staff progress and professional development. The lack of oversight means opportunities for raising staff aspirations and ensuring better care for children are missed .

p.6

good

The statement of purpose is not up to date. This document does not give correct information about staffing. This means that Ofsted and local authorities do not have the most up-to-date information about the care provided.

p.6

good

Partner agencies have mixed views about the service. Some professionals are pleased with the care provided to children. However, one social worker reported, ‘There were certain members of staff that [name of child] did not bond well with and these particular members of staff could be negative in their communication with [name of child].’ Others recognise that the staff are helping and supporting children to make progress.

p.6

good

The registered manager shows a genuine passion for supporting children in her care. She challenges other professionals to ensure that children receive the support that they need. For example, she raised concerns about a child’s education, health and care plan and advocated on behalf of one child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 7

p.6

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that children are supported to overcome barriers to their learning and to develop independent study skills. 3 March 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 8 strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(v)(viii)(ix)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff supporting children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vi))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring they understand and follow children’s risk assessments, and that these documents are up to date. 3 March 2023

p.8

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—

p.8

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.8

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;

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that staff have a consistent approach to managing children’s behaviours.

p.9

Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring they and all staff receive essential training.

p.9

Requirement Due date

Also, to the registered manager ensuring they use internal monitoring systems more effectively.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that they have the relevant information in relation to children’s history and risks. 3 March 2023

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 10 employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

p.9

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.10

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager ensuring that agency staff have the relevant training before working with children.

p.10

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.10

Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

p.10

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.10

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive regular reflective supervision and appraisals. 3 March 2023

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for children’s care and personal plans to be regularly reviewed and kept up to date. 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 11

p.10

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming, supportive and safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children with their health needs and provide access to advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.4)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect change in the service. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 14 and 15, paragraphs 3.5 and 3.6)

p.11

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: SC398377 12

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

p.12

Children’s home details

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

p.12

Inspector

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC398377 13 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.

p.12

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.13

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.13