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

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/08/2021 Full Good 27/11/2019 Full Good 07/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 3

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improvement to be good

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. Overall, the child’s transition out of the home was well planned, and the child was able to visit their new home before leaving. However, the child’s move out of the home was brought forward because the registered manager served notice following an increase in significant incidents, which an inexperienced and inconsistent staff team failed to manage effectively.

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improvement to be good

Children’s day-to-day experiences vary significantly. For example, one child has good routines, attends school and engages positively with activities outside of the home. However, another child spends large amounts of time in their bedroom, does not attend school and told the inspector that they do not enjoy living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Some staff do not always use the home’s therapeutic model of parenting with children. This is because they are inexperienced and do not fully understand the model. As a result, staff have not always shown curiosity and empathy when supporting children’s anxieties and managing their behaviour. On one occasion, they issued a consequence to a child and refused to take the child to an arranged hairdresser appointment. In addition, staff made no record of the consequence. As a result, the number of incidents with the child increased, and the child has made several allegations against staff.

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improvement to be good

Some children develop positive relationships with some staff. The inspector was able to observe children interacting positively and showing affection towards staff during the inspection. For example, one staff member spent time tending to one child’s hair. Another child spoke well about the home and the support they receive from staff. However, staff’s inconsistent approach to caring for children means that not all children benefit from this engagement or develop strong relationships.

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improvement to be good

Staff work hard to improve children’s educational experiences. For example, one child attends school and is making very good progress with their learning. Also, the child attends after-school activities and spoke positively about their experience at school. In contrast, another child refuses to attend school and has not attended one day since the last inspection. However, staff are working creatively with the child and education professionals to support the child to overcome these barriers.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has introduced new systems for capturing children’s views and wishes more effectively. For example, staff now use daily reflection and weekly feedback forms to allow children to express their views and wishes. Staff use this feedback to make changes to the care that children receive in the home. As a result, children are starting to feel valued and are able to take ownership of their lives. Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 4

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improvement to be good

The management and safeguarding response to children making allegations against staff is inconsistent. For example, on some occasions, staff and leaders have acted quickly to involve the relevant agencies, and they have followed their child protection procedures effectively. However, on one occasion, staff failed to report an allegation of physical abuse made by a child against another staff member. As a result, the local authority and senior leaders were not informed, and the same member of staff continued to work with the child on two further occasions. Failing to respond effectively to allegations made by children has the potential to compromise children’s safety. However, the allegation was eventually identified following an internal audit, and the home’s responsible individual completed an investigation, which found no further concerns.

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improvement to be good

Following incidents where children have made allegations against staff, leaders have carried out internal investigations. However, children are not always spoken to as part of the investigation process. Furthermore, the registered manager does not ensure that actions identified in investigations are completed. For example, staff have not completed further training in safeguarding and recording and reporting. In addition, further discussions with staff have not been recorded effectively, and the registered manager has failed to provide one child with an outcome following an allegation made. Consequently, staff and children miss out on opportunities to reflect and learn from their experiences.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and staff are inconsistent in their approach to managing risk. There are some examples where staff receive good guidance, along with strategies to support children and manage risk. However, on one occasion, the registered manager had put in place a risk assessment to prevent a staff member from working alone with a child. This was in response to three separate allegations of abuse made by the child against that staff member. However, following a staffing shortage and the refusal of the child to complete an activity with any other staff, the staff member did not adhere to the risk assessment and worked alone with the child. While there were no further concerns raised by the child, a failure to follow strategies to keep children safe has the potential to leave them vulnerable.

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improvement to be good

Some staff do not have the skills, experience or knowledge to manage children’s anxieties and behaviours. Due to a high turnover in staff, inexperienced and agency staff have been required to work many shifts in the home. During significant incidents with children, staff have failed to consistently respond effectively. For example, on one occasion, an agency staff member failed to support a permanent member of staff in managing one child’s behaviour and anxieties. As a result, both the child and staff were left vulnerable, and the child made an allegation. Consequently, a lack of skills and experience has meant that staff have not been able to de-escalate children’s difficult or challenging behaviours or anxieties effectively. Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 5 Children rarely go missing from the home. There have been no incidents since the last inspection. The registered manager has ensured that children’s protocols are

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improvement to be good

regularly updated and provide staff with essential information. As a result, staff are well prepared to respond to incidents effectively.

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good

During the inspection, the home’s responsible individual told the inspector that the registered manager had made the decision to resign from her role. However, she will remain working in the home as a deputy manager. Following a restructure, a manager from a sister home will be taking charge of the home permanently.

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good

Staff do not always provide consistent care for children. Inconsistent staffing arrangements have had an impact on children’s day-to-day experiences. A high turnover of staff has led to inconsistent practice, and staff have lacked the confidence to manage complex incidents with children. However, leaders are aware of the shortfalls and are starting to take action. For example, two new team leaders have recently begun to work in the home. Also, there is a continual process of staff recruitment to cover vacancies in the team.

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good

Since the last inspection, staff are beginning to receive regular supervision. Leaders are using these sessions to begin to develop staff practice and learning. Supervision is also starting to help staff reflect on the care they provide to children. However, staff do not receive a regular and formal appraisal of their performance or practice. As a result, staff are not provided with essential support to reflect on their practice and review how well they are promoting the welfare of children.

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good

Leaders have failed to ensure that the monitoring systems in place fully support the development of the home. For example, the registered manager’s systems have failed to identify shortfalls in staff’s knowledge and skills, staff training and gaps in children’s records. Consequently, four of the requirements made at the last inspection were not met. This lack of effective oversight has the potential to impact on the quality of care received by children.

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good

Senior leaders have recently become more involved and are supporting the home. The national care manager has completed audits that have identified areas for improvement. In addition, the registered manager has delivered additional training and focused workshops in team meetings. Also, team leaders now hold regular leadership meetings to review the care that children receive. While these improvements are not yet fully embedded, leaders recognise the shortfalls and have put in place systems to improve the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 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 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 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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff understand children’s risk assessments and implement the correct strategies to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

This also refers to staff’s and leaders’ understanding and implementation of the home’s child protection procedures and the action to take when a child is harmed by an adult in a position of trust.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 7 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of 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)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the home’s child protection and safeguarding policies are followed in the home. This also refers to the registered manager ensuring that staff have a consistent approach and work together as a team to manage children’s behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the register manager must ensure that the home has consistent and suitably experienced staff to work with children and protect them from harm. It also relates to the registered manager ensuring they and all staff receive essential training.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 June 2023

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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— 14 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 8 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 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)(f)(h)

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager’s oversight and monitoring of significant incidents in the home. It further relates to the manager’s oversight of staffing in the home. The registered manager must also have clear monitoring and review systems in place to improve practice and understand children’s progress.

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix)(x)(xi)(b)) 14 June 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC398377 9 In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff support children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships.

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive an annual appraisal of their performance to support their development.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record consequences given to children in line with the home’s behaviour management policy. Any consequences used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC398377 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s 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: SC398377 11 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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