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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 1 SC482301 Hillcrest Children’s Services 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 six children. According to the home’s statement of purpose, staff aim to provide a safe and secure home for children who may have suffered trauma such as neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 24 and 25 July 2023, Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the home. At this inspection, serious shortfalls were identified and the home was judged inadequate. As a result, four requirements were made, two of which were subject to compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Furthermore, Ofsted issued a notice restricting accommodation to the home on 2 August 2023. This was due to the admission of a further child potentially undermining the stability and the safety of the children living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to ensure that the provider has complied with the notice restricting accommodation and to seek assurance that all requirements and compliance notices have been met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the notice restricting accommodation. During this visit, leaders informed inspectors that they would like this notice to remain in place until it expires on 23 October 2023. This is to allow the interim manager the opportunity to embed changes brought on by the findings from the last full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is currently suspended from the home following safeguarding concerns identified at the last full inspection. This is under investigation Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 2 by the provider and is planned to conclude this month. In the meantime, there are suitable interim management arrangements in place, including a new team manager. Staff have fully embraced these changes and feel that morale has improved.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, two children have left the home and three children remain living in the home. Staff supported one child to move to an unregistered setting due to an increase in incidents that staff and managers felt compromised the child’s safety and welfare. Staff helped another child to successfully move into their new home in a planned way. This child said, ‘Staff have helped me enormously.’

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This monitoring visit

There has been a significant reduction in agency staff working in the home. When agency staff are in the home, they are familiar to the children. An agency member of staff spoken to as part of this visit was clear on their role and responsibilities and the home’s child protection policies. The agency member of staff said that they feel well supported by permanent staff and management.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last full inspection, all staff have refreshed their face-to-face safeguarding training, including contextualised risks. The interim manager is holding bi-weekly team meetings to discuss safeguarding topics and scenarios with staff. He has also arranged for the local authority designated safeguarding officer to attend a team meeting in September 2023. Furthermore, the supervision recording template has been reviewed to expand and action any future safeguarding concerns staff may have. This approach allows for an open safeguarding culture where concerns can be raised, documented, actioned and subsequently monitored by managers.

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This monitoring visit

Following a learning review, the responsible individual has revised all children’s missing-from-care protocols. These protocols now have clear processes for staff to follow before children leave the home, while away from the home, and when children return to the home. Protocols are synced with other relevant care planning documents and have been shared with allocated social workers and signed by all staff. This means that staff are prepared and fully equipped to support children when they are vulnerable and at risk.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders plan to make improvements in how internal investigations are carried out in the home. There is a clear action and development plan that supports wider changes and oversight in the organisation. These changes are proportionate to the shortfalls identified at the last full inspection. The interim manager is aware of these changes, including upcoming refresher training for all managers in September 2023.

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This monitoring visit

The service manager has carried out a thorough investigation into staff concerns of records about children being falsified, deleted and removed from the home. This has brought immediate change in the types of books staff use to record daily information. The new interim manager is supporting and developing staff to improve the quality of records for children. This includes how staff record when children are away from the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 3 Managers have devised a ‘one team’ approach action plan. This underpins the action management plan devised by senior leaders following the shortfalls identified at the last full inspection. This is a positive resource for staff and helps them to feel part of the changes and developments in the home. There is a real sense of improving standards while adopting a togetherness approach.

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This monitoring visit

There are clear and well-documented examples of effective change in the home. However, since the last full inspection, on one occasion, staff have not followed the correct protocols and measures in place that reduce risks for children. The interim manager has taken immediate action to review this with individual staff and disseminate this learning to strengthen staff practice. All staff spoken to as part of this visit were clear on their safeguarding responsibilities and plans for children.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, all compliance notices and regulation 33 requirements were deemed to be met. Requirements in relation to regulation 34 have been carried over to review at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Inadequate 06/07/2022 Full Good 03/08/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 5

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34 (1)(b) (2)(e)(f) (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 14 November 2023

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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: SC482301 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Ashley Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC482301 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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