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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 1 SC482301 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 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.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit took place on 5 September 2023 to assess progress against compliance notices issued following the inadequate judgement given at the inspection dated 25 July 2023. Furthermore, Ofsted issued a notice to the provider restricting accommodation at the home on 2 August 2023. The provider was found Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 2 to have met the compliance notices, restriction of accommodation notice and most of the requirements. Regulation 34 was repeated during this visit.

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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: SC482301 3

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improvement to be good

The home was judged to be inadequate at a full inspection on 25 July 2023. Compliance notices and the restriction of accommodation notice were monitored on 5 September 2023. This inspection was scheduled within 16 weeks of the last full inspection to assess the provider’s progress against shortfalls identified at the previous inspections.

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improvement to be good

A few staff have left the home since the last full inspection and without working their notice periods. This means staff have not said goodbye to the children in a planned way. One child said this made them feel sad. Remaining staff have done well to support the children’s emotions and questions about staff moving on. This has been done in a sensitive and caring way to help the children feel better and well cared for.

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improvement to be good

Managers have safely recruited new staff who are due to start in the home very soon. Induction processes are focused on getting to know children first, and protected time is planned to get staff used to internal systems and procedures. Through the induction process, new staff have already gained relevant mandatory and holistic training to meet the children’s individual needs and risks. This means new staff are well equipped and have the necessary training to help them understand how to build positive relationships with children from the start.

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improvement to be good

The interim manager is supporting phased returns to work for staff who have spent time away from the home. He understands the emotional complexities of the role and is thoughtful and creative in ways to support staff to feel empowered and prepared for this. This means staff feel valued. For children, this means they get to spend time with staff they have built strong and familiar relationships with. One child said he was happy to see a favoured member of staff spending more time in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the children to attend their educational settings in accordance with their agreed plans and mental health needs. One child has recently sat an exam and has been chosen to represent the school as head boy. Staff acknowledge this achievement and recognise the progress he has made in school.

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improvement to be good

Staff work collaboratively with allocated social workers to sensitively help children spend more time with their loved ones safely, and in a planned way. They use a variety of ways to sustain and promote family time, such as supporting supervised visits and viewing potential education providers with parents. This approach helps children preserve a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 4

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improvement to be good

The interim manager is changing the safeguarding culture in the home. Staff recognise the steps taken by the interim manager to review the environment and atmosphere where children live. His efficiency and oversight mean the quality of care for children is improving.

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improvement to be good

There have been several concluded safeguarding investigations since the last full inspection that evidence effective action and challenge taken by managers. Since then, most safeguarding incidents have been managed appropriately by staff and the interim manager. However, there has been one isolated incident of staff not correctly following safeguarding procedures since the monitoring visit. Once managers were aware, correct measures were taken to reduce risks to children. This incident is now with the relevant authorities.

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improvement to be good

Staff create good risk assessments that identify children’s individual risks. Strategies used by staff in keeping children safer are clear, well triangulated and reviewed regularly. However, staff are not proactive in speaking to children about known risks in a planned way. This means that children do not receive immediate feedback and reassurances when risks are known, increasing or emerging.

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improvement to be good

Ineffective working relationships between the interim manager and the placing authority have led to an avoidable delay in sharing important information with one child. This information was subsequently shared in an unplanned manner, and had a detrimental impact on the child. The interim manager became aware of this during the inspection and plans to work with the child’s professional network to address this immediately and in the best interest of the child.

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good

The registered manager is currently suspended from the home following safeguarding concerns identified at the last full inspection. The provider-led investigation has concluded. However, the registered manager is appealing against the outcome. Senior leaders are managing this appropriately and in accordance with policy. In the meantime, there are suitable interim management arrangements in place.

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good

The interim manager is well supported. He is clear on the developments needed in the home and regularly discusses and monitors these with senior leaders. He is working extremely hard to upskill staff and listen to the children. Development plans in the home are ambitious and fully endorse what children say.

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good

Line managers conduct regular and reflective supervision sessions with staff. These are of good quality and supportive of staff’s professional and personal development. This is helping staff to focus on individual targets, while being reminded of the provider’s policies, ethos and principles. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 5 The interim manager has been compliant with the notice restricting accommodation. This is due to lapse on 23 October 2023. There are no current plans for new children to move into the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 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 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 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) (f)(4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should follow safeguarding policies and procedures.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is being repeated. 1 January 2024

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(ii)) 1 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482301 7 In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff speak to children when risks are known.

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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: SC482301 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 BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

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

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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