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

Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 1 SC482293 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 seven boys with complex social and emotional difficulties, who may have also suffered trauma. At the time of this inspection, six children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022. She continues to complete her level 5 diploma and is making good progress. She is expected to complete this qualification within regulatory timeframes.

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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: 7 September 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2022 Full Good 21/03/2022 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Inadequate 19/09/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and responsible individual have worked hard to fully recruit staff for this home. All vacancies have now been filled, and recruitment processes have started for new staff. Gaps in recruitment have meant that, on occasion, children have been supported by unfamiliar agency staff. Managers are sensitive to this, and where possible, regular agency staff have returned. Furthermore, there is good scrutiny of agency staff recruitment and training before they start to work in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved out of this home and into an unregistered children’s home in an unplanned way. This meant staff and other children were unable to plan their goodbyes and departing gifts. The registered manager has visited the child since the move to help provide some closure for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to children and explore their likes and interests. Children enjoy purposeful activities and leisure opportunities that help build their confidence and self-esteem. Children relished the chance to visit a theme park in Paris with staff and speak proudly of this experience. One child attends weekly cookery classes, while another enjoys regular music sessions. This helps children feel a sense of belonging and permanency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the children attend regular and routine health appointments. The registered manager has a good understanding of the children’s individual health needs and is working effectively with placing authorities to ensure health services are timely. For example, the registered manager has worked with one placing authority to fund a privatised clinical assessment for a child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are highly personalised with individually chosen wallpaper, wall colours and furnishings. Children said they liked their bedrooms and have everything they need. The lounge has been decorated, and the children were involved in choosing the colour schemes. Throughout the home, there are lovely, framed photos of the children and their artwork. Children take pride in their home and complete daily tasks and chores to help keep it clean and tidy. The equipped gym and music room provide children with additional sources of creativity, space and exercise.

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

Children have a keen interest in video gaming and using social media platforms. There are internet restrictions and safety features that staff use to keep children safe. Once a week, children are supported by staff to have a ‘no tech day’. Staff encourage the children to plan for activities and one-to-one time with staff. Children say that they enjoy this time with staff and recognise the benefits of spending time away from their devices. Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 4 Children know how to make complaints and understand how to raise their concerns. When the children are not satisfied with the outcome of their complaints, further exploration by managers is prioritised. This helps children feel that their concerns are taken seriously and fully explored.

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

There have been incidents of bullying in the home. The registered manager has implemented a protocol that most children understand and are familiar with. When the children raise concerns, this is appropriately and transparently addressed. This approach means the children’s concerns are heard in a timely and mediated way.

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

Staff are quick to respond to children who make allegations against other staff working in the home. Immediate measures are put in place to help the children feel safer and reduce the risk of harm. However, the reporting of these concerns by managers to external safeguarding professionals and the regulator has not always been timely and in line with the correct safeguarding practice. This has subsequently delayed conclusions and outcomes for children and staff.

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

Staff write well-informed risk assessments for children. These demonstrate a good understanding of children’s current risks and presenting needs with clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow.

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good

Staff say they are well supported by the registered and deputy managers. There are clear professional development pathways for staff, giving them the opportunity to progress into senior and team leader roles. This means the children are supported by a core group of staff who fully understand their needs and vulnerabilities.

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good

When safeguarding concerns arise in the home, staff are quick to follow procedures and seek on-call management advice. However, on one occasion, a member of staff started to question staff and the children without consulting with external safeguarding professionals first. Although this has not had an impact on the quality of care children receive, it does have the potential to hinder correct safeguarding processes.

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good

There are considerable delays in internal investigations taking place in the home. In one example, a child left the setting before their complaint was concluded. When investigations do take place, they are not always of good quality. In one example, significant learning opportunities to strengthen safeguarding practice were missed.

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good

The registered manager attended designated safeguarding lead training in August 2023. She reports that this was extremely insightful and helpful in refreshing her safeguarding knowledge and understanding of procedures. Since this training, there has been a noted improvement in how safeguarding concerns are managed. Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 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, The 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 1 February 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 1 February 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 6 research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that internal investigations are carried out to a high standard.

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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: SC482293 7

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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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Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC482293 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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