Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 1 SC482296 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services 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 eight children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since October 2023. She is in the process of applying to be registered with Ofsted.

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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: 28 February 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Outstanding 04/10/2021 Full Good 10/09/2019 Full Outstanding 03/10/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 3

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improvement to be good

There has been significant staff turnover since the last inspection. Consequently, children have not experienced consistent care from a stable group of adults and have had some poor experiences of care.

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improvement to be good

Shortfalls had developed in the quality of care being provided to children before the recent changes to the management team. Improvements being made by the manager are recent and not yet embedded. As a result, it is too early to see the impact on achieving consistently good care and outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

Managers have been unable to meet the needs of all the children at the home and this has resulted in an unplanned ending for one child. Staff have not consistently ensured that recommendations from health assessments have been progressed, meaning that important medical investigations have not taken place. The manager is now ensuring that action is taken to provide support for health needs without further delay.

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improvement to be good

Children’s wishes and feelings about the way the home is run have not routinely been sought. Until recently, key-work sessions were not carried out in line with agreed timescales. Now that they have been restarted, children have told staff that they value having a say in the way that they are looked after. For example, children have been involved in identifying goals which are important to them and the steps they need to take to achieve them.

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improvement to be good

All children are attending education and are supported by staff to access additional learning opportunities. One child has recently been suspended from school and there is a bespoke package in place for them to learn at home. The manager recognises that this approach does not offer the child the best educational experience and is committed to working with relevant agencies to identify a suitable education placement as soon as possible.

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improvement to be good

Work is underway to make improvements which modernise the home. Children are being supported to decorate their bedrooms in a way which reflects their talents and interests. They are also helping to choose how communal areas will look, which gives them a sense of belonging and pride in their surroundings.

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improvement to be good

Due to the inconsistent staffing arrangements since the last inspection, children have not developed reliable, trusting relationships with adults who they can speak to if they are worried about their own safety and well-being. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 4 demonstrates sound awareness of the negative impact this has had on children’s protection and sense of security.

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improvement to be good

The manager is making sure that staff are working in line with the therapeutic approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. There is a child-focused, sensitive approach to teaching children the most appropriate coping strategies to help them manage their emotions. This contrasts with the previous approach to behaviour management, which was punitive at times.

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improvement to be good

The arrangements for children moving into the home are not sufficiently robust, particularly when considering the impact on the children who already live in the home. As a result, children experience instability when there are changes to the group, which increases the risk of placement breakdowns.

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improvement to be good

Managers demonstrate sound understanding of the need to notify Ofsted about all serious events. They are working effectively with the staff team to ensure that there is an appropriate response to safeguarding concerns. However, before the manager’s arrival, one incident was not notified and therefore the regulator could not monitor the plans that were put in place to safeguard the child.

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good

A new manager has been appointed since the last full inspection. She is committed to making positive changes. Senior leaders recognise that these changes are necessary, but they have been unable to progress before the new manager’s arrival.

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good

The manager has a sound understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She has focused development plans on addressing shortfalls which existed before her appointment.

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good

Staff speak very positively about the impact that the new manager has had on the home. Changes in practice have resulted in clearer expectations of staff. They feel more valued and respected, which inspires them to provide good-quality care to children.

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good

Managers recognise the importance of ensuring that all staff have the skills and experience they need to support children effectively. They have decided to limit the number of children living at the home until plans to improve practice are embedded.

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good

Recent recruitment has resulted in a full staffing complement. The new management team is sharply focused on raising standards. As a result, there is a firm basis for making improvements to the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 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 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)) 1 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(c)) 1 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that recommendations from looked after child health assessments are acted on.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)) 1 February 2024

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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 (a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 1 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 7 keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have a say in the way that they are looked after.

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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: SC482296 8

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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 BL1 4AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

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Inspector

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482296 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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