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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 1 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 home provides care for up to eight children who may have social and emotional difficulties. Eight children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2023 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2022 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/03/2019 Full Outstanding 26/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 3

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outstanding

The home is a busy house that cares for up to eight boys who have experienced past trauma that can impact on how they manage their emotions and feelings. Staff are skilled at supporting the children using a therapeutic and nurturing approach. This is effective and helps children feel cared for and valued. Staff role model being kind and thoughtful to one another. This has a positive impact on children, who adopt the same positive behaviours. They show kindness to others and take part in charity events and small random acts of kindness.

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outstanding

The home is large and spacious and decorated and furnished to an exceptionally high standard. The manager and staff adapt the different spaces in the home to meet the differing needs of the children. This means that children can have their own space if the house becomes a little busy, or they can further develop their independence skills in the self-contained flat.

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outstanding

Staff have high ambitions for the children. They help them to consider their future aspirations and explore how these can be achieved. A child who wants to be a police officer attends police cadets, and a child who wants to be a professional football player is taken regularly to football training and matches. All children enjoy different activities, including holidays, ice hockey, Scouts and climbing.

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outstanding

Staff help children to attend school and achieve positive outcomes. Children who have previously not attended education or struggled to engage now attend full time and are making great progress.

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outstanding

Children develop their independence skills appropriate to their age and ability. Children have additional responsibilities as they get older, such as chores around the home. They can stay up later, travel to school independently and have jobs in the local community.

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outstanding

Children make outstanding progress from their starting points, particularly in managing and exploring their feelings. Staff teach children to learn how to self- regulate their emotions and offer alternative and more appropriate ways to respond to difficult situations or emotions. This has a positive impact on the children’s emotional heath.

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outstanding

Staff support children’s healthcare needs very well. Children attend all primary health appointments. When there are concerns relating to children’s health, staff ensure that appropriate medical advice is gained. All staff are trained in first aid and, on one occasion, used emergency first aid when this was needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 4 Staff know the children exceptionally well. They support them to understand their identities and life events through life-story work. Staff are sensitive and caring. They help the children to understand their feelings when exploring difficult subjects.

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outstanding

Staff provide children with consistent and stable care and have their best interests at heart. Staff go above and beyond to build positive relationships with the children’s families, and they contact them weekly to give them updates about how their child is progressing. Staff support the children to see their families and communicate with them. Family members are extremely positive about the staff and feel involved in their child’s care and future.

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outstanding

Children are kept safe and feel safe. They have secure and trusting relationships with staff. Staff have open and honest discussions with children about their behaviour and potential risks. The positive relationships between children and staff support the children’s progress and enhance their understanding of safety.

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outstanding

The registered manager has developed a positive safeguarding culture that is threaded through all areas of practice. Safeguarding is discussed at every opportunity, including in team meetings, staff supervision sessions, reflective practice sessions and when reviewing incidents. This ensures that staff know their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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outstanding

Staff provide children with clear rules and boundaries that they understand. Natural and proportionate consequences for unwanted behaviour are implemented for safety reasons rather than to penalise children for their behaviour. All consequences are overseen by the manager, explained to the child and time-limited. Staff carry out work with children to help them understand risks associated with the internet and how to keep safe.

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outstanding

Staff are alert to potential child exploitation risks and understand potential indicators of exploitation and grooming. Staff appropriately raise concerns and report issues about individuals when necessary to protect children from potential harm.

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outstanding

Allegations against staff are infrequent. When they do occur, the manager liaises with appropriate professionals and completes detailed investigations to identify whether any lessons can be learned. Children and staff involved in any allegations are kept up to date and provided with an outcome. Reparation work between staff and children is undertaken when this is appropriate. This supports the open and transparent safeguarding culture in the home.

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outstanding

Staff are skilled at helping children through their times of difficulty. When children become upset or angry, staff use strategies that have been agreed with the children. Staff use a therapeutic and nurturing approach to help children to manage their emotions and behaviour. Consequently, physical interventions are used only as a last resort and for the minimum period required to keep children and others safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 5 Children do not go missing often. When they do, staff are instrumental in ensuring that children return home safely. Return home interviews are always carried out, as the manager challenges placing authorities to provide the children with someone independent to talk to when they return home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and child-focused and strives for children to have excellent, individualised care. Her approach and passion are recognised by staff and other professionals she works with. The manager is supported by an equally passionate deputy manager and responsible individual, who share her enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s monitoring and review systems are effective and provide exceptional oversight of the home. She reviews all feedback from children, staff, professionals, families, peer reviews and monthly reports from the independent person. This feeds into the home’s development plan to ensure that there is continued development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are very well supported by the management team. They feel involved in decision-making and feel that their emotional well-being is always considered. Staff receive regular supervision, which they value. In addition, they access group clinical reflective sessions, where they can share their thoughts and feelings in a safe space.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff are suitably trained and keep up to date with the required mandatory training. Additional training is provided as needed to ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and families is unanimously positive about the progress that children make and the excellent communication from staff and the manager. Staff attend all meetings relating to the children. They encourage children to attend their care-planning reviews and ensure that their voices are heard. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 6

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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: 1259508 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1259508 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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