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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 1 SC482303 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 experience social and emotional difficulties. There were five children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2022.

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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 good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 11/10/2021 Full Outstanding 21/10/2019 Full Outstanding 07/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children experience stability and have made positive progress since they arrived at the home. However, since the last inspection, two children have moved from the home in an unplanned way because managers recognised that their needs could no longer be met. The staff team ensured that these endings were as positive as possible. Both children remain in contact with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can identify trusted adults who they would speak to if they were worried about something. This includes children who have recently moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage and achieve in education. The staff team communicates well with the staff from the children’s schools. One child who moved to the home recently is being supported with education by the staff team and tutoring while an appropriate school is sought. A flexible approach ensures that children access education that caters for their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to empowering children to have a say in decisions that affect them. This helps to reassure children that their views are important and that their voices are being heard. Children know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are fully informed about the therapeutic model that is at the centre of the home’s ethos. As a result, children receive nurturing and trauma-informed care. This contributes to their sense of belonging and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to manage their own feelings and emotions by helping them to be curious about the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. Consequently, children learn how to cope and respond appropriately when things don’t go to plan.

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

Managers understand the importance of a consistent response from staff and the positive impact this has on children’s safety and well-being. Staff rotas are arranged in a way that creates as much stability as possible for children.

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

Staff have sound knowledge of children’s strengths, risks and vulnerabilities. They are also clear about the procedures to follow when safeguarding concerns arise. As a result, they respond sensitively and effectively.

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

Children benefit from key-work sessions to support them to learn about a range of topics, including self-regulation, body changes, self-reflection and peer relationships. Staff have high aspirations for children and want to help them to achieve their goals. In one example, a staff member visited a child’s school so that they could provide Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 4 advice to the school staff about how to provide nurturing support that would best help the child.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour by providing careful support when children are struggling to manage their feelings and emotions. When staff need to de-escalate situations, they use strategies that have the highest chance of success based on their knowledge of children.

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

The physical environment is homely, and photos of the children are proudly displayed throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms have personal items that reflect each child’s individual interests and identity.

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

There have been occasions where staff have not upheld appropriate professional boundaries with children. Leaders and managers responded swiftly and decisively to ensure the children’s safety. They subsequently carried out thorough investigations involving external safeguarding agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, several new staff members have joined the team. They have settled in well and formed positive relationships with children. However, any staff changes hinder children’s ability to learn how to build and maintain reliable relationships with adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work collaboratively and demonstrate a commitment to providing good-quality care that contributes to positive experiences and memories for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has a sound awareness of the home’s strengths and areas for development. They are proactive and responsive when concerns emerge, clear about their professional responsibilities and work hard to ensure that staff are providing care that improves outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have engaged well with the local community to provide several positive opportunities and learning experiences for children. This has promoted a sense of achievement and responsibility for children. It has also had the advantage of developing the community’s understanding of children in care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and a wide range of training opportunities. There is a learning culture that supports staff to develop their knowledge and skills. The deputy manager in particular demonstrates a commitment to developing the staff team’s understanding of how to work therapeutically with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Shortfalls in the organisation’s whistle-blowing policy led to a significant delay in one whistle-blowing concern being acted on. Managers took effective action as soon as the concern was brought to their attention. Having a policy that was not sufficiently robust had the potential to have a negative impact on the protection of children, though there is no evidence of this on this occasion. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 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 prepare and implement a policy which —

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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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

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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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. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is an effective whistle-blowing policy that ensures effective safeguarding responses without delay if concerns arise. The registered provider must ensure that all staff with direct responsibilities in the whistle-blowing process have suitable safeguarding knowledge and expertise. 30 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 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: SC482303 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

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482303 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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