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Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 1 SC482299 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 is run by a private organisation that operates several registered children’s homes. The home provides care for up to 10 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, eight children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2018.

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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: SC482299 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 07/07/2021 Full Good 21/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care at this home. A dedicated core staff team has provided consistent support for a long length of time. This helps the children to feel a sense of belonging and ensures that they feel wanted and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are thriving and make extraordinary progress in all areas of their lives from the point they move into the home. They are very settled and enjoy living in their home. Staff have established strong and nurturing relationships with the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of each child’s journey and presenting needs. They have developed effective strategies to help children to manage their emotions when they are upset or distressed. Daily discussions at the dinner table, along with planned one-on- one conversations, encourage children to actively participate in decisions and create opportunities for them to share their thoughts and feelings. As a result, children feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is spacious and well presented, which creates a welcoming atmosphere. Children actively participate in decisions about their living spaces, and many have recently had their bedrooms redecorated according to their personal preferences. Their bedrooms reflect their individuality, and staff creatively design the children’s spaces to ensure that they feel safe and comfortable. When one child saw their newly decorated bedroom, they said that they were amazed and felt that their dream had come true.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s healthcare needs are managed effectively, and medication is administered safely. There is close collaboration with external agencies and healthcare professionals to provide the best possible healthcare for children. Additionally, training is provided for staff to address specific medical needs of individual children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make remarkable progress in school attendance and academic achievements. Children who previously struggled with regular attendance or missed significant amounts of education have successfully reintegrated into the learning environment. Flexible programmes have been developed for children who are unable to attend school full-time. Staff dedicate time in assisting children with their reading and are proud to share stories of the progress that each child has made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are aspirational for children. They encourage them to build their confidence and to participate in various leisure and community activities that help them to explore their interests, have fun and build their social confidence. Many friendships have blossomed among the children, who enjoy activities such as football, gaming and watching television together. Staff support these experiences, including overnight trips away with their clubs, which allows children to enjoy their childhood. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 4 Support for children in building and maintaining relationships with their families is inspirational. Staff actively listen to children’s views and handle difficult situations with sensitivity. They provide support to the children and their families. This helps to strengthen these relationships. As a result, children develop meaningful connections with important people in their lives, which leads to transformative outcomes. One child has

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

successfully been reunited with their family and is preparing for a permanent return home. One professional commented, ‘The home is a fantastic home that meets children’s individual needs and also supports their families.’

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

Children feel safe and are safer due to the care that they receive. The close and nurturing relationships they share with staff enable them to express their worries and concerns comfortably.

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

Children’s plans are comprehensive and give great insight into the children’s needs, risks and how these are to be managed to ensure their safety and well-being. Each child has a risk management plan that outlines individualised strategies to support staff in understanding and supporting their complex needs. As a result, children are well supported and protected.

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

When safeguarding incidents occur, they are responded to appropriately and are thoroughly recorded. Any allegations made by children are robustly investigated. Senior leaders have taken action to work collaboratively with children’s professional networks to ensure that allegations are always listened to and reported to the relevant people. Children are spoken with to help them to understand the outcome of their allegations. Additionally, restorative practices are implemented to support the relationship between staff and the child.

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

Children know how to make complaints. When they do, they are supported by staff, who ensure that they have an outcome. Staff are also proactive in recording complaints on behalf of the children when they feel it is necessary. This ensures transparency and support to children and demonstrates how seriously the staff take their responsibilities.

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

Staff take pride in helping children to succeed by providing consistent boundaries and an openness in their practice. They support children in taking age-appropriate and developmentally suitable risks. This is because they recognise that well-managed risk is a crucial aspect of children’s development. Staff carefully balance the need for safety with the freedom and responsibility that are appropriate for each child’s age, such as allowing them to walk to school or spend time with friends.

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

Safer recruitment practices are very thorough. The recruitment team ensures that all references cover safeguarding and that telephone verification calls are made. The recruitment checklist ensures that nothing is missed. This provides a robust recruitment process to appoint the most suitable candidates to work with the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an extremely ambitious manager who strives to provide children with top-quality care. She has created a highly aspirational and positive culture. This has inspired the same beliefs in staff. The manager ensures that the therapeutic and child- focused approach is embedded in staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates a genuine sense of integrity and humility in her interactions with the children and staff. This inspires and empowers the staff to adopt a similar approach in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have high expectations and are ambitious about the children’s futures. They speak with passion about providing exceptional quality of care and they work with children to unlock their potential. The plans for one child who is moving on from the home, and an extended period of family time for another, have been very thorough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has extensive oversight of the home through comprehensive monitoring systems. Records are clear and capture details of children’s engagement, experiences and achievements. Care planning is kept up to date. As a result, there is a continued high standard of support provided, with children sustaining positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager places a strong emphasis on staff feeling well supported. To achieve this, they ensure that staff receive regular supervision, hold team meetings and participate in reflective practice sessions. This approach helps to maintain a high standard of care for children from a therapeutic perspective. A staff member said, ‘Our manager and deputy are exceptional leaders; they are approachable, understanding and always ensure that both the team and the children feel valued and cared for.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager recognises the importance of collaborating with health, education, therapists and social care professionals to support children’s various needs. External professionals say that the manager and staff are excellent with their communication and raise concerns and children’s achievements in a timely way. Professionals also praise the staff for each child’s significant progress since living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 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: SC482299 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: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Sharron Dormand, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482299 8 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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