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

Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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SC482344 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children’s Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to 8 children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 6 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 2 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Outstanding 14/03/2024 Full Good 06/12/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from staff who know them well. Children consistently describe feeling happy, safe and valued and speak positively about the wide range of enriching experiences available to them. Children enjoy regular trips and shared experiences, which strengthen their relationships and contribute to children’s sense of identity. One child described staff as their family and stated that they would never want to leave the home, demonstrating the depth of trust and belonging that children experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are consistently positive role models and actively promote respect, tolerance and kindness. This supports children to develop caring, compassionate relationships with one another. The culture of the home is characterised by warmth, nurture and emotional security. Staff interact with children with genuine affection, and this positive approach is reflected in the way that children relate to each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Families are overwhelmingly positive about the care their children receive. They describe staff as proactive and committed to helping children maintain important relationships and say that staff ensure children receive the right support at the right time. Families recognise the stability and security provided by the consistent staff team. One family member commented, ‘He is in the best place he has ever been in, and I wouldn’t change a thing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Professionals are highly complimentary of the care afforded to children. They report strong and effective partnership working and highlight significant improvements in children’s confidence, emotional wellbeing, behaviour and overall quality of life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress across all aspects of their lives. Children who were previously not accessing education are now attending school full time and are supported to engage positively with learning. Staff are tenacious and effective advocates for children. They work closely with education providers to ensure that the educational provision is tailored to children’s individual needs and supports sustained progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged and supported to pursue a wide range of interests, hobbies and activities that reflect their individual preferences. This supports the development of positive self-identity and increased confidence. Children are also supported to engage in their local communities and make positive contributions, including volunteering at the local village hall, which further strengthens their sense of belonging and social inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to explore and maintain their cultural identity. For 1 child, staff do not yet have a clear or consistent understanding of their personal care and cultural needs. This information is not sufficiently captured in the child’s care plan and was not fully explored at the point of referral to inform how staff should meet their needs. Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Moves into and out of the home are meticulously planned and well managed. Children who have experienced instability before moving into the home are now settled and make meaningful and sustained progress. Staff work proactively with partner agencies and challenge appropriately to ensure that all decisions about children’s moves are firmly in their best interests. As a result, children leave the home having experienced stability, positive endings and an increased readiness for their next stage of life.

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

Staff have a deep understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and of children’s vulnerabilities. Leaders make sure that staff are well supported and confident in their practice, ensuring that children’s needs are consistently recognised and responded to. This attention to detail extends to incidents involving partner agencies, which are managed thoroughly and effectively.

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

Children have made exceptional progress in relation to managing their emotions and behaviours. Staff have built strong, trusting relationships with children, enabling them to feel safe, secure and emotionally supported. Children receive clear and consistent parenting. As a result, children are better equipped to self-regulate, and there has been a decrease in the use of physical intervention.

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

Although children being missing from home is not currently a significant concern, staff demonstrate a clear, confident and well-embedded understanding of the associated risks. Staff have a strong and consistent knowledge of children’s vulnerabilities, particularly in relation to online safety. When incidents occur, staff respond with compassionate and creative approaches that support children to understand the potential risks and take ownership of their safety. This approach empowers children effectively and improves their ability to keep themselves safe.

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

There is excellent management oversight of safeguarding incidents. Information is shared promptly and effectively with partner agencies, ensuring that concerns are managed without delay. Staff and children are supported to reflect on incidents, which promotes continual learning and improvement.

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

Staff respond quickly and effectively to changes in children’s behaviour and are vigilant in adapting their care accordingly. Children experience highly attentive care from staff who are responsive to their individual needs. Children are supported to reflect on incidents and are encouraged to develop a sense of accountability. As a result, children increasingly demonstrate insight and make positive choices.

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

The home offers a warm and welcoming environment, which is maintained to a high standard. Children benefit from personalised spaces, including bedrooms that reflect their individual interests and preferences. The pride that staff take in the home supports children’s sense of pride and belonging. Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 5 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a highly competent and experienced registered manager who provides strong, purposeful leadership and fosters a deeply reflective and supportive culture. Working closely with an equally skilled deputy manager, leaders demonstrate an exceptional understanding of the individual needs of the children they care for and are unwavering in their commitment to delivering outstanding care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has successfully developed and retained a stable, skilled and motivated staff team. Staffing arrangements are carefully planned to ensure children benefit from consistent, reliable care that promotes security, continuity and positive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recording and monitoring systems are highly effective. Leaders maintain exceptional oversight of the quality of care provided to all children. Children consistently identify leaders as adults they can approach with confidence, knowing they will be listened to and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a strong value base and focuses firmly on ensuring that children experience parenting and care to a high standard. Leaders speak about children with warmth, pride and genuine affection. Their practice is underpinned by a deep and nuanced understanding of each child’s experiences, needs and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff demonstrate a highly reflective and child-centred approach to their work. They adapt their responses confidently and effectively to meet the children’s individual needs and behaviours. Practice is strengthened through regular consultation with a specialist support team, enabling staff to refine and adjust strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children. Staff consistently speak of children with warmth and compassion and are skilled in recognising and celebrating children’s progress and achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are resolute in their commitment to children, and they regard the care they provide as the minimum standard children should experience. Managers are determined advocates for children and are highly effective in driving forward children’s plans. They ensure that children’s individual needs, wishes and aspirations remain central to all decision-making and planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report high levels of job satisfaction and describe feeling valued and invested in the home and the wider organisation. Relationships between staff are trusting and respectful. These positive relationships are clearly modelled to children and contribute to a strong sense of belonging and family in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff describe the support they receive from leaders and managers as exceptional. They report that leaders consistently go above and beyond to ensure staff are well supported to fulfil their roles to a high standard. Supervision provided to staff is reflective and of high quality. Support extends beyond professional development and includes a strong focus on staff wellbeing, enabling the team to remain motivated, confident and effective in its practice. Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Recommendation

 The registered person should provide care that meets each child’s needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account their culture and identity. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)

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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: SC482344 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: Keys Group, Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Alexia Hosker, Social Care Inspector Lee Kirwin, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home: SC482344 8 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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