Children's Home run by Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 1 SC398386 Registered provider: Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited

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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 by a large, private company and has been registered with Ofsted since 2009. The home is registered to provide care for up to 4 children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties. Four children were living in the home at the time of the inspection, and they all contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been in post since 2015 and is suitably qualified.

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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

Date of last inspection: 13 October 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/10/2025 Full Good 16/07/2024 Full Good 24/05/2023 Full Good 14/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 3

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Summary of findings

Children have positive experiences and are making progress. Children experience long and stable placements. Staff know children well and advocate for them effectively. Staff are confident in their knowledge of children's risks and vulnerabilities, which improves children's safety. The home is effectively managed, and leaders' oversight and multi- agency working are strengths.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely environment that is reflective of their interests and personalities. Children are greeted by a large family tree painted on the wall as they enter the home. It displays the handprints of all the children and staff currently at the home and those who have left. This emphasises to children that there is a legacy to living here. There are photographs around the home of the children, and those who have left, enjoying a range of activities with each other. This supports a sense of belonging and permanence for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience well-planned moves into the home. Leaders have made a welcome video that features a child who previously lived in the home giving a tour and talking about what's it is like to live here. One parent said that this helped their child to know what to expect when they moved in. Where appropriate, staff stay in touch with children when they move on. This indicates to children that they are loved and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive, playful and nurturing relationships with staff. Staff know children well and invest time in them. Staff support children to try new things and pursue their interests. This enables children to broaden their horizons and have positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are curious about children's emerging needs and make sure that they get the right help at the right time. Staff encourage children to share their feelings about what adults could do differently to help them when they are upset. This includes children in how staff care for and support them and ensures that children feel heard and can build trust.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are creative in helping children to participate in decision-making about their lives. This has included helping children to make videos for meetings so they can share their views. Staff add to these videos over time so that children have a long-standing record of their contributions. This has progressively helped one child to feel confident enough to attend meetings and participate in person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's achievements are celebrated. Staff use rewards to incentivise children to work towards age-appropriate goals. The use of visual charts helps children to see the progress they are making. Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 4 Children's relationships with their family and other important people are supported in line with their wishes and care plans. Staff maintain strong communication with families and update them regularly. This helps children to maintain these relationships and spend meaningful time with their families. Positive relationships between children are promoted. Staff support children to understand their differences when these relationships become difficult, which helps them to repair peer relationships if needed.

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

Safeguarding practice is effective. Feedback from professionals highlights that staff work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure that risks are well understood and responded to as needed.

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

When children have harmed themselves outside of the home, staff have been nurturing and curious about the reasons why. They sensitively explore this with children and help them to find less-harmful strategies to manage strong feelings.

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

Staff use physical interventions only when necessary and proportionate to keep children safe. Staff know which calming strategies work best for each child and are vigilant to signals that children might be upset. Staff demonstrate curiosity during conversations with children after incidents, which helps children to understand what happened and reduces recurrence.

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

Consequences are rarely used and, where they are, they are restorative. Staff sensitively support children to reflect on what they were thinking and feeling during difficult times, which helps adults to learn how to better help children in the future. The reasons for consequences are clearly explained to children so that they are accepted.

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

Staff are confident to report any concerns and leaders take allegations and complaints seriously. They respond promptly to ensure that children are safeguarded while the necessary investigations are conducted. To support scrutiny, leaders frequently appoint independent investigators and investigations are thorough and sensitive. The impact of any allegations or complaints on children is thoughtfully considered and their wellbeing prioritised throughout, including how they receive feedback about what happened and any outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are experienced and child focused. They carefully balance the experiences of children moving in with those already living in the home. They are clear about children's needs and risks and ensure that staff have the necessary skills and experience to offer high-quality care for children. Leaders effectively make use of the in-house clinical team to support staff's understanding of children's specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and supported. They say that the home 'feels like a family'. Staff are clear on their roles and are fervent in their commitment to ensuring that children have the best possible opportunities. Staff describe the manager and deputy as 'devoted' and Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 5 that they 'go above and beyond' for children. Leaders and staff are invested in a culture of high expectations for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for children. They challenge agencies when decisions are being made that are not in children's best interests and when children's views are not taken into consideration. The manager also uses appropriate channels to escalate any concerns about delays that children experience. This helps children to feel heard and that their views about their care are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders recognise the likely emotional impact of children accessing their records now and in the future, and how this may shape their view of themselves. Leaders have sought the guidance of a care-experienced adult to improve how staff record children's experiences so that records have a strong emphasis on positive language and achievements. This helps children to feel valued and celebrated, as well as helping them to make sense of their histories.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Equality and diversity are actively promoted in the home. Children's cultural and identity needs are well understood. Leaders recognise the importance of staff as role models for children in promoting tolerance and challenging discrimination. Staff support children to safely explore all aspects of their identity by learning with them. This creates an inclusive and respectful environment where children's uniqueness is celebrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders recognise the impact of staff leaving. There is a recruitment plan in progress to fill vacancies and ensure that the home remains safely staffed. When staff have left, this has been discussed sensitively with children, and they are reassured that they will still be cared for by adults who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 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: SC398386 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Hillcrest Children's Services (2) Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspector

Kim Morgan, Social Care Inspector Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC398386 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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