Hillcrest Children’s Home: statement of purpose

Our home is situated in a village in East Devon, close to Honiton and amenities.

Hillcrest is a bungalow, with a large garden area. Hillcrest has three bedrooms; children can choose which one they would prefer to use whilst staying with us. Children also choose their own bedding, toys and furnishings to have in their room.

There is a homely lounge, with a television, where children can relax and carry out play activities. The dining room area has a family-sized dining table and chairs where everyone can sit and enjoy their meals; this can also be used for craft activities and games.

Some children prefer to have a minimalistic environment, which may be attributed to sensory processing, the environment at times may appear sparse, but will reflect the needs and wishes of the children present on the day.

Our playroom contains sofas for quiet activities. There is a soft play area for relaxation, shelves of books and a variety of toys and activities. There are toy cupboards located in both the playroom and outside for the larger garden equipment.

We have a quiet lounge upstairs for children who prefer to spend time away from the hustle and bustle of home.
There is a bathroom equipped with a bath and wet room area for showering.

The kitchen provides an environment well equipped for children to prepare, with staff support, snacks, drinks, meals and baking activities. The facilities include a utility area which, although primarily used by staff for the running of the home, can also be accessed by the children, with supervision, to help develop self-help skills. Children are encouraged to participate in menu planning, shopping, food preparation and daily living skills.

Hillcrest has a large garden overlooking the countryside, with swings, a castle climbing frame, trampoline and track for go-karts and bicycles. There is a summer house for children to relax in the shade in summer and sit cosily in the winter.

The garden contains a covered picnic table, and a wildlife area with raised beds for growing produce of the children’s choosing.

Outdoor sheds contain sporting equipment including badminton equipment, boules, hoops, skipping ropes and various activities for the garden.

We have an abundance of wildlife visiting the garden and adjacent fields, animals and birds, which the children are encouraged to talk about and feed.

The grounds are secured by a gate and fencing to protect children’s privacy and ensure their safety when accessing the front of the home and the garden. There are local restaurants in the villages surrounding the home. Children can enjoy a walk, with a meal or snack and a drink afterwards. Children benefit from amenities that are accessible by car, such as cinemas, restaurants, country walks, beach activities, swimming and sports activities.

In the wider area there is access to amusement parks and theatres. The home has its own vehicle to enable children to access the community such as shops, cafes and play parks.

Honiton has access to a wide variety of places of worship for many faiths, and within a 30-minute drive, there are further religious establishments. We will support all children’s religious, cultural and ethnicity needs within the local community, where preferences have been expressed.

At Hillcrest Children’s Home we support children from birth to 18 years who have learning disabilities and sensory needs. Referrals are made to Hillcrest via a child’s social worker. We undertake comprehensive assessments of their needs and introduce children to the home in a way that is right for them. The support is provided within a framework agreed through the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan, and care planning process. We provide short breaks and longer term support up to 52-week placements. Full time placements may be able to continue whilst a suitable long-term home is found. In these situations, the best interests of all children involved will always be at the forefront of any decisions made. Where there is a need for a child known to the service to be admitted in an emergency, relevant processes will be followed including impact assessments if there is to be a change of service provision to other children.

We support children and their families to visit and view the service.

The home is open for 52 weeks of the year, but may close on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and staff training days. On rare occasions there may be a need, by consulting with parents, to rearrange a child’s stay. There is a business continuity plan which supports the home in these events.

The staff team at Hillcrest Children’s Home are skilled in adapting their approach to suit the particular needs of the children they support. Staff training is provided to develop and maintain individual’s skills. Staff listen and respond to the voice of the child.

Our aim is to provide enjoyable breaks, which expand the opportunities available for children, whilst supporting them to learn skills appropriate to their age, ability and understanding, encouraging natural progression, within a home environment. We do this by working closely with the child, families, key professionals, schools, and others that are important to the child, to provide consistency and support in ways that are in the best interest of the child.

Children are encouraged and supported to have as much involvement in decisions regarding their care as possible. Link Workers will act as advocates for children within the home.

Each child will have an individual Support and Outcome Plan that is reviewed at a minimum six monthly, or when their needs change, the plan is a ‘living’ document.

The ethos of the home is to provide a home-from-home environment, where children can grow and develop through a nurturing process that caters to their individuality. We are committed to providing a caring environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

We provide activities and opportunities to enhance the children’s experiences and outcomes. We will complete a ‘My Story’ with each child to celebrate all their experiences and achievements.

The team at Hillcrest Children’s Home value the feedback we receive about the service, this is sought from a variety of sources and any learning is embedded into our practice. We are committed to gathering feedback, in ways that suit the individual’s preferred communication methods, which may include verbal, written, pictorial, behavioural or making use of technological aids, and accessing Microsoft forms. Children are supported to complete feedback forms, which enables children to be involved in the shaping of the care they receive and the development of the service.

We work in a child-focused manner to provide a safe environment for children where they are supported, offered a variety of stimulation and benefit from life experiences and opportunities, to access a variety of in house and community-based activities. Children’s wishes, hobbies and interests are therefore supported in this way.

Our staff support and respect the child’s individual beliefs and wishes. We treat each child as an individual and in so doing we recognise that cultural beliefs may influence every area of a child life, from philosophy, morality, to diet and preparation of food and mode of dress. These beliefs and wishes will be incorporated into an individual’s Support and Outcome Plan and will shape the support and care they receive whilst at Hillcrest.

The children come in for each stay with their own clothes, personal items, and equipment or medication, which are returned when their visit has ended. Children are encouraged to bring from home personal items such as photographs and items that have a significant meaning to them. This, alongside personalising their bedroom, ensures that they feel at ease whilst staying at Hillcrest.

In general, children do not stay at the home with pocket money, although when they do we ensure they are aware of how to keep this safe and will support them in accessing shops if required. During a child’s stay access to a variety of activities, both within Hillcrest and in the local community, are supported and funded by the home.

Children thrive when their experiences are positive. Staff spend quality time creating positive relationships, through meaningful interactions. Children are also encouraged and supported to form friendships with each other.

The aim of the home is to ensure that every child feels relaxed and safe at all times. Any safeguarding disclosure will be treated sensitively and supportively, as per Devon County Council policies and procedures. All disclosures will be treated seriously and reported as appropriate.

A robust Locality Risk Assessment containing information from both the Local Police and Devon and Cornwall Police website is produced annually, the crime rate for the immediate area around Hillcrest is low.

All those involved with the provision of services for children in the children’s home settings, must be alert to the possibility of abuse by other children, visitors and members of staff. Staff attend relevant training, in line with the Devon County Council policies. Staff are able, if they have a specific interest, to request training in specific areas of Safeguarding through the appraisal process. The staff team working at Hillcrest have access to the Management Team On-call for advice and guidance, as well as regular supervision in which they can discuss any concerns they may have. We have an ‘open door’ policy whereby staff can seek support from the Management Team whenever they feel this is required.

All children have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, and the home has an annual Fire Risk Assessment completed.

All compliments, concerns and complaints are taken seriously. Children are encouraged to share compliments, concerns, and complaints with their parents and carers, staff, managers or the Service Manager for Countywide Services. Hillcrest Children’s Home adheres to Devon County Council complaints policies and procedures.

Children, parents/carers, members of the public, agencies or professionals are able to raise compliments or concerns to staff, lead professionals, or go directly to MASH, LADO, Disabled Children’s Service, or Ofsted. Requests to see the homes policies and procedures can be made to Hillcrest or Devon Children’s Homes. Compliments, Concerns and Complaints can be made to:

Glenn Lobb – Head of Service – Internal Provisions, Countywide Services
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Telephone: 07814 779948

Devon County Council Customer Relations
FREEPOST DCC CUSTOMER RELATIONS
Telephone: 0800 212783
Email: customer.relations@devon.gov.uk

Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
Telephone: 0300 123 1231
Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

Children’s Commissioner for England

Telephone: 0800 528 1231
Email: help.team@children’scommissioner.gov.uk

The home promotes an environment in which bullying is not acceptable. If bullying is found to occur, effective strategies will be implemented to manage the situation safely and promptly. We support children to actively come forward with their concerns in any area.

Staff at Hillcrest are aware that children need privacy. However, this must be balanced with issues of protection and safety. The privacy and dignity of the children are respected at all times. There may be exceptions to this if monitoring is required due to individual needs for health and safety reasons.

All children who stay at Hillcrest have their own private bedroom, of their choice wherever possible. They have the option of locking the bedroom door if they wish to, although staff do carry a key to the door, and will use it to unlock a door if they deem the child to be at risk.

The need for supervision, checks, and the use of audio or visual monitors during the night, is assessed on an individual basis. Night-time monitoring will only take place where there is an identified need which will be detailed in the individual’s agreed Support and Outcome plan and consented to by the child, parent, and/or their Placing Authority. Any night-time monitoring will be reviewed and discussed at the Good Practice Committee, with a view to reduce to the minimum level to ensure the child’s safety over a period of time.

Access to the home is via a main front door with a key lock, and exit is via a key pad. All children are assessed individually as to the safety of them knowing the code to exit the building. Personal identification is required and the signing of the visitor book.

At Hillcrest we support multi-disciplinary working with professionals and are happy to facilitate visits from known education, health and social care professionals. There are procedures in place to ensure the individual’s identity is known and recorded. Any visits that take place will be organised by the parents or carer and/or lead professional for the child, except in an emergency.

In the event of a child going missing from the home (or during outings away from the home) immediate action will be taken to locate the child. The member of staff supporting the child will carry an emergency card, which holds emergency contact details, and a photograph. The Police will be informed, and contact will be made with families and lead professionals, as appropriate. Full Risk Assessments are put in place for children who have behaviours that increase the likelihood of them going missing from care – we will link with the local police where necessary.

At Hillcrest we promote positive behaviour and relationships. Children have staff members supporting them that they are familiar with. Wherever possible the child will be supported by their link staff member.

We are aware that, at times, children may present behaviours of concern. This may be due to their disability, environmental factors, medical conditions, or as part of growing up. We support children with behaviours of concern using the Positive Behavioural Support Management Ethos. The valuing of individual rights, opinions and wishes of children and working in partnership with them and their families is seen as paramount.

The management of physical and emotional, harmful behaviour is based on positive encouragement, diversion, and distraction to change or deflect behaviour.

All team members have completed PACE training and the Manager and Deputy have completed DDP training, this approach supports management of behavioural situations.

Hillcrest has close links with external professionals who can provide support and advice for the staff team, and the child. We aim to minimise the behaviours of concern and work with the child in order to ease out their frustrations in a safe manner. The staff team have regular meetings in which they can discuss strategies to positively support children.

If behaviour becomes dangerous for the child or others, staff may, as a last resort, need to use a physical intervention to support the child. Hillcrest staff team receive behaviour management training which incorporates training and assessment of competence of physical guides and holds. Any use of a physical intervention or restraint will follow the guidelines set by the Department of Health and Devon County Council. This is used only as a last resort and reflects the presenting behaviour, using the least restrictive intervention for the shortest time possible, to keep people safe. All children who use our service will have a Support and Outcome Plan which includes a Risk Assessment, Behaviour Plan (if required), and a Positive Handling Plan where applicable.

De-escalation of behaviours is supported with positive strategies. Details of any physical restraint and/or intervention will be recorded, and details shared with parents or carers and relevant professionals. The Department of Health Guidance 2002, ‘Restrictive Physical Interventions: How to provide safe services for people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder’, will underpin and support good practice.

At Hillcrest we support children to make progress towards achieving their educational potential. EHCPs and Individual Education Plans are incorporated into the care plans where applicable. We provide suitable facilities and support to enable children to complete homework tasks where needed.

The staff team at Hillcrest have close working relationships with the schools that the children attend. We are able, by arrangement with school and home, to visit the children and see them in their school environment. Staff are able to liaise with the class teacher and teaching assistants to provide continuity of care with regard to any educational and behaviour plans. Hillcrest staff members consult with the Speech and Language Team so as to provide the children with necessary resources to aid communication – Makaton, sign language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication Systems) books and symbols, photographs, yes/no symbols and Objects of Reference.

A representative from Hillcrest will attend the child’s annual EHCP review and provide a written report where required. The ‘My Stories’ that are completed can be taken to the reviews. The staff complete Hillcrest/school/home books to maintain effective communication with families and Education.

At Hillcrest we aim to provide a good level of educational support to all the children that attend the home. We promote life skill development and learning through play, fun and new experiences, in a safe and supported environment.

We make necessary adjustments to ensure we meet the additional responsibilities for Children in Care. We do this by liaising with key professionals and families, and by adjusting the support we provide as required to meet the individual’s needs.

As part of the individual Support and Outcome Plan at Hillcrest each child has identified outcomes that are regularly monitored identifying progress and adaptations to support that may be required for each individual. These will be evidenced in the children’s own ‘My Stories’ so that the children and family can celebrate their achievements – these may also be linked to the child’s ECHP targets.

When a child is in the process of transition to adulthood, the staff team will support in whichever Child Focused way is required. The team regularly support with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessments with children approaching 16 and are involved with Best Interest meetings.

The health needs of all the children are determined in consultation with the child, their parents or carers, and lead professionals prior to admission and throughout their time at Hillcrest Children’s Home.

Where the children have long term health conditions, staff are trained in the clinical skills necessary to deliver the care safely. The Children’s Home has responsibility for ensuring correct and appropriate training of staff. Where it is necessary to utilise the skills of other individuals, their credentials and identity will be checked thoroughly and, if they require access to the child, it will be with parental consent and supervised.

Some of the children may require specialised equipment and follow specialist Physiotherapy programmes. Staff members liaise with the relevant professionals to provide these services, if identified. Consultation takes place with parents, carers and the school, to provide continuity of care for the child during their stay.

Some of the children have specific dietary requirements. Regular discussions with the parents or carers and the dietician, Paediatrician and GP are necessary in order to meet the health needs of the child, whilst also taking into consideration the child’s wishes.

Families will retain parental responsibility and take their children for regular health, dental and optical checks. Families should inform the home of these so a record can be kept. Where a child is a Child in Care, we recognise our increased responsibility and will provide support for individual children and their families where required. Staff will support parents at visits, if requested. If any concerns arise about the health of a child during their stay, parents or carers are contacted and, if necessary, the child’s GP, Devon Doctors, or contact 111 directly. If necessary, we will either call an ambulance or take the child to the local accident and emergency department for medical attention. The local Hospital Minor Injuries Unit is within three miles of Hillcrest, after 20:00 there is an Accident and Emergency unit in Exeter 10 miles away. If this occurs, families will be required to meet and support the child at the hospital unless specific arrangements have been agreed prior to the child’s stay. The staff team have awareness and understanding to support children with their Emotional Wellbeing. Consent forms regarding children receiving medical treatments will be completed prior to accessing the home.

Parents and carers are required to supply the correct dosage of medication, for the child’s stay, in pharmacy labelled containers. These labels require all information to enable administration of the medication by staff. Any changes in medication should be in written form on the medication authorisation sheet, signed and dated by the parents and by a staff member of the home.

At times, the child’s medication is changed on a regular basis and a repeat prescription with the new dose on it may be delayed: for example, if the medication is changed by the paediatrician, the same day as the visit. In these circumstances we will seek, where possible, confirmation from the child’s Paediatrician or GP over the phone. We request that a correct label is sent in on their next visit.

We may consult with the child’s Paediatrician with regard to medication; this is achieved via telephone and email and with full involvement of the parents or carers.

Hillcrest Children’s Home adheres to Devon County Council policies regarding food hygiene, follows the Food Standard’s Agency Registration and Compliance, and follows the local authority’s ‘Better standards, safer food’ policies. The meals prepared take into account the individual needs of the children accessing the home, and their choices. The home supports the staff in accessing basic food hygiene training, and training in areas such as Health and Safety, and Infection Control.

At Hillcrest meals are prepared by children where possible. Children are able to plan, shop and prepare snacks, meals and baking items.

Hillcrest provides an environment, where healthy living is promoted. We aim to provide ingredients for a varied healthy diet. Opportunities for physical activities are offered, and we promote good personal hygiene and cleanliness.

Hillcrest Children’s Home staff team are recruited, according to Devon County Council Safer Recruitment Policies and Procedures, as recommended in the ‘Warner Report: Choosing with Care (1992)’. All staff meet the requirements of the Children’s Home Regulations 2015. We promote cultural diversity when recruiting staff to create an inclusive environment comprised of people from various backgrounds and work experiences which enhances experiences within the home.

All our staff hold a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service, meet Schedule 2 requirements, set out in the Children’s Home Regulations 2015, and work-related references dating back at least five years are scrutinised.

The staffing is based upon the children accessing the home, and their individual needs. This is reviewed regularly. At night the home is staffed by one waking night member of staff, and a sleep-in member of staff, with the support of an On-Call Manager.

Hillcrest has a Registered Manager and Deputy Manager. Residential Team Leaders and Residential Support Workers, complete the team. The Manager is accountable to the Service Manager for Countywide Services. The Deputy Manager and Residential Team Leaders have responsibility for management of the Residential Support Workers. The Residential Team Leaders oversee day-to-day tasks and activities whilst on shift and will support with staff management as required. Bank and agency staff are available, if needed, to support staffing levels during holidays and cover staff absence.

Staff have the opportunity to work within the other homes in the service, especially where they have skills that can be transferred to support the needs of the home.

The Registered Manager regularly meets with the Service Manager for supervision. The Management Team deliver in-house medical training to the staff at Hillcrest. They also assess the individual staff members’ competence for each procedure they are trained in.

Our recruitment of staff is designed to encourage a diverse workforce.

Hillcrest is committed to the ongoing professional development of our workforce and providing tangible opportunities for all team members to reach their full potential.

With excellent learning and development resources and opportunities, we offer and support the completion of a comprehensive mandatory training schedule to every new team member as part of the induction to Hillcrest. This includes a range of generic mandatory training as well as training linked to specific needs of the children that use their home. By having good links with other teams of professionals and being creative we are able to use different forms of research develop the team’s knowledge and skills enabling development of practise and the ability to meet the changing needs.

At Hillcrest we strongly believe in continued learning and development and in providing our teams with the opportunity to develop existing skills as well as to gain new ones. We regularly review opportunities for succession planning for the team members giving them support to develop their knowledge and skills leading to their development into different roles within the homes or services.

Opportunities to discuss, review and plan for development and learning is discussed regularly with the team in individual supervision sessions that occur monthly, annual appraisals and with the team in the team meeting to ensure we continue to meet the development needs of our workforce and the needs of the children that use the home. We use a robust recording and monitoring system both organisationally and locally to monitor ensure compliance with required training and development activities.

Mandatory training includes areas such as Induction, Communication, Health and Safety, Seizure Control, Conflict Resolution, Medicines Management, Safeguarding Group 1-6, Equality and Diversity, Manual Handling, Paediatric First Aid, Mental Capacity Act, DOLS, and Information governance. All staff attend the required annual Fire Safety updates. Fire drills will occur at intervals throughout the year, for both children and staff, with details recorded. The team also have completed PACE and the Manager and Deputy have completed DDP training.

The Home Manager holds a Diploma 5. Residential Team Leaders can work towards gaining Diploma level 5 in relevant subject areas. Residential Support Workers will be required to hold or be working towards a Diploma level 3.

The home complies with Devon County Council Human Resources Policies and Procedures. Devon County Council has Union Representatives, which are available to staff at any time, for advice and support. Devon County Council also provides occupation health support for all staff, and this is a confidential process where required.

For further information please contact Becci Thomas (Registered Manager) becci.thomas@devon.gov.uk