Throughout the year all our homes undertake reflective learning seeking feedback from all those involved, including the children and young people, for their views on how the home provides care and love to our young people.
We wanted to share with you a sample of some of the feedback gathered for Hinton Wood.
February 2022 Reg 44 Visitor:
I spoke to 15 year old boy in the home about how he knows staff understand how he is feeling. He said that when he is upset, he usually speaks to TW or MT who he gets on very well with. I asked him how he knows he has been heard. He told me that staff will always listen to him and help if they can. I asked what happens if he wants to do something which staff can’t let him do. He said they will try to find an alternative. He said if he were unhappy with the home, he would ask for a complaints form, which he knows is sent to head office to investigate.
May 2021 Feedback obtained via Reg 44 visitor from Social Worker:
SE said that she feels very fortunate to be so heavily involved with Hinton Wood, and that she feels part of the home. She said she has built up a really good rapport with the entire staff team, particularly TW Registered Manager. SE finds TW to be extremely child-focused and said that she regularly sees her advocating for young people. She feels that each young person is making great progress. I asked her for some examples, and she said that the 16 year old is allowing himself to be emotionally vulnerable for the first time, because Hinton Wood have made him feel confident and secure enough to do this. SE said that the 15 year old girls risk taking behaviour, although still concerning, reduced dramatically when she moved to the home. She added that she was so relieved to find out that Hinton Wood were able to accommodate the new 15 year old boy she referred as she ‘could not think of a better place for him’.
I asked SE why she felt Hinton Wood were doing so well, and she feels this is due to the consistency of the staff team, thus all have been able to establish really strong working relationships with young people. The communication between them and herself is also seamless. SE said that no matter how hard she tries, she could not think of anything the home needed to improve upon.
Feedback from conversations between Reg 44 visitor and team members:
This month I spoke with ST, a residential childcare worker. ST advised me that she started working at Hinton Wood 10 weeks ago on a part-time basis. When asked if she was enjoying the role, she said that she was and that the staff team have been really supportive. ST said that she receives regular supervision, and that she is able to go to TW for advice. She feels as though she is getting on well with the young people and said that RS’s behaviours can be particularly challenging at times. ST feels this is becoming easier to manage the more she builds a rapport with him. She added that she has completed all of her mandatory online training.
TH has worked at the home since September 2019 and says she loves the atmosphere of the home. She explained she knows the young people very well so often will know when something is troubling them. She says they do not often like to open up in front of others in home meetings, so she thinks key working is the best platform to get a young person to let her know how they feel. She says they will trust some staff more than others. However, this is often down to the young person’s perception of how staff do their job. She said it is important that they feel listened to and this may be by getting things dealt with immediately or as soon as possible.
OFSTED Feedback, Requirements and Recommendations:
Hinton Wood received a judgement of “Good” during their most recent inspection May 26th and 27th 2021.
| Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good |
| Children‘s experiences here are good and they are helped by committed and enthusiastic staff to make good progress. Staff have made a conscious effort to familiarise themselves with distinct types of attachment styles and the children’s experiences. A member of staff was able to discuss with the inspector the importance of staff using this information to ensure children receive empathic and informed care. As a result of this approach, the children feel secure and able to build and sustain positive relationships with staff and each other. Staff understand children’s behaviours and the reasons for them. For example, staff are attuned to factors that both motivate and trigger incidents of aggression towards others. |
| Those children who are moving into independence have robust and considerate care planning that is regularly reviewed by the registered manager and professionals. Staff ensure that the voice of the child is heard throughout, and the planning is at the child’s pace to ensure success.
Staff are proactive and committed to supporting and engaging the children in education. Those children who are in education are making good progress. Communication between the registered manager and education professionals is good and ensures that children’s education plans progress. One child had been out of education for a year, prior to moving to the home, and is now achieving beyond expectations noted in their care plan. One child told the inspector, ‘I would never have been doing this if it wasn’t for the people here. I like it now I go everyday.’ This is a positive reflection that shows the child felt supported and that staff are actively promoting education. Another child, who is not in education, has access to resources and staff support the education plan within the home. As a result, the child is prepared for reintegration to education. |