Hillview
- Registered: 2006
- Registered Places: 4
- DfE Education: Yes
- Assessment/Therapy: Yes
- Step Down Placements: Yes
- Staff Ratio: Close Supervision
Hillview - A 'Good' Children's Home in all Areas
What Ofsted say...
"The home is bright, homely and welcoming to the children. Photos of the children are displayed on the walls and children’s bedrooms are personalised to their own tastes. Children have plenty of space to play, including in the newly decorated outhouse.
Staff know the children well and understand their histories. Staff are interested in the
children and listen to what they have to say. Children are involved in decision-making
about their lives. Staff take time to explain the reasons for any decisions and ensure that
they do the things they say they will do. This has helped the children to develop trust in
the staff.
Staff work closely with education professionals and encourage children’s attendance at
school. Three children have moved to new schools and these transitions have been
managed well. The children have made significant progress in their engagement and
learning from their starting points.
Children see the people who are important to them. Staff work tirelessly to ensure that
family time happens for children. Staff have created links with children’s family
members. For one child, whose plan is to return home, staff have created a graded plan
to support the child and family during the transition period. This has enabled the child to
benefit from continuity of care as their plan progresses.
Children participate in clubs and activities. This includes going to youth groups, Scouts
and Young Farmers clubs. Staff are creative in finding the most suitable clubs for the
children. For example, when one child was struggling with a performing arts club, staff
found a similar group that catered better to their needs. As a result, the child feels more
confident and their social skills are improving.
Culture is celebrated in the home and children take part in themed culture nights on a
monthly basis. Children discuss traditions and eat food from different cultures. This helps
the children to develop a broader understanding of the world.
Staff support the children to prepare for adulthood. Children are involved in creating and
following plans to carry out household chores. This helps them to build confidence in
everyday tasks and enhances their life skills."
Ofsted Inspection - February 2026 - Full report available by request
Residential Care
Hillview provides a stable, nurturing and safe home to children/adolescents with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This includes young people that suffer mild to moderate learning difficulties and complex emotional needs. The home benefits from a robust, consistent and dedicated staff team that oversee the holistic care of the young people residing in the home.
Hillview aims to provide the young people with a caring a, nurturing environment that overall holds the ethos of a professional family. The expectations and rules in the home replicate much of those experienced in a family environment.
The home works hard alongside other professionals to support and understand the children’s behaviour. With this being the focus that enables the staff to think about the children’s behaviour and make good, appropriate informed choices in supporting their physical and emotional development.
The management and staff team focus on the building of relationships, using this first and foremost to build a foundation of mutual trust and respect. Hillview is sited in a remote location with vast grounds and space, this enables the staff to engage the young people in the activities. The home and grounds offer spaces such as a football pitch, pool room, gym and table tennis room.
We aim to provide the young people with a positive experience whilst growing up at Hillview, we work to build their self-esteem and self-worth and try to rehabilitate the integrity and trust of those who take on the role of primary carers.
Hillview pride themselves on the individual thought and care that goes into each case management. The achievements are individual and diverse as with each young person and as each young person starts their placement, progress and development is monitored as we strive to meet individual care plans, these include rehabilitation to birth families, foster families or independent living.
Education
The home is directly affiliated to both our DfE registered, specialist SEMH schools: The Davenport Primary School and The Old Priory Secondary School.
The respective school and the home work in close partnership to ensure continuity in respect of learning support, achieving developmental goals and behaviour management.
The Davenport School (Key Stage 2: 7-11yrs) offers a differentiated curriculum in order to meet the individual learning needs of each young person. The school operates with small group settings where children are closely supported and supervised by a qualified teacher and learning support assistants.
The Old Priory School (Key Stages 3 & 4: 11 – 16yrs) offers the national curriculum allowing for GCSE study in essential subject areas, alongside alternative, differentiated curriculums, including ASDAN and City & Guilds NPTC vocational awards, both of which lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Assessment & Therapy
Children and young people residing in our care have access to a range of assessment and therapy services including:
- Psychological Assessment
- Psychotherapy
- Systemic Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Equine Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Drama Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Play Therapy
All therapy referrals are overseen by the organisation’s dedicated Therapy Services Manager in consultation with the allocated social worker and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
Our assessment and therapy services are an inclusive element of our residential care provision and attract no additional funding requirement.
Health Support
In addition to our therapy services and panel of consultants, each of our homes have direct access to a health promotions worker and, in the event of any significant health concerns arising, oversight from a registered, dual diagnosis nurse. This ensures effective, professional guidance in respect of health profiling, together with the immediate and ongoing health needs of each individual child and young person placed in our care.
Statement of Purpose
Online Information Event
If you are considering a career as a Foster Carer, or are currently fostering and considering moving to Ethelbert Fostering, join one of our online information events for information and an opportunity to ask those all important questions
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