Children's Home run by Crossway Services Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC063498 Inspector Pamela Nuckley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Crossway Services Limited Registered person address 8 Black Brook Close Heapey Chorley Lancashire PR6 9AJ Responsible individual Pauline Ann Croft Registered manager Peter Byrne Date of last inspection 14/05/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 14/01/2015

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Previous inspection not judged Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the homes last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say they are safe, happy and settled in the home. They were complimentary about the support and care given to them by the staff team. One young person said ‘I would recommend this home to other kids because it is great.’ Young people put their progress down to the staff being approachable, flexible and caring.

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Overall effectiveness

Safeguarding is a high priority in all aspects of young people’s care. There is a strong focus on behaviour management that significantly enhances positive behaviour. Staff work hard to provide a safe environment in which young people are able to reflect on choices they make and to understand how to keep themselves safe. This has resulted in reduction in their risk taking behaviour.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff provide personalised and well-planned care that takes into account the individual needs and wishes of the young person. The experienced and qualified staff offer structure, support and guidance to young people that values and celebrates their individual qualities and experiences. Staff listen and respond well, as young people contribute their views and ideas about the quality of care in the home. They are fully involved in decisions about their lives and plans for their future. Young people benefit from staff who work well with their families and relevant professionals 3 of 11 to ensure they get the right support to meet their needs.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is well managed. Staff are properly supported to enable them to carry out their duties effectively. The manager makes good use of established monitoring systems to review the quality of care provided. There is a strong commitment in the home to continuous improvement of the care that is given to young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Two areas for improvement have been identified relating to ensuring that staff receive training in e-safety and that young people’s files are well structured. These shortfalls are not currently impacting on the good care received by young people but have the potential to do so. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This service is managed by an independent company who provide a number of small children's homes. The home provides accommodation for one child with emotional or behavioural difficulties and is staffed in accordance with their assessed needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2014 Interim not judged 10/02/2014 Interim inadequate progress 27/11/2013 Full good 22/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that information is held in a way that will be helpful to the child when they access their files (NMS 22.5)  ensure that staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of children This is specifically in relation to ensuring that staff have e-safety training. (NMS 18.1) 5 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people say this is an excellent home and that they would recommend to other young people. One young person said: ‘I have been in other homes and this one is great. I feel respected, listened to and staff show that they care.’ They continued to say: ‘I am involved in all of my care and decisions because staff ask my opinion all the time.’ Therefore, young people are central to the support and care they receive. Young people work very well with staff to identify barriers to their success, and contribute to plans for their immediate and longer-term futures.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

One young person has recently returned to mainstream school. They said: ‘It has been hard as I don’t know anyone but I want to be in school because I would like to go to college and university. I want to an actress.’ Young people were appreciative of the encouragement and support they receive from staff within education. This shows that young people are supported to realise their ambitions and dreams. Young people proudly display their certificates or recognition of achievement within the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s physical and emotional health is good. Young people understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, and staff support them to take responsibility for their own health. They have prompt access to professional consultation and guidance on a range of issues including smoking, sexual health, relationships and emotional well- being. Young people attend routine health care appointments. One young person said: ‘I didn’t go the dentist for a long time but staff have helped me overcome my fears and I now go regularly.’ As a result, young people are in good health. Young people eat a well-balanced diet and are encouraged to take part in planning, preparing and cooking meals.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are offered a range of activities and staff discuss different events that are coming up within the local and wider community. This includes cultural, educational, leisure or fun opportunities available to them. Young people are encouraged to have hobbies. One young person is writing a book. They said: ‘It’s about magic and the manager says he will help me get it published. Wouldn’t that be great?’ One young person is an avid reader. They said: ‘The manager buys me new books all the time. I think my writing and reading has helped me be in the top set for English in school.’ This shows that young people’s interests are fully supported. Young people also said that they enjoy staying in and doing art, watching films or playing games. As a result, one young person said: 'I enjoy staff's company. I don’t feel I need to be do something all the time because I feel cared for here and I can relax.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit form appropriate contact with family, friends and other people who are important to them. Any restrictions of contact are clearly identified. Therefore, young people and staff's safety is not compromised. One young person was not happy with arrangements for contact over Christmas. They said: ‘everything 6 of 11 had been agreed in September but my previous social worker said she had not had the time to sort it out. I was really unhappy.’ The staff supported the young person to raise this issue with the local authority through an independent advisory service. The young person said: ‘This was great. It was sorted just in time and I had a great time with some of my family.’ This shows that young people are encouraged to raise issues independently and see the benefits of doing this.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people say that they have settled in this home well because staff treat their friends well. One young person said: ‘My friends visit, stay for tea, watch a movie but the best thing is that they can stay overnight. How cool is that.’ Staff ensure that parental checks are undertaken and any potential risks are identified. This shows that young people are afforded the same opportunities as their peers.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are not of an age to be completing formal independence plans but they say they are encouraged to do daily tasks. For example, young people help with cooking, general house hold cleaning and laundry. As a result, young people said that they were learning how to care for themselves.

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Quality of care good

Young people are very complimentary about staff at this home. One young person said: ‘They are fantastic. I see them more like aunts and uncles rather than staff. They are like my family. They are concerned about me, my future and they are not just here for a job.’ Staff take pride in the building of relationships. One member of staff said: ‘building relationships is the foundation of all we do. By having these excellent relationships we are able to help young people move on in their lives.’ Therefore, staff get to know the young people very well, and are fully committed to enabling them to understand and overcome their difficulties, and achieve positive outcomes. A professional said: 'The commitment of staff is to be commended. Without these excellent relationships ……(name) would not have made the progress they have.'

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Quality of care good

Staff deliver good quality care and fulfil young people's placement plans which specifically identify young people's diverse needs. These plans are regularly revisited to take into account young people's changing needs and development. Staff make good use of formal and informal consultation opportunities to address specific aspects of the placement plan and emerging issues, which enables young people to reflect on their own behaviours and progress. Staff ensure young people’s views are accurately and clearly presented in regularly reviewed plans of care.

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Quality of care good

Young people contribute to the development of the home by sharing their views and ideas in individual consultations. The manager and staff spend time with young people, to ensure they communicate directly about matters of importance to them such as family contact or safety concerns. In this way, most issues are resolved informally. Young people have been assisted to raise a concern through the National 7 of 11 Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS). Therefore, young people are confident that adults listen to them, and they receive feedback about any concerns they raise.

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Quality of care good

Young people live in a healthy environment that actively promotes their physical and emotional well-being. Staff closely monitor young people's well-being, to ensure they are aware of and are able to respond to any emerging issues or concerns. Consequently, staff have an excellent understanding of young people’s specific health needs and ensure these are met on a daily basis. All staff are trained in dispensing medication and in administering first aid. Therefore, young people receive their medication in line with their prescription.

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Quality of care good

Young people are making measurable progress as staff continue to support them, as they begin to come to terms with past trauma, and overcome patterns of behaviour that previously limited the progress they made. A professional said ‘The progress this young person has made is excellent. Staff have built relationship based on honesty and trust which has allowed the young person to discuss their most inner thoughts and fears. They are doing really well in all areas.’ As a result, young people are making good progress, and are supported to make positive changes in their lives.

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Quality of care good

Staff ensure the daily routine of the home supports young people's participation in education. Staff take an active interest in young people's education. They liaise effectively with education professionals to identify appropriate educational opportunities for young people. They work collaboratively with education staff to ensure young people have the opportunity to achieve their academic potential. Staff promote the importance of education, and celebrate all achievements.

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Quality of care good

Young people live in a quiet neighbourhood, close to local amenities. They are encouraged to take ownership of the home and treat it with respect and care. Young people have personalised the home to reflect their interests and likes. For example; personalising their bedrooms, displaying their art work and photographs of them around the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel very safe, and live in a safe environment where staff do their utmost to protect them from harm. Staff are alert to potential risks, and encourage young people to let them know if they have any worries or concerns. The staff receive regular training on how to safeguard and promote young people's welfare. They clearly understand how to respond to allegations, suspicions or evidence of harm and to keep young people safe. Young people demonstrate they are confident to talk to staff about situations that may cause them harm. They trust staff to act promptly to help keep them safe. Staff use their knowledge and understanding of how to protect young people from abuse or exploitation, and when necessary foster good links with other child protection professionals. When staff are concerned about young people's safety they take decisive action to make sure young 8 of 11 people are protected and receive the support they need. Staff communicate in a

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Keeping children and young people safe good

timely manner with all relevant parties about emerging risks for young people. They provide young people with good advice, guidance and support. By having access to independent advocates external to the home, young people’s rights are fully promoted. As a result, young people grow in confidence, understand the consequences of risk-taking behaviour and have increasing skills in staying safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Positive ways of managing the behaviour of young people are utilised effectively. Incentive schemes positively influence good behaviour and young people confirm that they liked this system. Good behaviour within the home is also enhanced through the quality of the relationships between young people and staff. Consequences for misbehaviour are appropriate and recorded in sufficient detail, with evaluation of how effective they are. Young people say that all consequences are fully discussed with them and they come to an agreement together. Therefore, they felt that the system was fair.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people have not been restrained at this setting. However, care staff are trained in methods of care and control and demonstrated that restraint would only ever be used as a last resort.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people who have come to this placement with a history of being missing from home on a regular basis, and placing themselves at high risk have not been missing since living here. Young people say the significant reduction in them going missing from home is down to the care they receive and because there is no reason to as they are happy here. The home has the local missing from home protocol in place. Staff demonstrated that they fully understood the home’s procedure for reporting young people who are missing from the home and that the welfare of the young person would be their priority. In addition to this, concerns around child sexual exploitation (CSE) have therefore, significantly reduced. However, there has been an incident were a young person inappropriately used a social network site. This has been robustly reported and ongoing action is being taken to fully safeguard young people. In response to this, managers have received training in e-safety but this

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Keeping children and young people safe good

training has not been offered to staff. This does not ensure that staff fully understand the associated risks around e-safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a physically safe environment. A good range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and preventive checks, are implemented, and this protects young people well. Staff carry out regular fire drills, to ensure the premises are safe and young people know what to do in case of an emergency. Although not fully inspected on this visit, the provider follows a robust recruitment and selection process ensuring that staff working with young people are suitable. Young people say that staffs commitment to supporting them and the stability of the staff team is a positive aspect of their home that makes them feel safe. 9 of 11

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been registered with Ofsted for nine years. He has a suitable social work and management qualification. His previous vast experience is embedded in working within a mental health and an adolescent team. He continues to keep his knowledge up dated by attending additional training such as attachment theory and regularly reads associated articles connected to child care. He also managers another two single bedded homes. He divides his time effectively and has a qualified assistant manager who deputises in his absence. He is a well-respected professional who provides effective and competent leadership.

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Leadership and management good

Staff say they are well supported through regular supervision and describe the manager as fair and approachable. The manager has high expectations of the staff team and is proactive in ensuring all staff receive a full training programme to equip them with specific skills relevant to the young people accommodated. There is clear evidence of how the care and support provided by the whole staff team has improved outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management good

The manager and staff team demonstrate a strong commitment to providing good quality childcare practice tailored to address the individual needs of each looked after young person. This encourages young people to make significant progress across the many aspects of their lives, including accessing educational provision, sustaining their emotional development, accessing health provisions and keeping themselves safe.

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Leadership and management good

Young people live in a home that places their needs central to service development, and celebrates the progress they make. Enthusiastic and competent staff have consistently high aspirations for young people, enjoy their company, and are proud of how well young people are doing. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the positive progress young people are making in many aspects of their lives.

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Leadership and management good

The home meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. Young people, their families and social workers are clear about the services and support the home provides. A personalised young person’s welcome guide ensures that you people understand the rules and expectations of them. It also provides useful information around independent services. One young person said: ‘I loved that it had my name throughout. It felt like it had been written just for me.’ Young people confirm that they have found the guide helpful.

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Leadership and management good

All the members of staff are qualified in the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in care. Staff have completed all mandatory training and this is refreshed annually. They also receive additional training linked to young people's individual needs. This ensures that staff have the skills to support young people and are cared for by a suitable qualified staff team.

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Leadership and management good

The provider and manager regularly monitor the operation of the home through quality assurance systems. They capture the quality of care given and high light any 10 of 11 improvements needed. These systems are supported by a good development plan which shows projection for future improvement of the service. In addition to this, a good location risk assessment highlights any immediate or potential risks in the local area. This has been informed by police statistics on criminal activity and aids the manager when assessing referrals for the home. The manager demonstrated a good awareness of the development needs of the service and there is strong drive to improve care practices throughout.

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Leadership and management good

The home’s written records are securely stored; data protected and provide a comprehensive but practical picture of individual young people’s needs, including diversity, development and progress. Young people’s records contain up-to-date information about them, including the relevant documents provided by or requested from placing authorities such as the reporting of significant events. But young people’s files are not well structured because old information has not been archived. This does not help young people understand their background when accessing their files.

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Leadership and management good

At the last inspection the home was asked to ensure that the placement plan showed how a young person would be cared for on a day to day basis, that quality assurance reports are sent timely to Ofsted, securing personal education plans (PEP) and that missing from home records fully include all information required. These have been met. The young person’s placement plan is informative with identified arrangements. The PEP is on file and shows were young people are academically and the support they require. Quality assurance reports are sent timely to Ofsted. Therefore, Ofsted have a good overview of the home between inspections. The missing from home records would capture all the details required for reporting and noting all action taken.

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Leadership and management good

The home was also asked to ensure that records are clear, up to date and contribute to an understanding of a child’s life. This has been partially met. Records are up to date but lack of archiving of old information impacts on the records being clear. As a consequence, this recommendation has been repeated. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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