Children's Home run by Crossways Care Ltd in Somerset

Unique reference number SC452009 Inspector Sarah Canto Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Crossways Care Ltd Registered person address Unit 2, Chinon Court Lower Moor Way TIVERTON Devon EX16 6SS Responsible individual Christine Isabel Cameron Registered manager James Richard Corrado Date of last inspection 22/10/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 05/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, some aspects of young people’s lives have not progressed which is detrimental to young people’s well-being. Young people are not clear about the plan for their future and the home does not hold written care plan documents from the placing authority. As a result young people feel frustrated and isolated.

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This inspection

Incidents of young people missing from home, including young people being missing overnight, has increased in frequency and duration. During this time, young people are at risk of drug and alcohol misuse. While the home manager and staff notify all relevant parties and make some attempts to search, these attempts are not always comprehensive or regular. The missing protocol now provides clarity as to when to call the police, but does not guide staff to search for young people and highlight known addresses or areas. Young people are offered an independent visitor to talk to upon their return to the home. Sometimes this can take up to a week and so is outside of the 72 hour statutory guidance. Such gaps result in an inconsistent response at a time when a robust approach is required for young people’s safety.

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This inspection

Shortfalls are found in the home’s system of sanctions for young people and still outweigh rewards given to young people. Sanctions are unclear and in some cases open ended, with little review of their effectiveness. Young people have not signed to demonstrate their view or that they accept the sanctions. Young people state they are unclear as to what is expected of them. Therefore they do not have clear goals to achieve and look forward to and sanctions do not encourage positive behaviour.

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This inspection

Young people are not able to make a private telephone call without asking staff first. Young people are at times without personal mobiles although their use is limited within the home as the mobile signal is poor. However, a landline has been purchased by the home and is due to be installed shortly. 3 of 6 Front door alarms have been fitted to the front door of the home, as part of a risk assessment to keep young people safe. The manager has not sought the placing authority’s and parent’s agreement regarding this form of surveillance.

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This inspection

Not all requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met by the home. Restraints rarely happen in this home and are used appropriately as a last resort. When they do happen, staff have signed restraint entries. However methods employed by staff to de-escalate challenging behaviours, while referred to in incident reports, are not properly recorded in the bound book. Therefore this requirement is repeated. Pathway plan documents are not in place although the manager has made some efforts to obtain these from placing authorities. Young people’s views are contained within the home’s placement plan but young people have not yet been given the opportunity to read and sign the document, as it is not felt to be user-friendly by the manager. The development plan for the home is still not specific about what tasks need to be done, by whom and when. Therefore, it does not assist the manager in improving the home for young people. The home’s

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This inspection

external monitoring reports are thorough but recent reports not been sent to Ofsted. The lack of progress in these areas raises questions regarding management oversight, focus and the demands on the Registered Manager’s time, as he manages two homes.

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This inspection

The remaining two requirements and two recommendations are met. Young people now receive support from the Children and Mental Health Team, partly as a result of the manager’s determination in following up this referral with the relevant professionals. Work is yet to be done to establish clear lines of communication between the home and the agency to ensure care and support of young people is consistent. The manager has also arranged appointments for young people with the local drugs and alcohol service for young people. Young people now have access to a house computer and internet access. The manager now has an up to date training record for all staff and supervision records show that staff are supervised frequently.

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This inspection

While self-harming is still of a concern for some young people, this has reduced in line with the effective care and attention the team have given to young people. Staff have received training in child sexual exploitation and young people are offered support from trained staff to specifically focus on the risks.

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This inspection

While some young people feel unhappy with their current circumstances, they say ‘I feel safe in this home.’ Staff enjoy working in the home and are confident in their support from managers. The manager and deputy are committed to young people and work hard to role model good practice. Staff are proud of young people’s achievements and want them to achieve to their full potential. For example, a member of staff said ‘ I’m proud of the young person getting a part time job - I want to make sure the young person gives their best at school too, given the progress made.’ 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation to one child who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2014 Full adequate 26/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 13/09/2013 Full good

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure where a measure of restraint is used on a child the record required under paragraph (3) must include; details of any methods used to avoid the need to use that measure (Regulation 17B(4)(b)) 15/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary; in particular encourage young people to read and sign placement plans (Regulation 12 (2)) 15/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a record in permanent form is maintained in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home, which includes the information, documents and records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child and is kept up to date; in particular obtain pathway plans (Regulation 28 1(18)) 15/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the 15/04/2015 5 of 6 safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there; in particular ensure risk assessments are comprehensive (Regulation 11 (1)(a))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home - a telephone on which to make and receive calls in private (Regulation 15 (4) (a)) 07/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that electronic or mechanical monitoring devices for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home except for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children accommodated in the children's home, and where the following conditions are met - it is provided for in the child's placement plan (Regulation 22 (1) (b)) 15/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) supply a copy of the Regulation 33 report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—(a) HMCI. (Regulation 33(5)(a)) 15/04/2015

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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 an independent return interview is offered and provided within 72 hours of the person’s return (Statutory Guidance on Children who run away or go missing from care; DFE January 2014)  ensure there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home; in particular a development plan which specifies targets, who will complete these and timescales (NMS 21.1)  ensure the home has good links with health agencies, including specialist services where appropriate, such as CAMHS (NMS 6.9)  ensure where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home. (NMS 3.18) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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