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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person is making very good progress. The staffs exceptional work to build and sustain relationships has resulted in improved outcomes in education, health, behaviour and contact. A professional said, ‘This is an excellent placement and staff continue to build on their knowledge and their relationship to ensure good outcomes.’

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person is doing extremely well in education. They are achieving results above the national average and have aspirations for their future.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person’s health has improved. They are very well supported to by staff that safely encourage them to make better lifestyle choices with, for example, their diet and improved exercise.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person’s contact with those important to them has significantly improved. The manager has proactively dealt with issues that were impacting on previous contact arrangements meaning that this is now a positive and enjoyable experience.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person enjoys spending time in the local area where she has made friends. Friends visit and stay for tea and this is reciprocated. She participates in a range of activities that are fun, educational and improves fitness. This promotes friendships and engagement in the local and wider community.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person says she feels safe in the home because staff talk to her and give her good advice that help’s her to protect herself. The staff team demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in following protocols and procedures to keep young people safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. Staff are well supported through good supervision and training and the stable staff group provide good continuity of care.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Effective multi-agency working means issues are quickly responded to and all parties are aware of any changes to the young person’s care plan. This has led to improvements in the young person’s emotional wellbeing, health, social skills and educational achievement.  The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. The young person has personalised the home with photographs, her belongings and accessories. Her bedroom reflects her style, choice of colour and posters of boy bands. Overall, it is homely and welcoming.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Statutory Requirements

13: The leadership and management standard

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Statutory Requirements

Demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (g) (i)) 30/07/2015

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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

The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent monitoring. This is in relation to having the monitoring reports with the home. (The Guide, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this children's home

This private children’s home accommodates one young person with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

Young people are admitted to the home in a planned way. The young person had previously been placed with the company. The manager identified staff that had cared for her in the past, to work in the home. The young person said, ‘It was great having the same people look after you.’ She felt that this had very much contributed to her settling in quickly. The young person’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) said ’… (Name) has made significant progress in all areas of her life since being placed at this home. This is reflected in her emotional health, social skills and educational achievement.’

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good

The young person said her views, wishes and feelings are fully listened to. She said staff are ‘fantastic’ and she is able to talk with them about anything. She said any requests or her views are taken to a staff meeting and the manager tells her what was discussed and decided. She said, ‘This is good because everyone knows what the outcome is and we are all clear.’ In addition to this, the young person is fully aware of the in-house complaint system and that she also has an independent advocate that she can speak to. But, because staff listen to her and include her in decisions, she has not wanted to raise anything.

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good

The young person is doing extremely well in education. She has full attendance. This is a marked improvement from last year. This has been made possible because staff have worked closely with her and school to overcome some barriers. For example, the young person had difficulty in maintaining friendships. Staff worked with her on these issues and she now has friends in school. This has made school a more social environment for her. At her recent Personal Education Plan (PEP), it was recognised that she was working at a higher level than her peers in eight out of eleven subjects. In addition to this, she received thirty eight credits for behaviour and working hard. The head teacher said, ‘this is the most any pupil has attained in a year.’ The young person is clear about their future goals and ambitions stating; ‘I want to get good results in my exams next week, as these dictate what sets you are in next year. I want to be in the higher sets because it is

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good

difficult to move sets in the year.’ She continued to say, ‘I want to be a teacher or a vet.’ This is commendable. Young people rightly have aspirations for their future and are proud of their achievements, displaying certificates on their bedroom wall. The young person participates in a wide range of activities. She enjoys spending time with her friends, going to the cinema, listening to music and going to the gym. She is going on a holiday to Wales and is looking forward to experiencing a cave experience where you can trampoline. There are good risk assessments in place and staff have checked insurance details of the company. This will ensure that the activity is done as safely as possible. The young person’s main passion is reading. She said, ‘I love books. I read about two a week. These are mostly fantasy novels and I really get into the story.’ Staff make sure that she has plenty of reading material. They buy her books for good behaviour and she also has an

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good

incentive scheme in place where she can receive whole series, of an author, in one go. This means that her passion for reading is encouraged and it assists with her education and learning.

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good

The young person’s health is improving because staff have worked closely with her on a variety of issues. For example, in making healthier dietary choices and increasing exercise. Staff work closely with the Looked After Children (LAC) nurse on nutrition, diet and exercise and use good consultation sessions with the young person to offer useful and informative advice about heathy eating. As a result the young person has learnt to make healthier choices and has reduced their sugar in take. Similarly, after initial reluctance to engage in exercise, she now attends the gym twice a week and goes swimming and bike riding with staff. As a result, she has improved her health and self-esteem and confidently states, ‘I feel better and I look better.’

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good

The young person’s contact with her sister has improved because staff have worked closely with both of them. Contact had become strained and neither young person was enjoying their visits. Staff undertook a mediation session to get to the root of the problem. This allowed them to discuss the problem and put forward ideas, rules and boundaries. For example, they take turns in identifying an activity to do. The young person said, ‘It is going really well now and we have fun.’ There are good contact plans in place, which ensure that the young person and staff know the dates, times and venue. Any restriction of contact to other people is clearly identified. This means that the young person is able to safely maintain contact with people who are important to them.

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good

The young person said, ‘I am extremely safe here because staff protect me and care about me. They make sure I understand what is not safe, so I can also protect myself.’ Staff have ensured that the young person has completed an on- line safety programme so they are able to access the internet safely. The manager is also currently identifying an e-safety training programme for staff to increase staff knowledge and awareness. This will further assist them in ensuring young people are safe. Adequate risk assessments are in place that identifies the young person’s vulnerabilities and set out what strategies and actions staff need to take to protect them.

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good

The young person has not been reported missing from this home. There have been no concerns raised with the Looked After Designated Officer (LADO) or behaviour issues that have required physical intervention. However, staff have been fully trained in these areas. They clearly demonstrate their understanding of their roles and responsibilities in these areas as well as what action to take should an incident occur. The IRO said, ‘I have no doubt that she feels listened to and feels safe. Last time I spoke with her she said the staff know me inside out. This was obviously very reassuring for her.’ The young person’s behaviour has improved. This is because there are good rewards and incentive schemes in place. For example, the young person can earn books, console games and personal items. In addition to this, staff have used consultation sessions with the young person well. For example, they have completed work around the impact of negative attitudes and

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good

being responsible for their actions. Consequences for unacceptable behaviour are minimal but when applied, the young person said they were fair. The young person said, ‘Staff know me well. We are like family and we have fun. My behaviour has improved because we respect and are honest with each other.’

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good

A stable staff team cares for the young person. This means that she receives continuity of care. There has been no new staff since the homes last full inspection at which time there were sound recruitment practices in place that ensured only suitably checked people were employed.

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good

The young person lives in a safe environment because staff ensure that all health and safety issues are addressed. Renewals of certificates are in place for safety equipment and fire evacuations are completed regularly.

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leaders and managers

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2009. He has a social work qualification supported by additional management training. He has experience of working within a mental health team, in youth justice and as a field social worker. He also managers two other single bed homes. He ensures that he spends equal periods of time within each home. Two deputy managers also support him across the three homes.

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leaders and managers

All staff are qualified in caring for young people. Staff say that the supervision, training and development opportunities that they receive support them to give good, consistent care to the young person. One staff member said, ‘The manager is very approachable, we can discuss anything and he takes on board our views.’ She also said that staff meetings are frequent and is an arena to be open, honest and to reflect on practice. Therefore, all staff and the young person can contribute to her care plan and any necessary changes can be made. However, staff were not aware of the recent changes within the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and the supporting Children’s Guide. This does not ensure that staff are kept up to date with changes within legislation.

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leaders and managers

An independent visitor monitors the home on a monthly basis. His report reflects the findings on the quality of care within the home. The manager uses this report in his monitoring to evaluate the records and care given. Ofsted receives these timely. But several of these recent reports were not available, in the home, at the time of inspection. This was an action raised in prior reports by the independent visitor. This does not ensure that staff have access to them and are able to rectify any actions quickly.

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leaders and managers

The homes Statement of Purpose (SOP) reflects the service offered at this home. Professionals say that the ethos of the home is evident in the excellent outcomes for the young person. Young people’s reviews take place regularly. The young person said she fully understood her care plan and was confident that she could influence the plan. The IRO said, ‘The stable consistent staff team have worked closely with the local authority and me. I have been her IRO for a number of years and therefore, I have witnessed the significant progress she has made, in all areas of her life, whilst being at this home.’ The manager has work closely with education and health professionals to secure ongoing improvements for the young person. These excellent arrangements are not always reflected in the young person’s plans so that the young person can have a better understanding of their journey when accessing their records, now or in the future.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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