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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was last inspected in January 2015, when the overall effectiveness was judged to be good. At the time the provider was asked to make improvements in two areas: the young person’s records and e-safety training for staff. All staff have completed on-line e-safety training to increase their knowledge; a member of staff said, ‘it helped me understand how a young person can be bullied and groomed online. We have talked to (name) about keeping herself safe when she’s on social networking sites.′ The young person also completed the same training in order to raise her awareness and help keep herself safe when using the internet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are improvements to the structure of the young person’s files. Old documentation is regularly archived, this means that the information on her files is current, up-to-date and easily accessible for both her and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person contributes to the running of the home and their views are sought by means of one to one consultations and house meetings. She said she is happy living here and gets along with most staff. However, she is not confident that her complaints will be thoroughly investigated. For example, she recently made a written complaint about a member of staff, which was left pinned to the office wall. There is no evidence to demonstrate that this has been robustly investigated, or that she received a formal notification of the outcome. This is important, so that she knows her complaints are taken seriously and able to challenge the decision if she is not happy with the conclusion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans reflect the current risks for the young person and the measures in place to help reduce these. They are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the young person’s welfare and safety is protected. There has only been one incident of the young person going missing from the home and no physical interventions since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is making adequate progress in developing an understanding of how her behaviours and interactions can impact on her relationships with adults and peers. This is impacting on her attendance and participation in school. As a result, she is being tutored for two days a week at home and attending a catering course on one other day. This means she is not receiving the minimum of 25 hours education per week. The home’s placement plan states that the young person is on target to sit and achieve a number of GCSE’s A to C; however it is not clear how she will achieve her academic potential if she is not accessing full-time education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have made some good links with other services, such as the Teenage Advice Zone (TAZ) and CATCH 22 in terms of working with the young person on her personal safety and self-esteem. However, they have not been proactive in chasing this. Furthermore, TAZ have offered some training to the staff around sex, drinking and risk control, but they have yet to take up this offer. The manager and staff fully participate in the young person’s care planning and reviews. Nevertheless, the home does not consistently challenge other agencies to ensure the young person receives the services that will support her to achieve successful outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have access to regular supervision, appraisals and team meetings to support them in their role. A member of staff said, ‘I feel well supported...able to challenge and not frightened of speaking up…the manager does listen and take things on board.’ That said, the manager’s supervision records do not demonstrate that he receives regular practice-related supervision. The young person benefits from a small core staff team who know her well. However, apart from the certificates for the e-safety training, there were no other training records available to demonstrate that the staff are up-to-date with all their training in order to meet the needs of the young person.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for 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

10/02/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate Progress

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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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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met: In order to meet the engaging in the wider system standard, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard: In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

1(c) the views, wishes and feelings are taken into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that a written record is made of any complaint, action taken by staff, and the outcome of the investigation. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard: In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, young people are supported to resume full-time education. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.(Regulation 4(b)) 21/08/2015

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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