Children's Home run by Crossways Care Ltd in Somerset

Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Recruitment and vetting procedures are poor. Safer recruitment procedures have not been followed when appointing two new staff. Managers have not considered the suitability of people who have previously been dismissed from similar work and those who have criminal convictions. Managers have not put in place the necessary risk assessments and support plans despite appointing people with these histories. As a result, young people and staff are placed at serious risk of harm.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Managers fail to ensure that all staff working in the home are suitable to undertake the roles assigned to them. The manager’s assessment of the capability of recent new staff is based on assumptions, rather than careful consideration of their experience, employment history and competence. Managers have scheduled inexperienced staff to lead shifts.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Managers have not considered the potential implication of having young people cared for solely by staff of the same gender on a number of shifts. In addition, there are insufficient arrangements to cover staff gaps in the rota. As a result, a number of different staff have worked directly with the current young person. Managers have not considered whether the young person and staff are placed at risk by these decisions.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 New staff do not receive sufficient formal supervision from the managers to support them in their role. The first supervision session takes place too long after staff have commenced work. Staff who require additional support and monitoring have not received this because of the managers’ poor oversight of vetting records.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Not all staff caring for young people have received training in child sexual exploitation and e-safety. They are responsible for young people who display significant high-risk behaviours in these areas.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Staff do not effectively share their own knowledge of the potential risks posed to young people to ensure young people’s safety. For example, not all staff are aware that contact with a specific adult could pose a serious risk to the young person.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 The process to admit new young people into the home requires improvement. Managers do not insist on receiving comprehensive written documentation to assist them to make safe placement decisions.

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The children's home strengths

A young person who recently moved from the home did so in a carefully managed and considered way. Overall, the young person had made good progress whilst living in the home and moved positively to a ‘supported living’ placement. The young person responded well to the staff team’s care and benefited from a nurturing and caring placement.

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The children's home strengths

Staff try to establish positive relationships with young people. They set good routines and boundaries for young people and help them to understand expectations of positive behaviour.

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The children's home strengths

Young people contribute to their own care planning and support plans; their views, feelings and comments are threaded throughout these documents. Staff work hard to obtain specialist support and help for young people. Referrals are made promptly to counselling services and young people are provided with information to help prepare them for subsequent sessions.

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to- (i) meet the needs of each child. In particular, ensure the bar on the outside of the bedroom window is replaced with a suitable alternative so as to ensure the home is homely and domestic in appearance throughout 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. In particular, consider the risks of child sexual exploitation and missing from home against the location of the home to the quarry. (2)(a)(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. In particular, ensure all staff have child sexual exploitation training and e-safety training and use intelligence to ensure monitoring of children's use of the internet is effective 30/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes as set out in 30/11/2015 the home's statement of purpose; (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In addition, ensure that staff who lead shifts are assessed as having the required experience and skills to do so. Also ensure an appropriate balance of genders on each shift; (2)(e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of the care provided in the home; (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) arrangements are in place to- (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. In particular, review the admission procedures to ensure that staff obtain all required information from placing authorities to assist them in admission decisions and pre-placement planning of children 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home, or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home ensures that there is full and satisfactory information available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. In addition, ensure that there is a comprehensive record maintained that demonstrates how the registered persons have considered a applicant to be suitable (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a,b)(3)(d)) 30/11/2015

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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 33(4)) 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a statutory requirement notice.

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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 for one child who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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Inadequate

The young person who currently lives in the home is not kept safe because not all staff have been vetted and assessed as suitable to work in a children’s home. As a result, this serious oversight by managers fails to protect the young person. Not all staff have the necessary training, skills and experience to care effectively for the young person. As a result, neither the young person nor staff are safeguarded.

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Inadequate

At times, staff of the same gender care solely for the young person. The young person did not complain about this practice. However, managers have failed to consider the appropriateness of these arrangements taking into account the young person’s history and needs.

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Inadequate

The process to admit young people into the home is poor. Managers do not insist on placing authorities completing admission assessments or providing the home with up-to-date written risk assessments and care plans before a young person moves in. As a result, managers’ ability to comprehensively assess whether they can meet young people’s needs is compromised. Conversely, the managers provide young people’s next placement with this information and, therefore, young people who move from the home do so in a planned and carefully considered way.

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Inadequate

A large metal bar placed on the outside of their bedroom window creates a restrictive environment for young people. The bar prevents the window being fully opened. Managers have not considered a less restrictive method of securing the window. The majority of windows on the ground floor of the home are locked. Managers said that this was as a result of the needs of the previous resident. They had not changed the practice in response to the needs of the new young person who had lived at the home for four weeks at the time of this inspection.

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Inadequate

The young person who has recently moved into the home was not positive about their experiences so far. The young person was disappointed that staff had changed their incentive programme without consultation. This concern was dealt with immediately and the young person was pleased that the plan reverted to the one she had initially agreed. In addition, the young person raised concerns about a recent incident with staff. This information was shared with the manager during the inspection.

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Inadequate

A young person who had recently left the home after living there for over a year was positive about their experiences. The young person cited good relationships with the staff team as the reason for enjoying living in the home. The young person received good support and care during their placement and overall made good progress. An external professional involved in this young person’s care said that the good aspects of the home are, ‘the relationships the young person has developed with staff. Staff are very caring and obviously effective with the young person’.

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Inadequate

All young people who have lived in and are currently living in the home have good attendance at school. Both young people have high aspirations for their future and are achieving well. Care staff support young people at school and this provides them with stability and staff who understand their educational needs.

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Inadequate

Overall the quality of written care plans, support strategies and risk assessments is good. Collectively, these documents are detailed and informative and provide staff with useful information. Managers have consulted with young people and included their views into care plans. Young people are supported to attend meetings about them and are helped to contribute their views. Where young people are unable to do this, staff will advocate on their behalf.

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Inadequate

Managers have allowed adults to work with a young person without assessing whether they are suitable. Some have previously been dismissed from care work and/or have criminal convictions. Unsuitable staff have been assigned to work together in sole charge of the young people living in the home.

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Inadequate

A young person in this home is at high risk of sexual exploitation and of using the internet inappropriately. Some staff have not received training in the dangers of child sexual exploitation or internet safety. As a result, staff’s monitoring of the young person’s use of social networking sites is insufficient. Staff were unaware of the need to check a young person’s privacy settings and did not have details of the social networking accounts they use. Staff were not using known intelligence about predators to assist their monitoring and supervision of the young person’s social networking. Action was taken during the inspection to remedy this.

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Inadequate

Managers’ consideration of the location of the home requires improvement. Parts of this risk assessment are comprehensive. However, managers have not considered whether there is an increased risk because the home is close to a quarry.

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Inadequate

Since the previous inspection, incidents of young people going missing from the home are infrequent. Individual protocols for staff to follow are shared with and agreed by the police and placing authorities. The majority of return home interviews have taken place as they should. However, on one occasion the manager did not challenge a placing authority who refused to carry out this statutory responsibility because the young person was not missing for over nine hours. The managers now have more effective agreements in place.

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Inadequate

An external professional involved in the care of the previous resident said, ‘since the young person has been in placement her risk taking behaviour has been greatly reduced. Staff make every effort to locate and return her when she goes missing’.

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Inadequate

Managers have established a link with the current young person’s police team in their previous home area. This good work is ensuring that managers are aware of important information about networks the young person was involved in.

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Inadequate

Managers deal promptly and effectively with child protection concerns. Disclosures made by young people are listened to, taken seriously and shared with the required safeguarding agencies. Comprehensive records are kept which clearly evidence staff’s good practice in managing concerns that have occurred since the previous inspection. Staff spoken with confirmed that they had received child protection training and understood their personal responsibilities in respect of receiving disclosures and allegations.

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Inadequate

Generally, the staff team’s approach helps young people to develop socially positive behaviour. Staff set good routines and boundaries for young people and provide incentives to motivate them. Sanctions and restraints are rarely used. Staff and young people are encouraged to talk about their feelings after every incident..

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Inadequate

The help that staff give young people regarding their health is good. Managers source specialist support for young people as necessary. Support services obtained include counsellors, substance misuse teams and health practitioners. As a result, young people’s physical and emotional health needs are met well.

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Inadequate

There has been a failure at all levels of management to ensure that safe recruitment procedures are effectively implemented. The registered person’s head office is predominantly managing the recruitment records of new staff. However, neither the Registered Manager nor acting manager has sufficient oversight to ensure compliance with safe vetting procedures. New staff risk assessments and systems to support managers to assess the suitability of staff have not been used effectively.

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Inadequate

The manager’s recent decisions when allocating staff to care for the young person are unsafe. Staff scheduled to lead shifts do not have the skills, competence and experience to do so effectively. The majority of staff who form the ‘core team’ have not had training in child sexual exploitation or e-safety, despite these areas being a high-risk to the young person living in the home.

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Inadequate

Managers have not ensured that new and inexperienced staff are supervised regularly enough. Initial supervision sessions occur too long after new staff have started work with young people. Supervision sessions to date have failed to focus on assessing staff’s suitability to undertake tasks assigned to them. For example, managers do not know what level of competence staff have regarding e-safety.

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Inadequate

Since the previous inspection, and since the admission of the newest resident, considerable changes have taken place in the staff team. As a result, a number of staff in the core team do not have previous childcare experience or childcare qualifications.

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Inadequate

There has been instability in the staffing of shifts recently. Some staff who form the core team have been assigned to work shifts in other homes owned by the provider. As a result, 18 different staff have worked with the current young person in the first four weeks of her placement. The young person said to the inspector how disappointed she was that a core member of staff was no longer working with her. At times, the managers have assigned teams of one gender to work with the young person. Managers have not given sufficient consideration to assessing the suitability of these decisions in the light of the young person’s individual needs.

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Inadequate

An acting manager supports the registered manager in the day-to-day management of the home. The acting manager has taken on increasing responsibility since the previous inspection in order to establish management succession plans. The registered manager has recently completed the level 5 diploma and is awaiting assessment of this qualification.

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Inadequate

In the most recent month, a new independent visitor has been appointed to monitor the home. The monitoring in the previous three months was unsatisfactory. The previous independent visitor did not always consult with young people, their families or placing authorities. As a result, opportunities to obtain their views on the quality of care provided in the home were narrow. The management team has not insisted that the independent visitor always consults with those people and children who use the home.

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Inadequate

The acting manager has completed an assessment of the quality of care provided in the home and has a development plan in place. The report completed following the assessment was not sent to Ofsted within the required timescales, although action was taken during the inspection to remedy this. The development plan fails to inspire significant improvement in the quality of provision. The targets currently on the plan relate to day-to-day management tasks.

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Inadequate

The majority of feedback received from external professionals about the experiences of both young people who have been placed in the home is positive. A placing authority says the best measure that they have about how well the current young person is doing is that ‘she is actually planning for 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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