Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Good

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

p.2

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Referrals to the home are robustly assessed to ensure that the service can provide the care required and that it can help young people to progress. In addition to this, young people are fully involved in their move into this home. This means that they are placed appropriately and settle in well.  The home quickly sources alternative education placements for young people who have been out of education for a long time. As a result, all of the young people have identified placements, full attendance and ambitions for their future. However, the young people’s education plans are not updated and lack detail to reflect this progress.  A range of professionals and parents spoke highly of the home. They said that members of staff are excellent at communicating with them, ensuring that young people are safe and that they follow all procedures thoroughly.  Throughout their placement, young people are encouraged to be involved in

p.3

The children’s home provision is good because:

their care, their options and their future plans. For example, they have been instrumental in devising a new format and approach to sanctions.  Young people live in a safe, supporting and nurturing environment. There are robust policies and procedures to support staff, who demonstrate a thorough understanding and knowledge of safeguarding practices. This helps to ensure that young people’s safety and welfare are promoted.  Young people have successfully moved into adult provision, because of the excellent planning that has taken place prior to their move. The home continues to support them after they have left, and young people return to visit or telephone the home on a weekly basis.  The registered manager demonstrates good leadership skills. She continues to develop the home by consulting with staff, young people and professionals, but she has not used this information in her monitoring review. Some documents have information missing or scribbled out, or have

p.3

The children’s home provision is good because:

not been signed by the author or manager. Further to this, although the home has recently been decorated, there are parts of the home that look worn, such as the bathroom.

p.3

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 within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a)(i) that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that these plans are kept up to date. 31/12/2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there, and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This includes ensuring that records are up to date, and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph, 14.4)  Staff should understand the system for rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour and recognising when children have managed situations well.

p.4

Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 47, paragraph, 9.39)  Ensure that young people live in homely environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is specifically in relation to updating the bathroom and fixing the leak in the conservatory.

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate up to four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/09/2015 Full Good 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Referrals to this home are robustly scrutinised, and the manager requests more information when documents are unclear. A thorough impact risk assessment is completed that takes into account the other residents’ needs and behaviours. This assessment also takes account of the suitability of the location for young people. For example, a referral was turned down because the young person had a history of being missing and the home is very close to several transport systems. The home also ensures that young people move in in a planned way. On the day of inspection, a young person was visiting and helping staff to put together the new bedroom furniture that he had chosen on a previous visit. He said, ‘I have been welcomed here and I am looking forward to moving in. It has been great to meet everybody and be part of planning my bedroom. It already feels like home.’ These good practices ensure that the home cares only for young people whom it has fully

p.6

Good

assessed as being able to have their needs met by the home. This means that young people usually settle in quickly, they remain in placement for long periods and there are few placement breakdowns.

p.6

Good

Several members of staff, the manager, professionals and a parent talked to the inspector about the excellent progress that young people are making at this home. They all spoke about the good communication between them, and how the home treats each young person as an individual. A commissioning officer said, ‘Young people make the progress that we want them to make and we would use this service again.’ A social worker said, ‘There is a good standard of care in the home.’ A parent said, ‘I cannot fault this home in any way.’ More importantly, the young people were able to reflect on how they have progressed over time. One young person said, ‘I have come so far since moving in here. I am doing well and I am being encouraged to continue to do well.’ This shows that the home works closely with a range of people to ensure that young people receive the best from the service provided. Young people enjoy good health, lead healthy lifestyles and learn to understand

p.6

Good

the benefits of eating well. Their routine and specialist healthcare needs are effectively addressed. Several young people had poor dental hygiene and they had previously refused to attend the dentist. But, because of the good incentives offered that work alongside key-worker sessions on why it is important to maintain healthy teeth, young people are receiving further dental treatment and now brush their teeth regularly. The home has an allocated therapist. All young people start on a programme that includes full supervision by members of staff, both within the home and out in the community, combined with therapeutic intervention. There are four stages of the programme that allow young people to progress over time to unsupervised movement in preparation for independence. These stages are robustly monitored and include planning meetings, therapist input and professional opinions before moving onto the next stage. As part of this, young people receive weekly therapy,

p.6

Good

and appropriate information is shared at the staff meeting to inform strategies of engagement for each young person. This ensures that everybody knows of any changes to young people’s care packages, strategies and movement onto next stages. In addition to this, the therapist undertakes weekly additional training with members of staff. For example, members of staff have recently completed a training session on how to develop greater emotional awareness while out in the community. This allows members of staff to apply their understanding of attachment and trauma models in their daily interactions with young people. This helps young people to develop social skills, emotional regulation and resilience. As a result, young people develop a healthy self-image and build their confidence. Although one young person declined to speak fully with the inspector, it was evident that he was benefiting from this support, with increased engagement with

p.7

Good

members of staff and much-improved confidence. All staff are trained in dispensing medication and giving first aid. As a result, the storing, recording and disposal of medication are robust, and staff can confidently deal with any accidents. Young people actively participate in a range of positive activities. These include attending different clubs within the community. One young person attends a trampolining club and wants to work there when he is older. Another young person has completed an application for the Duke of Edinburgh award and another attends the cadets. A previous resident volunteered at an animal sanctuary and continued with this after he left the home. As a result, young people are trying new experiences, are learning, and are involved in and contributing to their community. Often, young people come to this home with little attainment or no education placement. However, the home has excellent connections with a variety of

p.7

Good

alternative educational providers. They contact these providers prior to the young person being placed, and introductions to their allocated placement start straight away. All the young people have a tailored package of education that includes core subjects alongside a sports element or social skills course. One young person said, ‘I have not been in school for ages and I hate it. But I am looking forward to going into education.’ Other young people who have left the service are maintaining their college placements. Staff, professionals, parents and young people all comment on the high levels of attendance and progress that young people make in education at this home, yet this is not reflected in the education plans. Although these plans are regularly updated, the young people’s attendance has not been recorded, information from their personal education plan has not been incorporated into the documents and some members of staff have not signed them. This does not

p.7

Good

ensure that factual information is recorded or that members of staff are aware of how to support young person in education. Young people play a full part in decision making at the home and feel that their contribution is taken seriously. All documents held by the home include the young people’s wishes and feelings, so that staff know and understand how they wish to be cared for. One young person said, ‘The best thing about this home is that staff really listen. I mean, listen and try their best to make things happen. If it is not possible, they will tell us and offer different solutions or suggestions.’ Therefore, all young people were confident that they could influence the care and support that they receive from the home. Young people’s sense of identity is promoted through meaningful and safe contact arrangements with family and friends, as agreed with the placing authority. Staff work effectively with young people’s families and support them to build strong

p.7

Good

relationships. Some contact is supervised to ensure that it is safe. When young people live a long distance away from home, the home has come up with innovative ideas to ensure that young people see all of their family. For example, one young person has several family members whom he sees separately. This would mean long individual journeys to see each one. Therefore, in the school holidays, the home has hired a caravan as a base. This means that he can be supported by members of staff, have short journeys to see his family and return to the caravan each evening. These excellent arrangements enable young people to maintain relationships that are important to them. Good transition plans explicitly show all the work completed by staff to make moving out of this home successful. The plan includes the dates and times for visiting, who is responsible for carrying out each element and what additional services are in place to support the young person further. Members of staff

p.8

Good

continue to support young people after they have moved on, and young people visit and telephone the home. The local authority commission officer said, ‘The aftercare bespoke packages are good.’ These excellent arrangements ensure a smooth transition into adulthood and, as a result, young people have settled in their chosen community and are continuing with their education, employment and volunteering placements. The home has undergone some refurbishment and decoration. The young people have been involved in choosing and in helping to decorate the lounge. They have displayed proudly on the walls pictures of themselves on activities and having fun. Young people have personalised their bedrooms and take pride in their home by helping with chores. This gives them a sense of belonging, but some areas still require attention. For example, the young people’s bathroom has several broken tiles, mould in the corner of the bath and a rusty sink hole. Further to this, there is

p.8

Good

a small leak in the roof of the conservatory. This impacts on the homely feeling of the home. Judgement grade

p.8

Good

Young people say that they feel safe, secure and well cared for at the home. They say that they can talk to any member of staff if they are worried or concerned about anything. Young people say that they do not like the high level of supervision that they receive from staff, but that they understand that this is part of their care package to keep themselves and others safe. Young people talked with the inspector on how their therapy and involvement with other professionals has made them increasingly aware of the concerns that adults had for them. They talked about reflecting on past negative behaviour, how they would now do things differently and how members of staff talk through issues in key-working sessions. As a result, young people have lessened the risks that they presented with when first placed. Staff are fully trained in safeguarding procedures and receive regular refresher training. They are confident and competent in implementing the home’s policies

p.9

Good

and procedures, should they have any concerns or should allegations be made about young people’s welfare. Professionals speak highly of this service and how it protects, challenges and addresses any concerns. The manager ensures that any allegation against members of staff are robustly reported, recorded and investigated. Young people receive letters to say where an investigation is up to and when there is an outcome. They have independent support through an advocate to ensure that they are happy with the outcome. Earlier in the year, there was a concern that bullying was taking place within the home. The responsible individual undertook a full investigation of the complaint. The investigation is extensively documented and has brought about new ways of dealing with issues associated with bullying. Some of the findings show that some behaviour was in relation to young people settling in and ‘finding their feet’ with

p.9

Good

the group. Another young person did not know that his behaviour could be classed as bullying, and other young people vented their anger in inappropriate ways. However, all the young people have been part of discussions on bullying, racism and discrimination, and now say they have a better understanding. When young people come into confrontation with each other, the home uses mediation sessions extremely well. This means that they are able to share their thoughts, views and feelings in a safe environment. One young person said, ‘When I got angry, I just said whatever I wanted to. I did not know how upsetting this could be for someone. I now think before I say anything.’ He continued to say, ‘We sit down and talk about things, rather than fighting with each other. We are given the chance to apologise and I have even wrote [sic] a letter of apology.’ As a consequence, young people are learning to self-regulate and said that bullying is

p.9

Good

not an issue within this home. The home has undergone some changes to the staff team through career developments and members of staff leaving, but a core group has remained in place. However, young people say that they have great relationships with staff, both old and new. They discussed having warm, open and trusting relationships with staff, and said that they respected each other. A young person said: ‘I really like it here, although I want to go home. If I cannot, I want to stay here. Staff are fantastic.’ Staff are patient, calm and good-humoured in their exchanges with young people. They are equally confident about challenging young people when their behaviour warrants it, or giving them the time and space to work things out for themselves. Staff are able to make excellent use of their relationships with young people to effect change. Professionals say that this is the basis of the good outcomes for young people.

p.9

Good

Young people have not been reported as missing from care. The home has established strong links with the local police and specialist police services and, if incidents do occur, there are clear practices and agreements in place that staff understand. Individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans clearly identify risks for young people, and this helps to protect them. Positive behaviour is promoted by clear and consistent boundaries to help young people to understand the effects of their behaviour on themselves and others. Regular individual sessions, target setting, incentives and rewards are all used to good effect to help young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. As a result, risk-taking behaviour has been significantly reduced. However, the home’s reward record does not always show what reward a young person has received. The manager confirmed that this has been an oversight in their recordings.

p.10

Good

Young people have been instrumental in progressing the way that the home applies sanctions for negative behaviour. Young people said that they were often sanctioned with the same thing, regardless of the negative behaviour displayed. For example, one young person had said that he always had to give up his console and that this was not fair. Another young person had said that there was no distinction between a minor or major incident. As a result, young people and the manager came together to devise a new system. This comprises a traffic light system with agreed sanctions for each level. One young person said that the green area means that they have the opportunity to apologise, make things right or complete a reparation task. The amber is usually a timed sanction, such as the relinquishing a possession for a set period and red is quite serious. A member of staff said, ‘This system is working extremely well, because it has been devised by

p.10

Good

the young people so they know exactly what the consequence is’. He continued to say, ‘also, we do not make sanctions in the heat of the moment and young people know that it will be discussed within 24 hours by the team. Further to this, any red sanction has to be endorsed by the manager.’ The young people said that this system was really good and that sanctions have been reduced because of it. The registered manager ensures that staff are carefully selected and vetted before starting work at the home, and visitors are checked and supervised as appropriate. This helps to prevent unsuitable people from having access to vulnerable young people. The home takes good responsibility for ensuring that all health and safety checks are completed within timescales. When young people are admitted to the home, they are taken through the evacuation procedure. This is refreshed periodically with all members of staff and young people. This means that everyone knows what

p.10

Good

There is a new manager at the home. She was registered with Ofsted in August 2016. She had previously been the deputy manager, and a smooth handover from the previous manager has meant that there has been little impact on the young people. The manager said that she has been focusing on her management role, the development of the home and ensuring that a stable staff team is in place. She is now confident that she will have time to complete the relevant leadership and management qualification. This progression has meant that another member of staff has been promoted to the deputy position and two new and well-experienced team leaders have been successfully recruited. This has further strengthened the staff team. The home is still short of three staff, and recruitment is underway. However, the home is focusing on securing the right staff, rather than employing staff to fill vacancies. In the interim, the home has kept the numbers of young

p.11

Good

people down to a level that it can care for. This means that there is not a high dependency on agency staff and that young people receive consistency of care by staff who know them well. The home’s statement of purpose is well written. It is clear about the care provided, its underpinning principles and the arrangements for the day-to-day operation of the home. The staff team works effectively with parents, professionals and other agencies, providing a consistent approach to young people’s care. Staff speak positively about the care and support that young people receive. One professional said, ‘Communication with the local authority is of a high standard.’ Another professional said, ‘I am kept informed and I receive weekly updates and critical incident reports, as appropriate.’ A parent said, ‘I was always kept well informed and well supported. I felt that I was still able to parent him, alongside staff.’

p.11

Good

Most staff have an appropriate childcare qualification. New members of staff are quickly registered on an appropriate childcare course and some staff are near to completing this. Some members of staff have additional qualifications such as teaching certificates. Staff say that they are well supported by their colleagues and the manager. They said that they benefit from regular supervision and have developmental opportunities to progress within the company. This is evident in the newly appointed manager, deputy and staff moving to new positions within the company. Staff say that team meetings help them to reflect on practice and identify developmental needs. They said that they also look at new research and developments within childcare to see if they can learn more. For example, they have recently looked at an interactive book called ‘A safe place for Caleb’. This discusses different techniques around attachment, grief, loss and early trauma. As

p.11

Good

a result of this, one young person now has a tent in his room. He calls this his ‘safe’ place and uses it to calm down, to think or just for comfort. This shows that staff take learning into practice and young people benefit from it. In addition to this, members of staff report that training is strongly promoted and that they are encouraged to access a wide range of courses. This means that members of staff have the skills to care for young people well. Records within the home are improving, because the manager is noting each young person’s starting point. Therefore, she can evidence that the progress that young people make is down to the good communication and systems in place at the home. She realises that this needs to continue to improve and has started making steps towards this. For example, each young person now has a separate book for recording incidents. This means that, when they sign or comment within it, young

p.12

Good

people do not have access to other young people’s information. This ensures that confidentiality is maintained, but some records have not been signed by staff, and the sanction and restraint book has been amended by scribbling out. This does not ensure that records are legible or that staff have the most up-to-date information to care for young people well. External monitoring of the home is good and the manager said that the findings help her to improve the service. The manager is proactive in gaining external feedback of the home. For example, one local authority wrote, ‘We will continue to use this excellent service again.’ Another wrote, ‘Reflective staff, excellent sharing of information and working with different agencies, balanced approach, and clean and welcoming home.’ However, the manager has not used this good consultation effectively within her review of the quality of care within the home. Therefore, she

p.12

Good

has not explored how consultation brings about change for the home, for example how the change to sanctions was brought about through the excellent consultation with young people.

p.12

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’. 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

p.13

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.13

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

p.14

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.14

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, work- based 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,

p.15

Information about this inspection

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

p.15

Information about this inspection

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

p.15

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.15