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.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 From his starting point in the home, the young person has made good progress in all areas of his life. He enjoys very positive relationships with staff, based on trust and mutual respect.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person is settled. He feels well cared for by a staff team that supports him to achieve good outcomes. This provides him with a sense of belonging.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person is able to express his views and influence his day-to-day care, and it is evident that he contributes to his plans. When other young people are being considered for placement, the young person’s views are sought to ensure compatibility and minimise disruption in the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 100% attendance at school, breakfast clubs, sports clubs and outings demonstrate that the young person is experiencing a wide range of opportunities to support his social development.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person’s physical and emotional health needs are being met, including regular exercise and nutritional home-cooked food.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The young person living in the home said that he enjoys living there and that he feels safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Safeguarding arrangements are good. There are robust risk and behaviour management plans in place. Staff fully understand the strategies to follow to keep the young person safe

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff receive regular and effective supervision, and access training which is varied and specific to their role.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager actively and systematically monitors the quality of care provided. She has a thorough understanding of activity within the home, the young people who use the service and staff performance. Her monitoring reports are extremely detailed and comprehensive.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager has worked collaboratively with other professionals outside of the home. This ensures that together they can provide the care and support to enable young people to progress. When progress has not been made by young people, the manager has challenged authorities effectively to find and source an alternative provision in which young people can make progress.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/08/2015 Full Good 01/06/2015 Interim Not judged 05/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2014 Full Good

p.5

Good

The current young person has been living in the home for a short period of time. His social worker, who has not previously worked with the home, reported that she is happy with the progress that the young person has made and that he has told her that he likes living in the home. The young person confirmed this: ‘My staff are really helpful, and they listen to me and encourage me to carry on with my interests and hobbies. I am really settled here and like it a lot.’

p.6

Good

This approach has enabled the young person to have a sense of belonging in the home. It is clear through observations that the relationships between the young person and the staff, are trustful, friendly and fun. The staff demonstrate well their understanding of the young person’s day-to-day routines and current and future plans. It is evident in the records kept by the home that the young person contributes his thoughts and ideas about how he is cared for in the home. He has written a pen picture as his own ‘all about me’ placement plan and listed his likes and dislikes. These close relationships and interactions are contributing significantly in improving the young person’s resilience.

p.6

Good

The young person’s views are gained on all areas of his care. Staff spend time with him and are very good role models. They actively and regularly seek the views of the young person as part of their everyday practice. There is a particularly strong focus on involving the young person in discussions about future placements in the home. The young person is positive about this and said: ‘It is good there are places like here, and the next young person will be welcomed and will like all of the things I enjoy in the home.’ This careful approach and the young person’s involvement will assist the manager in finding a suitably matched young person and minimise any potential for disruption in the home.

p.6

Good

Staff are knowledgeable, insightful and have a good understanding of how to meet individuals’ needs. Their approach is calm, consistent and caring, and young people usually respond well to this approach. When disruption has arisen in the past, staff have been consistent in their approach. They have helped young people to move on to more suitable provision, for example independent living within their own authority. Those young people who have moved on remain in contact with the manager. This demonstrates the positive impact that the home has had in their life.

p.6

Good

There is a clear system in place to help young people who wish to raise a complaint, and the relevant information is on a noticeboard in the dining room. The young person has not made any complaints. Records show details of how previous young people living in the home have been listened to. Their complaints have been addressed, actioned and the home’s response communicated communicated back to them.

p.6

Good

The manager and staff take a proactive approach to supporting the young person in education. This includes practical support with transport and ensuring that the young person maintains his previous school placement, in which he is doing well and achieving. The young person has 100% school attendance, and all of his achievements are celebrated by the staff and his placing authority. He has been nominated for an award and is to attend the ‘no limits’ presentation evening in which young people in care are congratulated on school performance and on coping with the significant changes in their life.

p.7

Good

Careful planning for admissions ensures that young people’s education is identified, agreed and in place. This ensures that young people do not fall behind educationally.

p.7

Good

The young person’s healthcare needs are well documented on the home’s and young person’s health care plans. He has regular appointments with local healthcare professionals, as well as with relevant specialists, including ongoing attachment and loss therapy provided by his placing authority. The young person enjoys a nutritious home-cooked diet and is able to assist in shopping, cooking and baking, which he enjoys. Young people’s physical, emotional, social and psychological well-being is identified and met in the home.

p.7

Good

Staff invest time with the young person. He continues to be part of a football team and is transported by staff each week to training sessions and competitive football matches. There is good local access to the youth zone, that provides many leisure and sporting opportunities for young people. The young person is experiencing a wide range of activities, all of which are chosen by him and supported by the staff.

p.7

Good

Good planning ensures that young people’s contact with their family is maintained. Staff offer sensitive support and ensure that the young person knows the arrangements for location, travel and timescales involved. The young person is given opportunities to discuss his feelings after contact meetings have taken place. Staff recognise the importance for young people to remain in contact with their family and friends and will facilitate arrangements as agreed in young people’s contact plans.

p.7

Good

The home is located within a local community and is not distinguishable from other properties in the area. Young people are provided with a comfortable, warm and well-presented living environment. The atmosphere is no different from that of a family environment, and there is a good selection of books, board games and gaming consoles to occupy young people. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and have done so with their favourite football team and art designs that they have produced themselves. Judgement grade

p.7

Good

The home provides a safe environment for young people who have experienced unpredictable and vulnerable situations in their past. Through close supervision, the young people develop a sense of safety and trust in the staff who care for them. Staff receive up-to-date safeguarding training that includes training around child sexual exploitation and online safety. Staff are confident in their understanding of safeguarding, and representatives from the local safeguarding team have visited the home. This has further strengthened staff knowledge in local safeguarding procedures. Safeguarding issues that arose in the past received a prompt response. Recording is clear and evidences the action taken and the outcome. There are no safeguarding concerns with the current young person living in the home.

p.8

Good

Care plans and risk assessments from the point of a young person’s admission into the home are regularly reviewed in the light of events and changes in young people’s lives. Staff are fully aware of the young people’s risks and the strategies to manage these. There is a locality risk assessment, which is reviewed annually. In addition to protecting young people, this also gives staff clear information about the local area and intelligence about areas of concern.

p.8

Good

Incidents of young people going missing from the home have stopped, as young people have moved on from the home. Risk assessments and protocols with the local police are in place. There has been one occasion when the young person went missing during a visit to their home town. The staff acted appropriately and in accordance with protocols, and the young person returned safe and well.

p.8

Good

However, following this incident the young person was given a sanction by which his access to wi-fi was restricted for one week. This is not appropriate and, as a result, a recommendation is made. This is to ensure that young people are educated and recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them, and the wider community. A sanction used in this way may be seen by young people as punishment and may deter them from returning to the home, should missing-from-home incidents occur in the future.

p.8

Good

Staff use a positive behaviour-management approach. They use a wide variety of de-escalation strategies and techniques, including rewards in line with young people’s behaviour management plans. There are no concerning behaviours with the current young person living in the home.

p.8

Good

At times, the staff have had to use physical intervention to prevent damage to property or injury to persons. There have been six physical interventions recorded since the last inspection. This reflects the serious nature of some of the events that have occurred at the home in that period, and all restraints relate to young people who have moved on. Records of the holds are kept in a centralised logbook as well as in the young people’s individual records. All staff are trained in behaviour management and safe-restraint techniques. The records show young people’s de- briefing sessions allowing them to reflect on the impact that their behaviour has had on others. The records also show staff reflection sessions enabling them to learn lessons from serious incidents that have taken place.

p.8

Good

A safe living environment is provided for young people, staff and visitors. Health and safety is prioritised, with an emphasis on fire safety. On admission, young people are introduced to the home’s fire safety guidelines, ensuring that they fully understand the required response should a real fire occur. Regular checks are carried out by designated staff and recorded with the home’s records. Gas and electrical installations are periodically checked by certified engineers.

p.9

Good

The majority of the staff team have changed since the last inspection. The organisation has robust recruitment and selection procedures in place. This includes rigorous checks and referencing to ensure the employment of only suitable people. All visitors are required to show identification and to sign in and out of the home, and young people are not left unsupervised with strangers. These measures further protect young people, staff and visitors.

p.9

Good

Following the last inspection, the home has a new manager. She has the necessary experience and qualifications to carry out her role and commenced her work in the home in December 2015. She completed her registration with Ofstedin August 2016. She has the support of a deputy manager and team leader who are equally qualified and experienced.

p.9

Good

The manager clearly understands the strengths of the home, is aspirational and is committed to service development. Since her appointment she has worked hard to improve the stability of staffing. Having a consistent and committed team has led to improved outcomes for young people. The home’s development plan is regularly monitored to ensure that targets are met and improvements are made. Consequently, changes to the administration systems in the home are now embedded in practice.

p.9

Good

All but one staff member are qualified to level 3 or above, and the one staff member is on course to complete the level 3 qualification within the timescale required by regulation. There are sufficient and experienced staff in the home to meet the current needs of the young person living there. Two staff members have been redeployed to another home within the organisation. This is because lone working with the young person is in place. This has been risk assessed and agreed with the young person and his placing authority, and is working well. The two staff members continue to meet during team meetings, receive supervision from the manager and will re-join the home when another young person is accommodated.

p.9

Good

Staff report that they receive excellent support and guidance from the registered manager. They receive regular supervision, focused on their practice and development needs. Team meetings are used to analyse the needs of the young person and to reflect on the effectiveness of strategies in place to support him. Records indicate that staff make good use of these meetings and are genuinely committed to helping the young person to improve his life opportunities. Staff report that their training options, online, face-to-face and through workbooks, are providing them with the necessary knowledge and guidance to carry out their role.

p.10

Good

A comprehensive statement of purpose document is in place. This is informative and outlines the home’s aims and objectives. Staff and the management team are familiar with how the aims are implemented in practice and therefore have a strong understanding of the impact that the home has had on young people’s progress. The young person also confirmed that he has information about the home and the services that he can expect to receive.

p.10

Good

The registered manager actively and regularly monitors the quality of care provided. She has a thorough understanding of activity within the home, the young people who use the service and staff performance. Monitoring reports are extremely detailed and comprehensive. An independent person visits the home every month. Reports from these visits take feedback from young people, staff and social workers. The reports clearly analyse how young people are cared for and how well they are safeguarded.

p.10

Good

The registered manager is not afraid to challenge professionals on young people’s behalf. Her persistence during a period of disruption in the home ensured that young people’s needs and future placements were identified and met. Although in this instance the two young people were moved, they benefited from being back within their own placing authority and are reportedly doing well.

p.10

Good

The recommendation from the last inspection has been met. New behaviour and risk management plans are now in place, being used on a daily basis and are understood by staff. As a result, young people’s progress is defined within their plans.

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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’. 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 children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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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 that 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 that 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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