Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff are very motivated and enthusiastic in their drive to provide positive outcomes for young people and improve the operation of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team remains stable since the last inspection and continue to develop in skill and cohesion. Supervision is regular and the staff skill-set develops with training that is focused and bespoke to the individual young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are very positive about working together to ensure the young people living at the home have the best outcomes. This commitment and drive has been essential in the preparation to admit, and successful transition of, a very challenging young person to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people admitted to and discharged from the home since the last inspection make good progress across all aspects of their development. Positive relationships with staff enable them to express their worries and develop good emotional stability. Young people remain in contact with staff after moving on and this shows the positive attachments they experience at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staffing arrangements meet the needs of the young people. The young person currently living at the home says it is good having a small and stable staff team. This seldom changes, but if agency staff work at the home then they are familiar and the young person gets on well with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care planning framework is improved with excellent transition planning and developments in child focused practice and recording. The young person shines through as staff record under the headings of ‘Hopes and Aspirations’ and young people are fully involved in their key-working sessions. Staff work collaboratively with the young person to rate progress and they are keen to award certificates regularly for achievement and effort. Young people build self-confidence as they feel valued and an integral part of their care and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is a key strength in the positive outcomes experienced by young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, staff work in conjunction with young people, their families and social workers to plan and support reunification between young people and their families. Young people move on positively from the home. Similarly transition to the home is detailed and tailored to the needs of the young person. The current young person living at the home felt reassured because staff came to work at the previous placement and helped gradually move his belongings to his new home. A new recording format promotes effective planning and communication processes to facilitate and review each young person’s transition and from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working also positively impacts on young people’s school attendance. Robust risk management includes liaison with school staff and co-ordinating transport to ensure the young persons’ educational and behavioural needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While the young person, currently, has reduced attendance at school due to having gone absent; arrangements for education are well-planned between education and staff from the home. As a result the young person receives a very consistent message about the importance of education and also clear expectations about acceptable behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe because staff work collaboratively to ensure all risk management is well organised and bespoke to each individual young person. For example, attention to detail includes a full review of the safer location of the home which is carried out in light of each new young person coming to live at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from care procedures promote high levels of vigilance and close partnership working with the police and education to keep young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand the profile and significant risk that young people pose to the public and how their backgrounds impact on young people’s own behaviour. Liaison between staff, social workers and safeguarding agencies is crucial in managing young people’s and the public’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Meticulous risk management and partnership working enables young people to be more independent. Activities are very important to young people. Going to youth club, trampolining, and fishing gives them a positive focus and also good opportunity to safely mix with other young people and members of the public. Gradual and well-measured progression supports young people to earn trust and face their responsibilities for keeping themselves and others safe when taking part in community activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no concerns about bullying due to the single occupancy of the home. Pre-admission risk assessment looks at the young person’s potential for bullying and being bullied. This profile contributes to important and on-going work with the young person as they make relationships both at school and in the community. Consultancy with young people is a strength and the young person feels included in the running of the home and enjoys shopping, cooking and choosing activities with the staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people settle quickly and enjoy positive and trusting relationships. This trust enables them to feel valued and want to do well for the staff. A young person says, ‘I get on with them [staff] because we understand each other – they are strict but fairness works both ways – they listen to me and so I listen to them. Can talk things through.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff also promote independent advocacy for young people and include this as a crucial part of the admission process for young person who live at this single occupancy home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements include the well-maintained and homely environment. The young person and staff take pride in the home. There is an on-going decoration programme and the lounge and young person’s bedroom are refurbished to a good standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers are very positive about the home and the outcomes for young people. They say that strong boundaries coupled with nurturing staff enable young people to settle quickly and better regulate their behaviour.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home is registered for one young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/01/2016 Full Good 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/05/2014 Full Adequate

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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

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

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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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