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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has been at this home for a significant period of time. This has allowed her to settle and she is making good progress in all areas of her life. Significantly, she has not been reported as missing from home for over a year. This has also reduced the concerns that professionals had regarding the potential for child sexual exploitation. Staff members have worked closely with the young person to help her understand the risks that she has allowed herself to be vulnerable to. As a result, she has a greater awareness of the risks she may be exposed to and has been able to lessen these risks when she is out in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been proactive in finding the right educational provision for the young person. Staff recognised that a mainstream setting was not meeting her particular needs. After trying an alternative provision that was not successful, another provision was sourced. Since this time, the young person has made good progress and has 100% attendance. A member of staff said, ‘She hates missing school and will even try to go when she is ill.’ As part of her education, the young person is completing a work placement at a dogs’ trust. However, she has aspirations to work in the police force. She has an appointment at a local college to explore what opportunities are available to allow her to access this career path and follow her dreams.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is in good health. Staff members have worked hard with her to ensure that she understands the importance of regular checks. As a result, the young person has recently received new glasses and has had her final HPV vaccination. However, her emotional health and well-being remains a concern for the staff team. Several referrals have been made to the local child and adolescent mental health team, but these have been judged as not meeting the criteria that will allow the young person to access the service. However, the manager has escalated this with a range of professionals to ensure that the young person receives the care she needs. As a result, there is a multi-agency meeting scheduled. In the interim, the home has organised for the young person to receive support that will help with her emotional well-being. The young person is supported on a one-to-one basis. The staff team has recently

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

changed, although one member of staff has remained and two others have supported the young person previously and know her well. These changes have been made in consultation with the young person and the professionals involved in her care. Therefore, the young person has been included in decision-making with regard to her care. As a result, the impact of disrupted relationships has been reduced for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The company has recently been purchased by another organisation. At the time of the inspection this had not caused any major changes to the home. The registered manager and the staff team remain the same. The manager said that there is a possibility that the new company will employ members of staff or promote them to deputy or senior positions. She feels that this will strengthen the management team. All the existing managers are meeting regularly with the new owners to discuss how to move forward and to how integrate the new organisation’s paperwork with that of the previous company.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All members of staff at this home have a recognised childcare qualification. They are supervised regularly and their performance is appraised yearly. Staff meetings are held on a monthly basis. However, records show that the meetings are mainly used as a forum for discussions about the young person’s progress or any concerns. They are not used to fully discuss recent research into practice, regulation 44 findings or current media items that are significant to social care. Therefore, practice in the home is not informed by current legislation and updated articles and research.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the home’s last inspection the quality of the regulation 44 reports has improved and these are sent in a timely manner to Ofsted. This means that the manager has been able to improve the home’s records and the quality of care given to the young person. The manager has evaluated these findings in her quality of care report and has used the information in conjunction with her development plan. For example, she has established stronger links with mental health services for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home can provide accommodation for one young person who has emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/04/2016 Full Good 08/12/2015 Full Requires improvement 14/07/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/01/2015 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

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) (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on – (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. 28/02/2017

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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 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 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 children looked after 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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