Children's Home run by Crossways Care Ltd in Somerset

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, the young person continues to make progress. This is from a very difficult starting point which included a period in secure accommodation. There has been a gradual reduction in difficult behaviour and in periods when the young person is missing from the home. The staff have supported and enabled the young person’s successful reintegration with family members after several years of separation. These family relationships will continue to be important and a potential source of support once the young person becomes an adult.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A professional stakeholder described the home as having ‘achieved lots with the young person, who has made huge progress’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has clear achievable plans for the future. Following completion of GCSEs, the care plan includes a move to live nearer to family and a further education placement. Independent living accommodation is being sought and the organisation will continue to offer support as needed to assist the young person in making a success of adult life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection decisions were made to change the management arrangements of this home, including a change of manager. The previous manager was required to manage this and another home. The manager now in post is in full-time day-to-day charge of this home. This arrangement benefits the young person and staff team. The change of manager was suitably planned and completed well to avoid any disruption or attachment difficulties for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Additional checks have been introduced to monitor the progress of the young person. Check sheets are completed daily by the care staff and then summarised monthly into a report. This has resulted in improved monitoring and better evidence of how the young person is progressing. The report also highlights areas of concern so that these can be a focus for further action and planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Support and development opportunities for staff have been enhanced. Alongside greater access to management support, a clinical psychologist is providing guidance around behaviour management. Staff can also access counselling support and guidance on an individual basis. Terms and conditions of service have also been improved for staff, and they describe feeling valued. This, in turn, leads to improved stability in the staff team and limits the numbers of carers looking after young people. Since the previous inspection, there has not been a need to use agency staff in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical interventions have been used twice since the previous inspection, to manage dangerous behaviour. The most recent record completed by the new manager is comprehensive and complete. Both the staff involved and the young person have been given opportunities to reflect on and learn from this incident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Several records have improved in format and content, and this contributes to understanding the needs and experiences of the young person. Not all records have clarity about the author, date of completion, or whether staff have read them. A full review is under way to address this problem. The system for storage of historical records is not robust. The manager does not have detail of when or if young people’s records have been sent to the organisation offices for archive. A previous recommendation remains until this issue is fully resolved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For the most part sanctions are not restorative, and several have been used to punish the young person following periods of being missing from the home. This practice is contrary to statutory guidance. The manager acknowledges the limits of sanctions as a behaviour management method; their use has significantly reduced, and rewards and incentives are now a priority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements set at the last inspection have been addressed to benefit the young person and contribute to their increased safety. The manager and deputy understand that there are still improvements to be made. Both are committed to leading a team in personal and practice development. They aspire to become an outstanding home for young people.

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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 young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/11/2015 Full Inadequate 05/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/10/2014 Full Adequate

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  9.38 Any sanction used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, 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)  14.3 Regulations 35–39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  9.25 Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care sets out the steps local authorities and their partners should take to prevent children from going missing and to protect them when they do go missing. Children’s homes should have regard to the relevant aspects of this guidance. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.25)

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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 whom 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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