Children's home run by Crossway Services Limited in Liverpool

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires 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

This home continues to operate as a solo placement and there have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. The young person has made good progress since the last inspection due to receiving well-planned individualised care from a staff team that knows him well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have been proactive in working with the local authority to source an educational placement for the young person, and as a result, he now attends school full time with 100% attendance. This means that he has structure to his day and the opportunity to meet his educational potential. Staff have supported the young person with his transition to the new school by communicating effectively with school staff to ensure that they had all of the relevant information before he started and attending introductory visits with him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health plans now identify all of the young person’s identified health needs in including information pertaining to his emotional health. Staff have a good understanding of his health needs and are familiar with specialist assessments, which have been undertaken recently, for example a cognitive functioning assessment which will inform how they work with the young person. Staff ensure that they follow the young person’s medication regime consistently and support the young person to attend any appointments regarding his health, such as medication reviews. The young person is encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating well and participate in physical activities such as mountain biking, which will benefit his physical health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff spend a high level of individual time with the young person getting to know him and supporting him to develop his interests and talents. The young person engages in numerous activities with staff, such as tree planting or days out, which provides opportunity for the young person to have individual time with staff, discussing his wishes and feelings as well as supporting him to develop individual interests, which will increase his self-esteem. The young person’s views are sought regularly through consultations or informal chats, and there is evidence that staff listen to the requests made by the young person and follow these through; for example, staff are currently trying to source a football club for him to attend and have obtained funding from the local authority for climbing lessons for him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are proactive in supporting the young person’s contact with family in line with his care plan. They transport him to see family members and supervise contact. Staff are trained in supervising contact and write clear records about the contact that has taken place. By facilitating this contact, the young person is able to maintain regular contact with his family members in a safe way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no missing from home incidents, restraints or safeguarding notifications since the last inspection, reflecting how settled the young person is in the home. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and missing from home procedures, which ensures that the young person is kept safe. Risk assessments are now more robust, identifying all areas of individual risk and include clear written guidance for staff to follow to support the young person and reduce risk-taking behaviour. Staff encourage positive behaviour by using a clear rewards system, which includes the young person earning rewards such as a trip to adventure golf or the cinema if he has attended school and had a good week. This approach works with the young person, who has had no behavioural incidents since living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager utilises internal and external monitoring systems to improve the quality of the service. For example, she has implemented recommendations from the independent visitor reports, such as updating the safe area report with input from the police. The manager has ensured that five out of the six requirements made at the last inspection are met. In addition, the registered manager has made good progress in meeting the recommendations made at the last inspection. This shows an ability to reflect and make changes to improve the quality of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has continued to be shortfall in respect of the training logs being kept up to date and staff undertaking the required training to meet young people’s needs. For example, it is recorded in the young person’s individual risk assessment that staff will have training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but this has not been completed. While this does not appear to have a significant impact on the care provided by staff, the completion of this training will enhance staff practice and their understanding of the young person’s needs.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate one young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Good 13/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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.

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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 ensure: 13 (2) (c) that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. This is specifically in relation to keeping clear records of training undertaken by staff. 12/05/2017

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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 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

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

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

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