Children's home run by Crossways Care Ltd in Tewkesbury

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 1 SC443079

p.1

Crossways Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home was registered in March 2012 to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people of either gender, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a care company that runs several other children’s homes and a small, specialised school in the area. In 2013, the company was purchased by a larger national organisation, but it retains its local corporate identity

p.1

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/09/2017 Full Inadequate 10/07/2017 Monitoring visit 23/05/2017 Full Inadequate 15/11/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/05/2016 Full Good 11/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 2

p.1

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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.

p.2

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.2

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(f)(h)) 25/10/2017

p.2

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. The conditions are that the care meets the child’s needs; that the care is delivered by a person who has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care;

p.2

Requirement Due date

25/10/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 3 and is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)(ix)(3)(b)(c)(i)(ii)) The health and well-being standard The health and well-being standard is that children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the health and well- being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10(1)(c)(2)(a)(i) 25/10/2017

p.2

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on an understanding about acceptable behaviour. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone. (Regulation 11(1)(b)(2)(a)(iv)) 25/10/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively

p.3

Requirement Due date

safeguarded. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(I)(ii)(iii)(v(b)(c)) 25/10/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

8: The education standard The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to understand the importance and value of 25/10/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 4 education, learning, training and employment; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally and help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(iv)(v)(ix))

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.4

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection in September 2017. At the last inspection, six statutory requirements were made. Three compliance notices were issued in relation to the leadership and management standard, the quality and purpose of care standard and the protection of children standard. The registered provider was issued with a notice to restrict any further admissions until Ofsted was satisfied that the standards above were met. The purpose of this monitoring visit is to review the action taken to comply with the notices. The monitoring visit included speaking with three members of the senior management team, making reference to communication shared between the local authority and the manager, and scrutinising records held in the home. The inspector found that the registered manager, with the support of members of

p.4

Information about this inspection

the senior management team, had taken prompt action to address the immediate concerns in relation to safeguarding the young person in the home, ensuring that there were positive relationships and good-quality experiences for the young person, and that there was sufficient reviewing and monitoring of staff’s practice and the young person’s progress. Correspondence between the local authority and the organisation following the compliance notices being served resulted in a joint decision that the young person’s needs could no longer be met by remaining in the home. Records and plans kept during this period evidence clearly the effort made by all parties to ensure that the move for the young person was smooth and in her best interests. While there have been a few minor incidents relating to the standards of the accommodation, early indicators suggest that the young person is doing well, making progress and remains safe. Staff that know her well continue to work with

p.4

Information about this inspection

her on a daily basis to ensure that this transition period remains positive. During the period before the young person moved out of the home, there was a great effort made by staff and the manager to support the young person to improve Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 5 her independence skills. Photographs, records and a Vlog produced by the young person to introduce children to the home provide good, positive evidence of how the young person, with the support of staff, engaged in meaningful learning activities, engaged in healthy eating, continued to develop independence skills and prepared for the move. Furthermore, the young person was empowered to make decisions regarding her risk assessments and plans. Consequently, there has been a significant reduction in self-harming and risk-taking behaviours. Following the last inspection, the registered manager, with the support of her line

p.4

Information about this inspection

manager, made the decision to step down from her role. She has received appropriate support to consider her options for her future career. As a result of the restriction of accommodation notice, the home has remained vacant since the one remaining young person moved on. The staff have either been deployed temporarily within the organisation, or continue to support the young person that has moved on to independence. A recruitment campaign involving local employment agencies continues in an attempt to identify a suitable manager for the home. While the home has remained empty there have been improvements made to the decoration and layout of the home. As a result, the home is looking really very homely, well kept and is ready to welcome children. Previous weaknesses in the skill set of some staff have, and continue, to be addressed through an improved training programme. Managers and leaders have identified where further training is required and an action plan highlighting areas for

p.5

Information about this inspection

further improvement is in place. Managers and leaders have dedicated time to the reviewing and monitoring of the home’s systems. Subsequently, there is improvement in the overall monitoring, management and leadership of the home. As a result of this inspection, Ofsted is satisfied that the home has complied with the three written notices and is prepared to lift the restriction of accommodation. A further full inspection will be carried out in due course to assess the home’s ongoing development and progress. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Crossways Care Ltd, Unit B2, Elmbridge Court, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL3 1JZ

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christine Cameron

p.6

Inspector

Linda Bond, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC443079 7 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7