Children's home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 1 SC390434 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private company that operates a number of children’s homes in the area.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection in June 2017, one requirement and one recommendation were raised. These have both been met. The registered manager has reviewed the locality risk assessment and has updated this to reflect the current crime statistics and environmental factors. This means that staff and social workers now receive up-to-date information. All young people now have an up-to-date health plan.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two young people have left the home and two young people have moved in. The registered manager works hard to enable planned moves for young people both in and out of the home whenever possible. For example, staff supported a young person’s move into his own accommodation with a period of sleepovers in his new home. This enabled him to experience living alone with the support of staff if required. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 2 Young people continue to receive good-quality care from staff. A young person told the inspector, ‘The staff here do well. (Staff member) is my favourite. She knows when I am upset and she speaks to me. She makes me happy when I am sad.’ These positive relationships help to make the young people feel secure and safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are provided with regular opportunities to participate in a range of activities. These include going to the gym, the cinema, attending a trampoline centre or having beauty treatments. A young person told the inspector, ‘They (staff) offer me something every day.’ These social activities encourage young people’s sense of achievement and self-esteem and help to promote their positive social links in the local community.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours continue to reduce because of living at this home. Staff understand young people’s risks and implement clear risk management strategies to help to keep young people safe. Since the last inspection, there have been very few incidents of young people going missing from the home. Risks to young people previously considered at risk of exploitation show a similar reduction.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff regularly review and update young people’s care plans. Staff also complete regular key-work sessions to support young people to understand their plans. However, the records of these discussions do not reflect that young people are actively involved in these documents. This means that the opportunity for young people to express and record their views is missed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management continues to be focused on rewards for positive behaviour and as a result, there are very few situations when staff have been required to physically intervene since the last inspection. However, the registered manager has not ensured that the records of these incidents are in line with regulation. For example, records are not dated. This prevents the registered manager from having the necessary oversight of this specific aspect of staff practice. The registered manager is aware of this gap and is in the process of updating systems at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has experienced difficulties securing local school placements for young people who have recently moved into the home. The manager has pursued these delays to help to avoid further drift.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been subject to levels of damage in recent months that has not been quickly addressed. This affects the overall environment, and means that the home lacks a nurturing feel. The registered manager is aware of this shortfall and has requested that the home be redecorated. This includes young people having the opportunity to redecorate their bedrooms. One young person described to the inspector the ‘grey glittery wallpaper’ that she wants. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. To ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)) 01/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes: the name of the child; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. Within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person"), has spoken to the user

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Requirement Due date

01/05/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 4 about the measure; has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(b)(c))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1ET

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Inspector

Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC390434 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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