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

Inspection report children's home: SC477726 1 SC477726 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited Company Number 05952454

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people irrespective of gender. The home specialises in caring for young people who have been or who are, experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There is a registered manager at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC477726 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2017 Full Good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/11/2016 Full Good 10/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC477726 3

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, risk management must consider all factors relating to risk, including checks as a good parent and put in adequate measures to mitigate these risks. 12/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(c)) 12/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) and

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Requirement Due date

consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person; and

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Requirement Due date

have regard to any relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children. (Regulation 34(5)(a)(b)) 12/10/2018 Inspection report children's home: SC477726 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are settled and happy living in the home. They continue to make good progress in all aspects of their development. They attend school regularly and achieve qualifications. One young person has been successful in gaining a place at college and is looking forward to future employment in the joinery trade.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy spending time with their friends and access recreational activities locally. They have taken part in a charity event and are having driving lessons. In addition, the staff and young people have been to Greece for their summer holiday. These are new and positive experiences that broaden young people‟s horizons and show them that they are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people‟s health needs are very well met. They are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend their appointments. The staff advocate for young people to make sure that they get the services they need. Medication is safely managed and the staff are first aid trained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Effective consultation is regularly undertaken with young people to ensure that they have the opportunities to voice their views and opinions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people say that they feel safe and protected. Young people‟s risk-taking behaviours, such as, going missing from care and criminal activity have significantly reduced. Respectful relationships between the staff and young people are key to this success.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are generally good and mitigate risks to young people. On one occasion a young person refused to come home from a friend‟s house and stayed out overnight. The staff did not record any checks of the address as a good parent, to ensure that this was safe. That said, they did report the young person missing from care to the police.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff manage incidents of young people going missing from care well. There are clear procedures in place that staff follow, for example looking for young people and contacting all relevant professionals. However, the protocols have not been agreed with all the relevant bodies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff work with young people to educate them in keeping themselves safe. For example, the staff provide guidance on using social media safely. Staff also support young people to understand the dangers of smoking and substance misuse. This ensures that they have access to the right information. The local community police officer regularly visits the home. This provides further reassurance and safety to young people. Inspection report children's home: SC477726 5 Their behaviour has improved significantly since coming to live in the home. The use of physical interventions are rare. These are proportionate and appropriately reviewed by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in position since August 2016. She is working towards a suitable qualification. She has experience in working with young people who have emotional and behavioural needs. The deputy manager supports her. Together they promote the aims of the statement of purpose and strive to achieve the very best outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have regular supervision, team meetings and training. However, appraisals for staff have not been completed at least annually. This does not fully ensure that care practice meets the standards expected in the home‟s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken to during the inspection said that they enjoy their work. They feel supported by the manager and their team members. The staff are suitably qualified or working towards a recognised qualification. There are sufficient numbers of staff members working at the home. This provides stability for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that the home is maintained to a high standard and that it looks and feels like a family home. Young people say that they „like living here‟ and would score the home „9 out of 10.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Liaison with partner agencies is effective. All professionals contacted spoke very positively about the staff, the communication with them and the progress young people make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Quality audit systems are in place and provide an overview of care practice. The management team have systems in place to monitor the care provided. They are fully aware of the strengths and areas for development in the service. For example, they are looking at refurbishing the garage into a „chill out‟ room for young people.

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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. Inspection report children's home: SC477726 6 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

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Information about this inspection

it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards'. Inspection report children's home: SC477726 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited Company Number 05952454

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Caroline Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC477726 8 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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