Children's Home run by Crossway Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 1 SC063498 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in September 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

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.

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and young people since the most recent 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

The home is led by an experienced and committed manager. She also manages another one-bedded children‟s home. She is supported by her deputy and a stable staff team. Staff said that they are supported well by the manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home has recently been delegated to the deputy. The deputy carries out monthly assessments of the quality of care and support provided to young people. The information is collated to form the six-monthly review of the service. As Ofsted has not received the last internal monitoring report, it is not possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the reporting or the level of consultation with young people. This was an oversight and has not impacted upon the care provided. Reports by the independent person would benefit from gathering information at each visit from the young person Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 2 about their views on the quality of care that they receive. This is starting to happen, but it is sporadic.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several maintenance issues within the home that have not been addressed. There are three missing cupboard doors in the kitchen. This has been reported several times, but no action has been taken to address this. The home in general appears tired and worn, and the young person‟s bedroom door does not close properly. This is a risk, as it is a fire door. The company is in the process of purchasing the home, however the maintenance issues are detracting from the homely environment that the staff are striving to maintain.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person does not go missing from the home, although there have been several incidents of him going missing from school. The latest incident resulted in him needing medical assistance. Staff took effective action to support him during this time and they ensured that he received the right support. However, the records do not demonstrate all the action that they took to keep him safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Similarly, some incident reports contain inflammatory language, such as „no exaggeration‟. This does not help the young person to understand what happened when they access their records, now or in the future. Staff have implemented additional strategies, considering this incident. For example, there is a „grab bag‟ in the car, containing useful items that can be used to provide immediate care, comfort and warmth for the young person, should the behaviour that prompted the incident be repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The deputy is aware of the strengths and areas for development, such as improving the consistency in record keeping. Action is being taken by her and the manager to address this with all staff, through team meetings and individual, one-to-one supervision. Staff have undertaken a range of online training to support their understanding and extend their knowledge, for example on online bullying and „county lines‟. This is because the young person is to use his games console online. The young person has undertaken training with the staff to help him to keep himself safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff manage his complex contact arrangements well. They are working with family members and are encouraging them to visit him at the home. Staff said, „this is all that he wants, so we are trying to make it happen‟. The young person has recently joined a football team and is enjoying playing in matches at the weekend. Staff said that this has enabled him to make new friends and is building his confidence and self-esteem.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have a very good understanding of the young person‟s needs and vulnerabilities. They plan his routines in consultation with him, so that he has ownership of them and can adhere to them. Staff are very aware that changes to his routines can have a negative impact upon him, and that certain points in the week are particularly stressful for him. They implement effectively the strategies devised by his therapist to help him to reduce his anxieties. This includes building a safe space for him. He is now much more able to manage his feelings and emotions. The young person wrote in a consultation document, „I like it here.‟ This comment is indicative of the positive relationships which the young person has with the staff, who he feels look after him Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 3 well. Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2017 Full Requires improvement

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(d)) 19/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1), (4)(a)) 19/04/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 5

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Recommendations

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home‟s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home‟s care. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, ensure that the independent visitor ascertains the views of the young person living at the home.  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 65, paragraph 15.2) In particular, ensure that the manager includes the views of the young person, their parents and relevant professionals about the impact of the care being

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Recommendations

provided.  Staff should be familiar with the home‟s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. The home‟s records on each child should represent a significant contribution to their life history. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraphs 14.4. & 14.5)

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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 difference 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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane, Leeds LS5 3BT

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Inspector

Chris Scully, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC063498 7 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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