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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477726 1 SC477726

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Crystal Care Solutions Limited

Monitoring visit 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. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2016.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was completed using a blended approach of both on-site and off-site activity. The purpose of the visit was to ensure that children are safe and that their needs are being met. The home has not been inspected since 4 July 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager provides strong leadership for a competent and committed staff team. Together, they take a nurturing and parent-like approach to supporting the children in their care. Most children make good progress in line with their individual plans.

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This monitoring visit

One child has left the home after living there for nearly four years. Managers and staff provided a package of support that helped the child to prepare for independence and successfully transition to semi-independent living. The dedication of managers and staff is such that their supportive commitment to the child has continued since he left the home. The child said: ‘It is a good place that gives you time to think and sort yourself out. I had lots of great experiences like holidays abroad. The staff really supported me and helped me when it was time for me to leave.’

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This monitoring visit

It has been necessary for the manager to serve notice on one child after a relatively short stay at the home. This was done in recognition of the child’s reluctance to settle in the home, and his escalating risks and behaviours. During this time, staff Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477726 2 demonstrated high levels of resilience when managing incidents of missing from care, substance misuse and assaults on staff. Staff worked with the placing authority until an alternative home was found and then supported a positive transition out of the home. A social worker said: ‘The placement failed because of factors outside of the home’s control. We had lots of meetings and it is to their credit that they kept him for as long as they did.’ The social worker said that staff were very supportive and caring during the child’s transition to the foster placement.

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This monitoring visit

A great deal of care has been taken in matching the child who has recently moved into the home. The child said: ‘I have been here two weeks and love it. My bedroom is ‘fab’, and the staff are great. I have done lots of things with them like walks every day. This is the best place I have lived, and I love playing with [name].’

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This monitoring visit

There is a pleasant and homely feel to this home. Photographs of children and staff are displayed in communal areas. Bedrooms are personalised using themes that reflect each child’s interests and tastes. For example, staff have arranged one child’s room to resemble an army den, while the other is being decorated in bright colours and patterns chosen by the child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff understand and know how to manage risk and keep the children living in the home safe. Risks assessments are mostly detailed and are consistently implemented by staff. However, the risk assessment for the child who has a history of making false allegations requires improvement. It does not make clear the decision-making process of whether an allegation needs to be shared with external safeguarding professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Suitable action has been taken to address two of the three recommendations from the last inspection. Children are now given a monthly allowance for phone credit and a written record of this transaction is kept on each child’s file. Further work is required on the lone working risk assessment. It is not completely clear what is expected of staff if they are required to restrain a child while working alone. This has the potential to place children and staff at risk.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/07/2019 Full Good 05/09/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Good 15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477726 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the threshold and process for deciding whether an allegation should be shared with external safeguarding professionals are clearly stated in the child’s risk assessment, and that the lone working risk assessment makes clear whether staff should restrain a child when lone working. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477726 4 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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