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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 1 SC068206 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care for one child. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The interim manager has been in post since December 2021. She is not yet registered with Ofsted. She also manages another children’s home for the company.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2022

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/02/2020 Full Outstanding 01/05/2018 Full Good 20/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 3

p.2

inadequate

There is currently one child living in this home. The child told inspectors that they have positive relationships with staff and are happy living at this home. However, the child’s overall experiences and progress have been significantly affected due to their inadequate protection and insufficient staffing of the home.

p.3

inadequate

The child has been supported by staff to stay in education at their current provision, although their attendance remains sporadic. The manager has provided the child with a computer to support them with their education. During the inspection, the child was encouraged to undertake their planned exams in the home.

p.3

inadequate

Staff support the child to attend health appointments. During the inspection, the child engaged with specialist services to receive support in relation to their misuse of substances. However, health plans do not contain the most up-to-date information or reflect the discussions taking place with professionals. This does not ensure that all staff have the required information to meet the health needs of the child. Furthermore, the arrangements for the safe storage of medication are not robust. During the inspection, inspectors found the child’s medication on the floor in the home’s office.

p.3

inadequate

The home environment is poor. There is exposed plasterwork that needs repair and no clear timescales for when this work will be undertaken. The shower is faulty. Routine maintenance work identified at the last inspection has not been completed. This does not provide a homely environment for the child to live in.

p.3

inadequate

The child is supported to spend time with people who are important to them, and friends and family are welcomed into the home. However, some relationships are promoted without risks being fully assessed. The child’s records did not demonstrate liaison or consultation with the child’s social worker to promote and support relationships with family.

p.3

inadequate

Inspectors saw evidence of liaison with other professionals involved in the child’s care. However, some relevant plans and information were missing from the child’s records. This hinders the acting manager’s ability to demonstrate how the home’s care planning supports the child to make progress in line with the placing authority’s expectations.

p.3

inadequate

The child’s records do not consistently evidence their experiences in this home. Records of individual discussions do not always demonstrate what is being discussed, the views of the child or the actions of staff. The organisation is in the process of moving to an online recording system which the manager feels will improve the quality of the child’s records, although this is not yet embedded in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 4

p.3

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

The interim manager and staff are unable to manage or minimise risks to the child adequately. Risk management plans do not identify all known risks to children or the strategies staff are to follow to reduce these risks. There is no guidance in place for staff to follow to manage risk when the child is in the community, despite this being a significant concern.

p.4

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

Strategies identified in risk management plans have not always been followed by staff. For example, staff failed to take swift action despite being aware the child was at a particular address of concern. This meant that the child was left in an unsafe situation, which resulted in the need for medical attention. Furthermore, waking night staff do not consistently undertake checks at the frequency specified in the child’s risk management plan.

p.4

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

The recruitment of staff is not robust. There is a heavy reliance on the use of agency staff and checks to ensure that they are suitable to work in the home have not been undertaken. When concerns regarding the practice of agency staff have been raised with the interim manager, this information has not always been shared with relevant professionals. This practice does not ensure that children’s safety is promoted, as unsafe practice is not escalated appropriately.

p.4

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

The health and safety of the home environment is inadequate. At the last inspection, it was identified that a number of actions in the home’s fire risk assessment to improve the safety of the home had not been met. Leaders and managers have still not taken any action to address these shortfalls.

p.4

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

The home has thumb-turn door locks to ensure that children can exit the building independently. However, these external doors are left unlocked and therefore access to the home is possible without staff being aware of who is entering the home.

p.4

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

Internal and external monitoring have not supported the manager and staff to make improvements in the quality of care provided to the child. Delays in the independent visitor notifying the manager of safeguarding concerns following regulation 44 visits have meant children’s safety is not ensured. Furthermore, there continues to be a delay in sending these reports to Ofsted.

p.4

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

There have been delays in serious notifications being sent to Ofsted. A requirement was issued in relation to this at the previous visit and is repeated.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The previous registered manager ceased managing the home in November 2021. Leaders have not cancelled this registration with Ofsted. The interim manager has been in post since December 2021; she has not yet submitted a completed application to register with Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 5 The interim manager manages two homes for this organisation. She is committed to the child and demonstrates awareness of how to positively support children in her care. However, insufficient staffing levels have resulted in the manager covering shifts in both homes on a regular basis to ensure that adequate staffing levels are maintained. While this provides some consistency for the child, this has prevented the manager from having effective oversight of the day-to-day running of the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The interim manager does not always know in advance which agency member of staff will be working at the home. This creates uncertainty for the child and other staff working in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have completed training to provide them with the skills to identify and respond to signs of the child using illegal substances. This means that staff are not equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs and escalating vulnerabilities of the child living in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff working in the home told inspectors that they feel supported by the interim manager. However, there are gaps in supervision records for staff and the interim manager. Furthermore, not all staff have received an annual performance appraisal. This does not ensure that the manager and staff working in this home have adequate support and that their practice is reviewed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The statement of purpose has not been sent to Ofsted as required by regulation, despite this being a requirement at the last inspection. This means that Ofsted does not have the most up-to-date information about who is working at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to meet all the requirements issued at the last inspection; these have been raised again following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

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)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(i)(b)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 July 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 7 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the sufficiency of staffing and the registered person’s oversight and monitoring of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

p.7

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 8 The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

p.8

Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 July 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.8

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff, including the manager, receive regular practice-based supervision and that their performance is appraised annually. 3 July 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.8

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children’s case records are kept up to date. 3 July 2022

p.8

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 9 maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the staff duty roster includes all persons working at the home at any time and the actual hours worked.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.9

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 July 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.9

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

p.9

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 3 July 2022

p.9

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.

p.9

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.9

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 10 The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b)(c) (5))

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must improve the evaluative content of the quality of care review and include the opinions of stakeholders.

p.10

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.10

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children’s home: SC068206 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

p.11

Inspectors

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 12 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.11

Inspectors

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 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.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12