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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 1 SC068206 Crossway Services Limited

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered managers post is currently vacant.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to monitor the actions taken by the provider in relation to compliance notices served on 11 May 2022. The notices were served against regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

There is currently no child living in this home. The interim manager has been in post since December 2021 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has made progress to improve the quality of risk management plans for the child who remained living at the home following the last inspection. Plans reflect the known and emerging risks to the child and provide clear strategies for staff to follow to minimise these risks. The plans have been updated with relevant information. Staff spoken to during this visit were clear on the action required in order to keep the child safe.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has taken steps to ensure that any safeguarding concerns are shared with relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s online recording system is now being utilised effectively. Records of incidents that occur are sent to the manager to review and identify further actions required. This means that the manager has improved oversight of the home and is able to identify any shortfalls in practice. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 2 There have been some changes to the staff team since the last inspection. The manager has undertaken relevant checks for agency staff working in this home to ensure that they are suitable for the role. The home’s rota now reflects all staff working in the home and the actual hours worked. This requirement has therefore been met.

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This monitoring visit

The staff currently working in this home have had the relevant training to meet the needs of the child who was, until recently, living in this home. Specialist services have also provided additional information, which has been shared with staff.

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This monitoring visit

An independent fire risk assessment identified a number of immediate actions that were required to improve the safety of the home. The provider has taken action to address these shortfalls. The provider has a plan to address the other concerns identified in the fire risk assessment.

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This monitoring visit

Some routine maintenance required at this home has been completed. However, the home environment remains poor and does not provide a high-quality and homely environment for children to live in. The provider acknowledges this shortfall and is taking steps to improve the quality of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The homes statement of purpose has been sent to Ofsted. This means that the regulator has up-to-date information about who is working at the home. This requirement has therefore been met.

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This monitoring visit

A number of requirements were not explored as part of this monitoring visit and will be reviewed as part of the home’s next inspection. However, sufficient progress has been made for Ofsted to assess that the compliance notices have been met. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date 04/05/2022 Full Inadequate 01/02/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/02/2020 Full Outstanding 01/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 4

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection visit and is repeated. 22 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 5 have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. 3 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 6 (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection visit and is repeated.

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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

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

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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

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must improve the evaluative content of the quality-of-care review, and include the opinions of stakeholders. 3 July 2022

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC068206 8 regulates and inspects 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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