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

Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 1 SC477726 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited 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 provides care for up to two children. The home specialises in caring for children who have been, or who are, experiencing emotional and/or behavioural distress due to early life trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since August 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 11 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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 for children's home: SC477726 2

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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: SC477726 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from the time they come to live at the home. Good matching of children means that the home provides a consistent family environment for children. This helps them to develop trust and a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have experienced significant trauma and instability in their lives are well supported. Staff help children well through periods of crises and maintain the home as a place of safety and stability for them. One child has recently had his plan of permanence agreed by his local authority to enable him to live at the home until adulthood. Children experience a settled environment and are supported through adolescence, which equips them well for the future

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop skills towards independence through increased involvement in day-to-day chores. They are supported by staff to gain confidence in the community, for example by using public transport and shopping. There is a slow and steady approach to providing children with everyday life skills. This gives them a good foundation from which to move on from when they become young adults and leave the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in full-time education and there is good communication between the school and the staff team, which supports children’s progression. There are clear links between the approach staff use with children and the tasks and goals detailed in the education, health and care plans This joined-up approach to care and education means that children experience consistency from the adults in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to understand and have empathy for the needs of others through involvement in charitable activities. Last year, children and staff took part in a sponsored run for a children’s hospital. At the time of this inspection, the children were busy with preparations for a charity event. These activities enable children to make a positive contribution to society and develop a sense of social responsibility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to lead active lifestyles and develop new interests and hobbies. This is not always supported by children’s eating habits. They are not always being provided with a healthy, balanced diet. Children are regularly eating processed meals and sugary snacks. Staff have recently taken advice from the looked after children’s nurse to promote healthy eating. This initiative is in its infancy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good support in relation to their emotional health needs. Staff are effective advocates for children. This ensures children have access to assessment and intervention services that will help them and staff understand and improve children’s mental health. Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 4

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

Children are supported to stay safe in the home and the community by staff who understand each child’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Children have trusting relationships with staff which helps them to feel cared for and safe.

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

In response to allegations made by children against each other, the staff team has worked with children’s social workers. They have put robust safety plans in place to ensure a therapeutic response to children’s needs. Staff have a good understanding of the effect of early childhood trauma on children’s behaviour. They work empathetically to care for children in a way which recognises and responds to this trauma. This helps children to feel safe and valued.

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

Staff practice is supported by clear assessments of risks, which are regularly reviewed. Behaviour support plans guide staff to understand and respond to children’s actions in a way which seeks to de-escalate situations and maintain emotional and physical safety for children.

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

Children’s placement plans are not child-centred. Placement plans use children’s initials rather than their names to describe them. Placement plans do not support children to understand and contribute to their care. Children are, however, provided with monthly summaries of their care records, written by the deputy manager. These summaries help children who may not wish to read their full care records. This provides them with an opportunity to discuss what is being written about them and hear about the progress they are making.

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

The purpose of some room searches is not always clear in the records. Some searches take place without children being present, or being aware of the search, without clear justification for this practice. This means that children’s privacy is not always being considered.

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

The number of physical interventions has reduced significantly as children have developed a sense of belonging and security. Physical interventions with children only take place when it is appropriate to do so to ensure the safety of children or staff. Staff use the minimum restraint needed, and all staff undertaking physical interventions with children are suitably trained. There is clear guidance for staff who are working alone with children.

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

Records of these interventions in each child’s individual care records are detailed. Children and staff have the opportunity to discuss the incident with the registered manager or senior member of staff. The quality of recording in the home’s central recording book is not as good. Some records are not signed by either the staff members or the registered manager. The location of incidents is not always specific. As a result, there is a lack of accountability for some practice.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. The use of sanctions is minimal. Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. Children can choose a small gift from the reward bucket when they have achieved a target. Non-monetary Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 5 rewards, such as a later bedtime or choosing a favourite film for the evening, are also offered to acknowledge when children have done well. This gives children a sense of achievement and pride.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post for several years and is suitably qualified and experienced . She works on shift as part of the staff team, which contributes to her understanding of the needs of the children and her staff. A child’s social worker said: ‘I have the greatest admiration for the manager who has a fantastic relationship with, and incredible insight and understanding of, [name of child]; She really knows her’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As both children living at the home are in full-time education, the registered manager has time during the day to undertake her additional leadership and management responsibilities. It is unclear how well she would be able to complete these responsibilities if both children were at home during the day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager have been the two consistent people in the home over the last year, due to the significant changes to the staff team. There has been a significant change of staff as members of the team have moved on for a variety of reasons. During this time, permanent staff have worked additional hours, supported by a small number of bank staff. This does not appear to have impacted on the well-being of the children. Both have warm relationships with the new permanent staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff have a well-planned and structured induction to the home. They have more frequent supervision of their practice and are provided with the support they need to progress in their role. All staff have regular supervision from senior staff in the home. When concerns arise in relation to the ability of staff to fulfil their role, there is effective challenge. This is done through informal support and formal performance management, if appropriate, to address shortfalls. As a result, children receive a good quality of care from staff who have the appropriate skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has established systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided to children. Management oversight is evident in children’s records. In addition, the service manager for the home also undertakes regular audits to provide additional leadership and management oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has not ensured that the registered manager has an annual appraisal of her practice. This means that the registered manager has not had a formal appraisal of her professional abilities and development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the threshold for the sharing of information in relation to safeguarding concerns. She has strong and effective relationships with children’s social workers and the local authority designated officer. Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 6 As a result of these positive collaborations, risks to children are reduced, and children experience greater placement stability and a safe home environment.

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the registered person ensures that all records in relation to restraint detail the location of the restraint and all staff contributing to these records sign and date their own contribution to the records. 4 April 2022

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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))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that the responsible individual ensures that the registered manager has an annual appraisal of their practice. 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each child is eating a healthy, balanced diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that children’s placement plans are written in a way that is child-centred and helpful to the child. Children should be referred to by their names, not their initials, in their own care records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 8

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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: SC477726 9

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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

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC477726 10 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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