Children's home run by Crossway Services Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 1 SC061438 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2017. She also manages another home for the organisation that provides care for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 21 October 2022, compliance notices were served against regulation 12, the protection of children standard; regulation 13, the leadership and management standard; and regulation 35, the behaviour management standard.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was completed on 22 November 2022. The inspector found that the provider had made suitable progress against the specified steps and that the compliance notices had been met. Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2022 Full Inadequate 15/09/2021 Full Good 15/01/2020 Full Good 12/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 3

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improvement to be good

There is currently one child living in this home. They have remained living at the home since the last inspection.

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improvement to be good

The child is cared for by a consistent staff team and is developing positive attachments as a result. The inspector observed warm relationships between the child and staff during the inspection. The child told the inspector that she is able to talk to staff if she has any worries or concerns and that she is listened to and supported.

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improvement to be good

The child is able to engage in activities that they enjoy, such as going to the cinema, and they are currently exploring the possibility of joining a drama group. They also enjoy playing board games and baking with staff in the home. The child has been supported by staff to attend a local church service after expressing an interest in this.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, progress has been made with the child’s emotional and physical health needs. Staff have worked with specialist professionals to ensure that prescribed medication is accessed for the child and that this is reviewed when needed and remains appropriate. The child has also begun to work with the organisation’s in-house psychologist.

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improvement to be good

The child is currently being home tutored, and since the last inspection, their engagement with the tutor has improved. Plans for the child to return to a suitable educational provision were progressed during the inspection. The home is liaising with relevant professionals to ensure that the child has the right support in place to help them reach their full potential.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the significance of family time. Staff are working with the child’s placing authority to explore the arrangements that are currently in place to ensure that they are right for the child.

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improvement to be good

Although some improvements have been made to the home environment since the last inspection, the home requires further refurbishment and redecoration. The registered manager told the inspector that there are plans in place for further work. However, there are no clear timescales for this to take place. Furthermore, during the inspection, the child and staff were using garden furniture in the home as the dining furniture had not been replaced despite being broken for a number of weeks. Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 4

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improvement to be good

Staff spoken to during the inspection demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and associated risks. However, the quality of written risk management plans is variable.

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improvement to be good

Some plans contain conflicting information, and some of the strategies in place have not been updated to reflect staff practice. For example, supervision levels for the child are not always consistent. While the registered manager and staff have a clear rationale as to when it is appropriate to reduce supervision levels, the decision is not supported by a written plan. This leads to a lack of consistency for the child and staff. Furthermore, the risk management plans have not been reviewed to ensure that the strategies in place remain the most effective and proportionate way of managing risk.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand what works best for the child to help them to manage their feelings safely. The child told the inspector about the strategies she now uses when she feels angry or upset. As a result, there have been no consequences or use of physical intervention since the last inspection. However, the child’s plans have not been updated to reflect this positive change.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the child has started taking medication for their diagnosed health condition. During the inspection, staff were observed taking steps to safely administer the child’s medication. However, recording systems in place for the administration of medication are not robust. Although there was no indication that any medication had been wrongly administered to the child, these processes do not ensure the child’s safety and are also in breach of the organisation’s own medication policy.

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improvement to be good

Room searches take place when staff have concerns for the child’s safety. However, there are no records to reflect when room searches have taken place. This lacks transparency and does not support the child to understand the actions staff have taken to safeguard them.

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improvement to be good

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home since the last inspection. Staff spoken to during the inspection were confident about the actions they would take in order to keep the child safe should the child go missing from the home.

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improvement to be good

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is managed by a suitably qualified registered manager. The registered manager demonstrates an awareness of how to positively support the child living in Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 5 the home. However, she has not been able to evidence the capacity to make effective changes and provide strong leadership to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from staff regarding the support they receive from the registered manager is variable. Staff do not receive regular supervision. Supervision records are brief and do not demonstrate that staff, including inexperienced staff, have opportunities to reflect on how they support the child and their own learning and development. In addition, there was no record of the inductions completed with new staff in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records of training undertaken by staff are chaotic. The registered manager’s oversight of staff training is poor. Not all staff have had training relevant to the specific individual needs of the child living in this home. For one member of staff, their records do not show that they have completed any training since starting their role in the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager does not have sufficient oversight or appropriate monitoring systems in place. Incidents are not always reviewed to consider any changes required to care practices and to improve the quality of care for the child. The home is visited by an independent person monthly. However, the registered manager does not always take timely action to address the shortfalls raised in these reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is insufficient management oversight of children’s case records and relevant plans. This had not been identified by the registered manager before the inspection. The current rotas do not demonstrate the actual hours worked by the registered manager or the staff team. This is a safeguarding concern and was a requirement at the previous inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s quality of care report has now been submitted to the regulator. The report reflects some learning in the past year. However, it does not consider the views of the child or any other stakeholders, as is required by regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all staff have had an annual appraisal. A requirement relating to this was made at the last inspection, and it remains in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not met all the requirements from the last inspection, and a number of requirements are restated. Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that improvements are made to the home environment, including ensuring that there is appropriate furniture. 3 March 2023

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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

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; and 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 7 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that risk management plans include strategies for staff to follow to keep children safe. Ensure that risk management plans are kept up to date and that staff understand children’s plans. Ensure that measures in place are assessed and evaluated to make sure that the risks are being effectively and consistently managed.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(f)

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that staff have training relevant to the specific individual needs of the child living in the home and that they have effective monitoring and oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. 3 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 8 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

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff receive a suitable induction to the role, that all staff receive regular, practice-based supervision and that their performance is appraised annually.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 3 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all hours that all staff have worked are clearly recorded on rosters, including the registered manager.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 9 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 quality of care provided for children;

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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

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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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)(a)(b)(c) (5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the review must consider the opinions of children, parents, placing authorities and staff.

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Requirement Due date

This was a requirement at the last inspection and is restated. 3 March 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that arrangements for the recording of medication are robust and that the child’s name is clearly recorded on relevant documentation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person must ensure that rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s safety or well-being. All staff should understand the process for recording where room searches have taken place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20) Inspection report for children's home: SC061438 10

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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: SC061438 11

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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: SC061438 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 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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