Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 1 SC358638 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 registered to provide care for one child. The home specialises in providing a therapeutic environment for childrenA private company operates this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2020. She holds the relevant qualification.

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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

Date of last inspection: 9 November 2022

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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: SC358638 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/11/2022 Full Good 22/06/2021 Full Good 11/11/2019 Full Good 19/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home and one child has moved in. The registered manager and staff build positive relationships with children. As a result, the child living at the home is starting to trust staff and is happy living here. Staff seek children’s feedback to inform their practice and to provide children with individualised care. One child said, ‘I like it here and they keep me safe. It’s better than where I was, and I have everything I need.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment for children. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard, with plans to further improve. Photos of children are displayed throughout the home and their achievements are celebrated. The manager has involved the child in the plans for their bedroom and home. This helps them to develop a sense of belonging and pride in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children help staff to cook meals, to develop a common interest and learn positive life skills. Children also engage in a range of activities which develop confidence while having fun. Staff consistently seek children’s views and wishes through children’s meetings and key-work sessions. This enables the children to influence the care that they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend education. When children struggle to attend school, staff advocate on their behalf to find other suitable arrangements. This has included school staff visiting the home and arranging tutors for children. There are plans for the current child to move school, which is something they spoke positively about.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team of staff have the necessary skills and experience and use a child-centred approach. External professionals spoke positively about the quality of care and how it has contributed to the progress of the children.

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

The staff have a clear understanding of the potential risks to children. Plans to support children to be safe clearly identify what steps staff need to take. Plans are updated to reflect when children’s identified risks increase and when they reduce.

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

The manager works with other agencies to provide a robust response if children’s behaviour is placing them, or others, at risk. This multi-agency approach ensures that risk management for children is responsive and keeps children safe.

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

When an allegation is made, the manager ensures that children and staff are supported while the matter is investigated. If there are no concerns, restorative work is carried out with children to rebuild any damaged relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 4 Children learn about potential risks and what they can do to keep themselves safer. For example, they learn about risks associated with going missing in the community and personal safety.

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

The manager evaluates incidents, and discussions with staff and children are used to identify learning. However, not all serious incidents have been notified to Ofsted. This means that the regulator is not able to be assured that children are receiving appropriate support and that staff responses are appropriate and proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a positive role model. She provides strong leadership and guidance to the team. She is child-centred in her approach to providing care for children and ensures that children are at the centre of staff practice. Staff feel well supported and are able to approach the manager with any concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the team’s training needs. She has developed a culture where staff are committed to their ongoing learning. Staff benefit from regular and effective practice-based supervisions and team meetings. These support their ongoing learning and development. Senior staff also meet regularly to review the progress children make. This helps to inform future work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision for the development of the home. She uses internal and external monitoring systems effectively to develop a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. This enables her to take effective action when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with children’s wider networks to ensure that the needs of children are met. The manager has collaborated well with children’s education provisions, local authorities, local police and an external specialist therapy team to find solutions to any concerns raised in relation to the children. This has helped children to focus on making progress in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a shortage of permanent staff working in the home for a significant period of time. These shortfalls have predominantly been covered by staff from elsewhere in the organisation. The manager has been proactive in appointing new staff, who are currently going through recruitment checks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 5

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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, The 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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 home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the number of staff currently working at the home. 14 December

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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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to two incidents that should have been notified to Ofsted. 14 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 6

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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: SC358638 7

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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: Crystal Care Solutions, Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1ET

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Inspectors

Mark Dickinson, Social Care Inspector Laura Norcop, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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