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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 1 SC063498

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Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2017. She also manages another home run by the organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 21 November 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Outcome from the inspection

 Poor safeguarding and risk management practices.  Shortfalls in leadership and management.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have not taken effective action to address all identified shortfalls or ensure the safety of the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not followed risk assessments when the child has been under the influence of substances. There have been six occasions when staff have not sought medical advice to ensure that the child is safe during these incidents. The manager has not identified this shortfall in safeguarding practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have not taken effective action to safeguard the child against exploitation. There has been one significant incident that has not been shared with the placing authority social worker or other professionals to enable effective multi- agency safeguarding practice. Managers and staff have not acted in a way that demonstrates professional curiosity to manage and evaluate risks of exploitation. This incident was not notified to Ofsted. This does not allow for effective oversight of safeguarding practices.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has lived in the home for 15 months and does not have an appropriate education provision identified. Leaders and managers have escalated this to the director of the placing authority. However, this did not happen in a timely way and has limited the child’s progress. Staff are offering alternative educational activities for the child while he is waiting for a school to be identified.

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Findings from the inspection

The child does not have an up-to-date care plan from the placing authority. This means that staff do not have relevant information about the child’s needs, and plans cannot reflect progress or expectations.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received training specific to the needs of the child, including knife crime, self-injurious behaviour and learning disabilities. This provides the staff team with the skills and knowledge to meet the child’s needs. However, one staff member has not received physical intervention training.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not receive supervision regularly or in line with the company’s own policy. Supervision does not provide staff with opportunities to discuss the child’s needs or reflect on their practice. This limits staff’s learning and development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 3 Internal and external monitoring of the home are weak, with limited analysis and evaluation about the care that the child receives. Feedback from staff, parents and social workers is not included in the quality of care review.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not taken a proactive approach to responding to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. This has resulted in multiple restated requirements and recommendations. Furthermore, additional requirements have been made to address shortfalls identified during this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Despite the shortfalls identified, staff respond appropriately when the child goes missing from the home. They actively search the local area and ensure that relevant information is shared with other professionals. The child is provided with an independent return home interview. However, these interviews are carried out over the telephone and are not meaningful for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is welcoming and reflects the child’s interests. There are toys, games and photos around the home. The child’s bedroom has been decorated and furnished to provide appropriate storage.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the inspection, a case review was held. Compliance notices are issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/12/2021 Full Good 19/06/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills to identify risks and respond appropriately, as set out in risk management plans, specifically in relation to when children are under the influence of substances. 22 December 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 6 The registered person must ensure that safeguarding concerns are shared with relevant professionals, including the placing authority and Ofsted.

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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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 22 December 2023

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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 22 December 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 7 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

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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 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)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there are effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that there is oversight of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have relevant training to meet the needs of the child, including appropriate physical intervention training.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last three inspections and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 22 December 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children receive appropriate education provision to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 9 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. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive practice-based supervision in line with the company’s policy.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 22 December 2023

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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 the records are complete and include relevant and up-to-date information. Missing documents, such as local authority care plans, should be obtained and placed on the child’s file to enable appropriate support to be implemented for the child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last two inspections and is restated. 22 December 2023

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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

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of 22 December 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 10 care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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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 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (5))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the responsible local authority provides children with the opportunity for an independent return home interview after they have been missing from care. The registered person should challenge the placing authority if these are not appropriately carried out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person has the skills and understanding necessary to assess all relevant information and form an impartial judgement about the quality of care provided at the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.8) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 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

Jenni Gadsby, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC063498 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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