Children's home run by Crossway Services Limited in Liverpool

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 1 SC061438

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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 owned by a private company. It is registered to care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant. A manager has been recruited and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 4 December 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 4 December 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: SC061438 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The child lives in a warm and cosy home that has recently been redecorated. The child has contributed to the decoration of the home, and their artwork is displayed on the walls.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support the child with their education and ensure that the child attends all necessary health appointments. Staff are helping the child to understand more about their health diagnoses. This will enable the child to better manage their own health conditions in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have developed trusting relationships with the child, providing a positive balance of structure and nurture. The child is supported to take part in activities that they enjoy. This promotes their interests and helps them to develop their self- esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is listened to and encouraged to contribute to their own care, sharing their thoughts with staff about what does and does not work for them. A therapist provides regular advice and child-specific guidance to the team to ensure that they respond to the child in ways that are helpful. This helps the child to better understand and manage their emotions.

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Findings from the inspection

When the child struggles to cope, staff are able to keep them safe and help them to calm. When required, staff hold the child to keep them safe; this is done as a last resort. When staff do have to hold the child, the manager evaluates the incident to identify any learning from it.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has not gone missing from this home, but staff know what to do should this happen in the future. The child’s plans are regularly updated to reflect their changing needs. Staff follow these plans and know what strategies work best in different situations.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has been proactive in supporting the staff team to develop strategies to keep the child safe. Consequently, there has been a reduction in incidents of the police being called to the home to manage the child’s behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is suitably qualified and has a good understanding of the child’s needs. Staff feel well supported by managers. One member of staff said, ‘The new manager has made us feel much more supported and held. The oversight, supervision, feedback on our work has just been so helpful.’ Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 3 There is a small but stable staff team in place who have or are working towards the necessary qualifications for their role. Staff are knowledgeable and bring varied and relevant experiences to their practice in the home. The manager provides appropriate training and development opportunities to the staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has developed robust internal monitoring systems and makes effective use of independent monitoring to ensure that staff provide consistently good care to the child. The manager is reflective and evaluative in her approach, and challenges staff practice when needed. This oversight promotes the child’s safety and ensures that practice in the home is kept under review.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is working through an improvement plan and is continuing to address the requirements from the previous inspection. Staff are now receiving regular supervision but have not received annual appraisals to support their ongoing development. This was a requirement at the last inspection and has been restated. There is no workforce plan in place to support the manager in planning for the development needs of the staff team. This was a recommendation at the last inspection and has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2022 Full Inadequate 15/09/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 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 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) (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure 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. 4 February 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). This specifically relates to the management and staffing structure (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working in the staffing structure, and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8). This was a recommendation at the last inspection and has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 6

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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

Aislinn Cooper, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061438 7 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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