Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 1 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Limited

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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 organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. They all spoke with the inspector about their experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/08/2023 Full Good 27/04/2023 Full Inadequate 09/06/2021 Full Good 11/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are happy, safe and exceptionally well cared for. They love living in the home and have a strong sense of belonging. One child said the staff are like family and another said, ‘The home is really good and staff are really positive.’ Staff know the children incredibly well and are committed to ensuring that children have every opportunity to excel. The quality of relationships between staff and children is excellent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant and sustained progress in all areas of their lives. One child said that they are ‘a different person now, in the best way possible’. This is due to the persistent and caring personalised support provided by staff. Staff helped one child to find a Saturday job. Consequently, the child’s confidence and self-esteem have flourished.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have 100% attendance in education and are thriving in their studies. Two children who did not previously attend school are now exceeding academic expectations. The manager and staff are highly ambitious for children and two older children have plans to attend higher education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from access to a wide variety of fun activities and new opportunities. Their interests are nurtured and their choices are acted on, for example, the home funds rental of a horse for one child. This makes a significant difference to the child’s emotional well-being. Trips are arranged for one child to see their favourite football team play, to the absolute delight of the child. Group activities are encouraged and arranged for the benefit of all children. Relationships between the children living in the home are overwhelmingly positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to help children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff proactively build positive relationships with family members for the benefit of children, including accompanying a child to visit a parent abroad for the first time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a large house that is comfortable and welcoming. The environment is loving and nurturing. One child said, ‘It is a nice house and a friendly home.’ Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well furnished. Two children are helped to care for small pet animals of their choice. Communal areas are decorated to celebrate a range of cultural events that children actively participate in. However, there is wear and tear to some areas of the home. The manager had identified this before the inspection and has plans to rectify this.

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

Children feel safe. Their risks and vulnerabilities are exceptionally well understood. Risk and behaviour support plans are individualised, clear and detailed. They are regularly reviewed by staff and are purposeful documents. Children contribute to their plans and Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 4 are helped to understand and manage their emotions and behaviours safely. Staff use creative and innovative methods with the children to help them identify and talk about their feelings.

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

Staff are trained in a therapeutic parenting approach that is embedded in their day-to- day practice. This is evident in the overwhelmingly positive relationships between the children and the staff. There are clear boundaries and routines in place, with the focus on rewarding children for positive behaviours. Consequently, there have not been any incidents of staff needing to hold children to keep them safe.

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

There have not been any incidents of children going missing from the home. This indicates that the children feel safe and secure there. The manager ensures staff keep their knowledge up to date about what to do if a child does go missing.

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

Children are supported to safely develop their independence, in line with their age and understanding. Meticulous work has been carried out to help an older child prepare to leave the home to live independently.

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

Recruitment for new staff is thorough and robust. This ensures that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is child-centred and inspirational. She is a committed leader who instils a culture of curiosity and continual improvement and development. She is fully involved in the children’s lives and is a highly effective and tenacious advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff love working in the home and talk about their roles with enthusiasm and immense pride. They feel that the manager is a supportive and compassionate leader. The staff team is stable and staff work incredibly well together. This provides stability and consistently high levels of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular, comprehensive supervision sessions and team meetings that are child-focused and reflective. Creative methods are used to ensure that staff keep their knowledge up to date. Staff complete a wide variety of training to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to meet the children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working with professionals involved in the children’s care is highly effective. A social worker said, ‘Communication is excellent, and the home go above and beyond to meet the needs of the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent oversight of the home. She is highly organised and uses monitoring systems effectively to ensure that she is fully aware of the home’s strengths and shortfalls. Swift action is taken to ensure that the quality of care provided to the children is maintained to the highest standard. The manager is committed to continually improving the home and is proactively planning for the future. Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are maintained to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2509670 6

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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

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2509670 7 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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