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

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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 operated by a private company and is registered to provide care for one child. The home specialises in providing a therapeutic environment for children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2020. She is suitably qualified and experienced to oversee the home.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be 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

17/10/2023 Full Good 09/11/2022 Full Good 22/06/2021 Full Good 11/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 3

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improvement to be good

This inspection was brought forward following the provider notifying Ofsted of a serious safeguarding incident. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home, who had been there for over a year. The child has made progress in different areas of their lives. However, this safeguarding incident and shortfalls relating to how it was managed have had a significant impact on the child’s overall experience of living in the home.

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improvement to be good

The child said that they like living in the home and that they have good relationships with staff. However, they also said they do not always feel safe, because of a recent incident.

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improvement to be good

Staff and the manager have positive, secure and trusting relationships with the child. Staff understand the child’s needs and place them at the centre of their practice, which helps to provide a sense of belonging. The child shares humour and laughter when interacting with staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the child’s physical health needs are well met. The child is registered with local health services and attends routine appointments. Staff also have a good understanding of the child’s emotional health needs. The manager has advocated for the child to receive the appropriate diagnosis in line with their presenting needs. Furthermore, the home has an appointed therapist who provides weekly one-to-one support for the child. The therapist is also available to the manager and staff, providing support and guidance on how to best meet the child’s needs, and offering psychological support to staff if required.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise that education is important. They help the child to understand any barriers to learning and support them to aspire for their future. Staff advocate effectively for the child and challenge teachers when necessary. For example, when school staff decided they could no longer meet the child’s needs, the manager acted swiftly to ensure alternative arrangements were in place. This minimised disruption to the child’s education.

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improvement to be good

The child is encouraged to see people who are important to them. The manager and staff understand the importance of the child having positive time with their loved ones. Staff work hard to maintain positive relationships with family members. However, they have also taken effective action when they realised time with family was having an adverse effect on the child’s well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 4

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been several episodes of the child going missing. Staff’s responses to the child going missing are usually positive. They generally understand and follow the protocols and actively follow the child. However, on one occasion when the child had been missing and was found by police with a risky unknown individual in the local area, staff did not take appropriate action to ensure the child’s immediate safety. Furthermore, staff did not report this matter to the on-call manager, in line with the home’s safeguarding policy. The child made an allegation of harm following this incident. The delay in taking immediate action and failure to follow the home’s policy had the potential to place the child at further significant risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of restraint are well managed. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and triggers, and use de-escalation techniques to reduce risk when possible. Leaders and managers help the child and staff to share their views after each incident , meaning they have the opportunity for reflection and learning.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the child is safe online, with monitoring systems in place to ensure the child has a positive experience of using the internet. When concerns do arise, staff are proactive in ensuring these are well managed. Additionally, staff regularly educate the child around appropriate use of the internet. This provides them with the knowledge they need to identify online dangers and keep themselves safe.

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improvement to be good

There has been one allegation against a staff member. Leaders and managers have responded appropriately. They took effective action to protect the child, while ensuring the child’s views were heard and listened to. Information was shared with external agencies and appropriate investigations were undertaken by the manager. Good responses to allegations promote children’s safety and well-being.

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improvement to be good

New staff have been safely recruited. 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: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not always taken effective action to ensure the safety of the child. Following the recent significant safeguarding incident, a senior staff member did not update the child’s risk assessments or initially share important information from the police. The manager has identified the shortfalls and is in the process of investigating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Despite this, staff speak positively about working in the home and the support they receive from the manager. A core group of staff has been recruited in recent months, which has reduced the dependency on agency staff. Any shortfalls in staffing are now covered by existing staff or by staff from another of the provider’s homes who are familiar with the child. As a result, the child receives care from staff they know and trust. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 5 Staff receive regular reflective supervision and a wide range of training that informs their practice. The manager is proactive in writing training programmes based on research, to further upskill staff and improve their practice. This means the child receives care from staff who have a good understanding of their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager maintains good oversight of the home, using a range of monitoring systems and progress tracking tools. These help provide a clear understanding of the progress of the child and the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager works effectively with external professionals. Following the incident when the child was found with a risky unknown male, the manager was proactive in ensuring the child was supported to share their views. This supportive approach helped the child to disclose important information to a person of trust. External professionals are positive about the care the child receives from staff and the overall progress they are making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 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, 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

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

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring staff put in place effective strategies to keep children safe when there is a risk of significant harm and ensuring that staff always follow the home’s safeguarding policy. 22 August 2024

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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: Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1ET

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC358638 8 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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