Children's home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 1 SC477726 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

The home is managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 11 August 2016.

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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

Date of last inspection: 30 January 2024

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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: SC477726 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2024 Full Good 06/09/2022 Full Good 02/03/2022 Full Good 04/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant progress when living in the home. They receive exceptionally well-planned care from staff who know them well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are cared for in accordance with their needs, strengths, personalities and aspirations. They are supported to form extremely trusting relationships and strong bonds with the staff. Children are helped to engage with staff and other professionals working with them. As a result, children thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff team works in close partnership with established education providers to develop detailed individual support packages for children. This level of support enables children to establish themselves in the educational environment. As a result, children’s educational attendance and attainment have excelled since living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Family time is extremely well supported. The staff team works directly with the children and their families to help to build positive relationships and acceptable boundaries. Family time routines are well established. Children receive support in maintaining and forming new friendships. Staff welcome children’s friends to the home for tea and encourage them to participate in planned activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health and well-being are prioritised in this home. From the point of referral, or when a medical condition is recognised, the management team takes prompt action to ensure that staff receive suitable training to support and manage children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are encouraged and supported to take part in community activities. Some children go horse riding and attend the gym, while others enjoy swimming, Army Cadets and trampolining. Children engage in groups and activities organised by specific partnerships. These activities provide excellent opportunities for children to make positive and safe friendships in the community. One child said, ‘I give the home 10 out of 10. It is really good.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Consultation with children is a priority. Their views and opinions are consistently sought and valued. Children receive regular feedback regarding any changes made because of their suggestions. A staff member said, ‘This is their home, and we want them to be part of everything. It is important that they are listened to by those who care for them.’

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

Children’s safety is prioritised. Staff understand each child’s individual risks and the strategies in place to reduce them. Assessments to manage risk are routinely reviewed and amended to ensure that they reflect children’s current and emerging risks. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 4 Strong and trusting relationships are formed between the children and staff. Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s life events and the impact of trauma on their lives. Children are cared for with empathy and understanding. As a result, they feel safe and learn how to express their anxieties and emotions safely.

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

Children’s routines and boundaries are consistently implemented. Likewise, children receive consistent praise and recognition for the smallest of achievements. Incentive charts and star charts provide children with a positive visual reminder of the progress they make. Children who engage in negative behaviour are supported to understand its impact and how to move forward positively.

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

Children are provided with a children’s guide that sets out how to make a complaint. The guide includes contact numbers for external support agencies, including Ofsted. Likewise, children have a copy of the placing authorities’ complaints procedures. Since the last full inspection in January 2024, there have been no complaints, incidents of a child being missing or absent from home, or incidents requiring the use of physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have an exceptional understanding of the individual needs and aspirations of the children. They are passionate about the service they provide and consistently strive to ensure that the children experience positive and effective care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive both bespoke and mandatory training to equip them for their roles in the home. This training ensures that staff are provided with new and unique opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are provided with consistent supervision and additional guidance from external support agencies. The manager is passionate in her approach to upskilling staff and provides consistent development opportunities to enhance staff’s knowledge and understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal monitoring systems are highly effective. The manager and staff have regular consultations with children, parents and professionals, which they use to inform the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The independent visitor provides consistent monitoring of the home. Reports are detailed and provide a good assessment of the care being provided to children and the progress they make. However, reports do not consistently include feedback from parents and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager consistently carries out a biannual quality of care review. The report is strengthened by the inclusion of a detailed development plan and feedback from parents, children and professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 5 Practice in the home is underpinned by the theoretical framework of trauma-informed parenting. All the systems and work carried out with children incorporate this framework. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that reports provided by the independent visitor consistently include consultation with parents and professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC477726 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

Maria McGranaghan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC477726 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 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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