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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 1 SC068206 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is one of several homes owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/07/2023 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good 04/05/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The quality of care provided to the child has been adversely affected by inconsistencies in leadership and management. Changes in staffing and recent instability in the management structure have contributed to a lack of prioritisation in key areas of the child’s care. The registered manager, until recently, was working care shifts, which has taken them away from their managerial role.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child takes part in community-based activities. Staff support the child to explore their interests, including accessing local football and boxing clubs, going to the cinema and visits to fairground arcades. These activities contribute to the child’s social development.

p.3

improvement to be good

Parents provided positive feedback on the care provided. The child is supported to spend time with family members. The manager has taken appropriate action by liaising with children’s services to facilitate family time that reflects the child’s wishes.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child has experienced changes in the staff team which does not support long-term, positive relationships.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have taken action to ensure that the child’s health needs are met. Staff promote healthy lifestyles and involve the child in menu planning.

p.3

improvement to be good

Education is prioritised, with the child attending school consistently. The child receives targeted interventions at school, including mentoring and sensory support, that help manage their additional needs. Staff are supporting the child’s aspiration to become an architect by arranging visits to football stadiums to explore architectural design. Although school staff report generally positive relationships with the home, they note inconsistencies in communication, particularly regarding the use of classroom management systems.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is in need of some repair including damage to the living room wallpaper and paintwork and worn carpets. The absence of a communal television removes opportunities for shared experiences. In addition, although the child’s bedroom is personalised, it contains damaged furniture that has not been replaced. The outdoor space is unsafe, with cement, sandbags and broken bicycles.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, risks have reduced for the child. Behaviour management and risk strategies are in place. However, these are not always reviewed in a timely manner Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 4 following incidents. There are limited opportunities for the manager and staff to reflect on strategies to keep the child safe. Although a review process has been introduced, it is too early to evaluate it’s effectiveness.

p.3

improvement to be good

Incidents of the child going missing are infrequent. When incidents occur, they are managed appropriately, and clear protocols are followed. The child is offered a return home interview by an independent person which promotes reflection and supports safety planning.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used only when necessary and in line with the child’s needs. Staff employ de-escalation techniques effectively, demonstrating sensitivity and an understanding of the child’s behaviour. Access to psychological support and clinical supervision has enhanced how staff respond to the child’s emotional and behavioural needs.

p.4

improvement to be good

Health and safety measures within the home are appropriate. A thorough and individualised locality assessment considers the local context and associated risks.

p.4

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

The registered manager is suitably qualified and demonstrates a commitment to improving outcomes for the child. They have a clear understanding of the child’s needs and have developed an improvement plan to address shortfalls in practice.

p.4

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

Staffing arrangements are stabilising, and team meetings are now more consistent. These meetings are an arena for reflective practice and professional development. The introduction of a gender-balanced rota has helped to ensure the child benefits from a diverse care team.

p.4

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

Staff report that morale has improved. They say that the manager is supportive and they describe an improving picture in the operation of the home and a renewed confidence in the leadership arrangements.

p.4

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

Despite these developments, there are shortfalls in staff supervision, induction and appraisals. This limits the opportunity for reflection and professional development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

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;

p.5

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)(f)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure there is sufficient oversight of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the home. The registered person must ensure that the agreed strategies in place in order to keep the child safe are clearly recorded within their relevant plans.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that strategies are reviewed in a timely manner and that evaluation is thorough. 22 August 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph 1 requires the registered person to ensure— 22 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 6 that staff—

p.5

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 risk of any harm to the child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments are reviewed in a timely manner and that reviews completed are thorough.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. 22 August 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 22 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 7 The registered person must ensure that repairs to the premises are addressed.

p.6

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: SC068206 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kealey Rushworth

p.8

Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9