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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 1 SC068206

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Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. An interim manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home.

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Inspection date: 22 December 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 22 December 2025

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. The inspector has 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: SC068206 2

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Findings 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

There is currently one child living in the home. They have personalised their bedroom. The downstairs living area and kitchen have been renovated and there are photos of the child having fun with staff on display.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has established routines which are supported by staff. They attend school daily and have received certificates for their educational successes. The child’s interests are ascertained by staff on a daily basis and as a result they enjoy taking part in a range of activities, including rock climbing, visiting museums and watching films at the cinema.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager encourages the child to attend all necessary health appointments and reschedules any missed appointments. Staff work closely with specialist professionals to ensure that medication is reviewed and close attention is paid to the child’s emotional needs. This has included weekly sessions with an art therapist who has supported the child in sharing their thoughts and feelings.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s risk assessments are updated regularly and learning from incidents underpins behavioural support strategies. Children and staff benefit from debriefs with the manager following incidents and the manager uses these to review de- escalation techniques. This has helped to reduce incidents where the child has needed to be held. The manager acknowledged that there has been one occasion when a child was debriefed by someone who was not present during the hold.

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Findings from the inspection

When the child has gone missing, staff have followed missing-from-home protocols and have often located the child in the community without police support. When the child has returned home, they have been able to speak to an independent person.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed. They have submitted an application for registration with Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has sought to use the findings from external monitoring to improve practice.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has stabilised the staff team and the use of agency staff has reduced. Staff benefit from regular supervision, and they can also attend monthly team meetings. The team also has access to weekly consultation with a play therapist. This has helped the staff to better understand the child’s therapeutic needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has met all of the previous requirements set; however, one recommendation has been made. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/07/2023 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. This specifically relates to when children are debriefed, the registered manager must ensure that staff involved in the hold are not a part of the child’s debriefing process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pebbles Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kealey Rushworth

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Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC068206 6 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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