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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 1 SC386810 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. She also manages another home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. 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'. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The child is cared for by staff who know them well. Agency staff are used to support key staff members, ensuring continuity of care. Staff use consistent praise and positive encouragement to support the child's behaviour, which helps to build positive, trusting relationships between the child and staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have arrangements in place to support the child's education, including access to an external tutor and daily staff support to encourage their engagement and independence. This ensures that the child continues to learn, regulate their emotions and make progress while not in full-time education.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When there have been concerns that a child has moved out of sight in the community, staff take immediate action in line with the child's behaviour and safety plan. This includes seeking additional support, contacting managers and involving external services where required. In one instance, staff actions meant the child was located quickly and returned safely, with no use of physical intervention. The incident was reviewed with management oversight, staff were debriefed and the child was supported to calm and manage their feelings safely.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When the child became upset during an activity, staff responded calmly by setting clear boundaries, explaining their decisions and offering reassurance. Staff supported the child to take a break from the activity and provided alternative calming options, which helped him to settle. Although staff are trained in physical intervention, this was not needed as the situation was managed well through de- escalation. This meant that the child felt supported and was able to calm safely.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Where there are worries about staff practice, managers act decisively to safeguard children. This includes following human resources processes, completing fact-finding and investigations, seeking advice from external safeguarding partners and speaking with children to understand what has happened to ensure that their views are heard. This approach demonstrates clear oversight and a commitment to learning and improvement to strengthen safeguarding practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe and respond appropriately when concerns arise. When incidents or worries are identified, managers take prompt action, including reviewing practice, seeking external advice and completing fact-finding and debriefs. For example, when concerns were raised about how information was shared following an incident, managers acted quickly by seeking advice from the local authority designated officer, suspending staff where appropriate and completing investigations to ensure that safeguarding procedures were followed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 3 The manager, supported by a newly appointed deputy, provides clear leadership and regularly reviews children's plans to ensure that their needs are met. When a child has struggled to settle, the manager has worked closely with the placing authority and other professionals, appropriately challenging arrangements that may not be in

p.2

Findings from the inspection

the child's best interests. This has included advocating for a more suitable placement to better support the child's safety, stability and learning needs.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular, practice-related supervision and report that they feel well supported by managers. Some staff have achieved, or are working towards, relevant qualifications to support their roles. Since the last inspection, a number of requirements have been met. Those that remain have been restated and will be considered at the next full inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/05/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that systems are in place to support the regular review of care provided to children, and must ensure that all staff undertake the necessary training to meet the needs of children. 4 May 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that care plans are reviewed to support children's transitions from the home. 4 May 2026

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.5

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 4 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 6

p.5

Children's home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.6

Children's home details

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

p.6

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Kealey Rushworth

p.6

Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC386810 7 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.

p.6

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.7

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7