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

Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 1 SC477209 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 privately operated home is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection, who were present and spoken to.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Outstanding 17/01/2024 Full Good 15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience well planned moves into and out of the home. Children receive personalised information about the home and the staff that will be caring for them, which helps to reduce any anxieties they may have. Staff visit children before they move in and provide opportunities for them to visit the home prior to moving in. One child’s move out of the home was well thought out and managed at a pace that reflected the child’s wishes and needs. This collaborative and child centred approach ensures that transitions are managed effectively and children feel understood, prepared and well supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good and consistent progress from their starting points. Staff support children to develop self-care skills, establish positive daily routines and encourage them to try healthier foods. One child now takes pride in managing their personal hygiene independently, while another child has a varied and healthier diet, which has improved their general wellbeing. Children are proud of their achievements and have grown in confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise education for children. Children who were previously not in education are now attending school or college regularly and are making good academic and personal progress. Staff worked proactively with a school to develop a tailored support plan that addressed the risks which could have prevented the child from being able to attend school. As a result, children understand the importance of education and feel proud of their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are consistently valued and used to inform decision making. Staff are creative and use a variety of methods to gather children’s views. Staff work closely with children to create plans and to consider how staff can support children to achieve these goals. As a result, children feel heard and involved in decision making that impacts on their day to day lived experiences and future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to pursue their interests and to try new things. Staff use child focused risk management strategies to enable children to gradually access activities such as the gym, cadets and Pokémon club independently. One child's passion for army cadets has been encouraged and they enjoy attending this weekly. Children also enjoy a wide range of activities with staff, including theme parks, and visits to historical sites. Consequently, children experience new places, develop their interests and engage in activities they enjoy.

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

The manager and staff have a strong understanding of children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Staff work closely with children when developing risk management plans by gathering children’s views about things they find upsetting and what helps them Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 4 when they are distressed. Therefore, children feel understood and supported when facing challenging emotions.

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

Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure children are safe and supported. The home’s therapist spends time with children on a weekly basis and works with staff to ensure that staff are skilled in supporting children’s emotional needs in a therapeutic manner. Children speak positively of the work they do with the therapist and the positive impact it has on them.

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

Staff support children to understand and manage risks effectively. They work collaboratively with children using a specific risk management tool to enhance their understanding of the risks posed to them and the risks they pose to others. Staff create and complete work to develop children’s ability to complete tasks on their own without the need for staff supervision. For example, one child has been supported to be able to walk to the shop independently. As a result, children are well supported to manage risks and become increasingly independent.

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

Managers respond appropriately when children raise concerns. They take concerns seriously and complete robust investigations. Information is shared with the professional network in a timely manner, and children are kept informed of the progress and outcome of any enquiries. Children and staff receive support throughout the process. This approach helps children to feel confident in sharing concerns knowing they will be explored without judgement.

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

Children receive consequences that are fair, natural and proportionate to their actions. Staff use these opportunities to support children to reflect on their actions. They encourage children to consider how their actions affect others and to develop empathy and personal responsibility.

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

Physical intervention is used appropriately and only as a last resort to keep children and others safe. When incidents occur, they are managed safely, and staff generally use de- escalation techniques to help children to manage their emotions. Children are supported to understand the reasons why they have been held and relationships between children and staff are repaired quickly through mediation. However, on 2 occasions, a member of staff responded to a child in an aggressive manner while using inappropriate language, which does not align with the home’s therapeutic approach.

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

While there is detailed recording of children’s incidents, staff’s use of language in describing children’s behaviour is not consistently child focused or therapeutic.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from exceptionally strong and inspirational leadership. The manager is highly experienced, reflective and determined to secure the best possible outcomes for every child. She has an excellent insight into the needs of each child and is consistently striving to find ways for children to succeed. She has implemented a specialist risk Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 5 management plan that has enabled children to develop independence and be able to reintegrate back into the community gradually.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides highly effective and visible leadership that consistently influences staff practice and achieves positive outcomes for children. Her oversight of the home is excellent, and she uses robust auditing systems and regular meetings with seniors within the team to reflect and ensure all staff are aware of any emerging needs of children that need to be addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is highly reflective and child focused. She seeks out opportunities to improve staff practice to ensure high quality care is provided to children. She reflects on incidents with children, staff, and professionals, to identify areas for improvement and ensures that children’s needs are being met to a high standard. When shortfalls are identified, she is proactive in ensuring these are addressed. For example, when there have been concerns about staff responses to a child, the manager used research and theory around shame, and the impact of this on the child’s interactions to support the member of staff to reflect and address their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak highly of the registered manager and the support she provides. They receive regular, reflective supervision, alongside clinical supervision and regular team meetings. These processes ensure that staff have a variety of opportunities to reflect, enhance their practice, share learning and ensure their own wellbeing. Also, staff report feeling very well supported and equipped to meet children’s needs through the breath of training and therapeutic input from the home’s therapist and clinical team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and family members is extremely positive. They highlight the positive relationships staff have with children, the advocacy offered to children and the desire to see children happy, safe and progressing. Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 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, 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff responses to children are therapeutic in line with the homes ethos and be underpinned by their insight into how a child's individual needs or past trauma is impacting on their presentation. Staff should respond to children with empathy, care and nurture. 27 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff and managers are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, which is child focused and avoids language that is blaming or stigmatising. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4). Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 7

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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: SC477209 8

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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

Menaka De Silva, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC477209 9 inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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