Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 1 Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2019 and is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 5 children were living at the home. Two children have moved out and 2 children have moved in since the last inspection. The children spoke to the inspector about their experiences living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since March 2026 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 good

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good

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

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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: 2509670 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Outstanding 08/04/2024 Full Outstanding 15/08/2023 Full Good 27/04/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 3

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Summary of findings

Children are supported by a caring and dedicated staff team. Children say they feel safe and able to express their views confidently. Children are supported to develop their independence skills; and take part in activities and holidays they enjoy. Children are making progress.

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Summary of findings

The home has a strong safeguarding culture and incidents at the home are low. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities, and there are clear plans in place to keep children safe. Staff have regular discussions with children to help keep themselves safe.

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Summary of findings

The manager has high expectations for children and the staff team. Staff are provided with good quality supervision and team meetings. These are focused on ensuring that the best outcomes for children are achieved and their own continued professional development. Staff feel supported by their manager and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are caring and committed in their roles. They speak with genuine warmth and affection about the children; wanting the best outcomes for them. Children are provided with stability and security which is helping them to make good progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend education full time. There is a strong focus on planning for independence. The home has a separate annex area at the home so children can cook independently and learn essential life skills. This supports children with their next steps into semi-independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities, hobbies and fun days out, and they also go on holidays. 2 children recently went camping in the Lake District for the first time, and other children have holidays planned during the school break. Children are involved in planning trips they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned. The needs and feelings of children at the home are carefully considered. When endings are unplanned, the welfare and wellbeing of children remain paramount. Staff promote positive endings for children. One child who has progressed to semi-independence has remained in contact with staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to complain. Complaints are treated seriously, and urgent action is taken and responded to clearly. Children understand what has happened as a result. Feedback from children is generally positive about living at the home, and for any issues Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 4 that are raised, there is clear evidence of ongoing work with children to support them. Children are confident to express their views with staff and to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Feedback from family members is positive; one said, “[child] has been given the best support, couldn’t ask for anything better”.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard, having a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Children’s bedrooms are individualised to their personal tastes. Children are supported to keep small pets, which promotes their sense of belonging.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture within the home. Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of their needs and vulnerabilities. Staff follow clear and concise safety plans for children. There is a large staff team, including waking nights to safeguard the children. As a result, safeguarding incidents at the home are low.

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

When children go missing there are clear plans for staff to follow and swift action is taken to locate them. This means that incidents are short in duration. Discussions take place with children afterwards about what happened and their views are clearly recorded.

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

Children are provided with regular, meaningful discussions to support them to develop skills and strategies to promote their wellbeing, help keep themselves safe and manage difficult feelings. Staff provide clear, consistent and appropriate boundaries for children daily. This helps create a sense of safety, stability and predictability while learning positive behaviour and responsibility.

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

Staff ensure that there is effective online safety in place at the home. Children’s electronic devices and phones are regularly checked to safeguard children and reduce risk. Regular discussions take place with children about the risks so that they understand the reasons for safety checks.

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

When concerns have been raised by a child, investigations into allegations are taken seriously and acted upon quickly. Children are kept up to date about any actions and the outcomes of these. There is a strong proactive multi-agency response to information sharing with schools, social workers and safeguarding professionals to keep children safe and support their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a dedicated and caring manager who has recently progressed into the role since the last inspection. The manager has high expectations and aspirations for children and ensures that staff work consistently using a therapeutic approach to meet their needs. Staff say that they feel supported by their manager and one another. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 5 Staff receive regular high-quality supervision and appraisals which are reflective and child focused. There is a focus on continual staff development as newer staff members embed their practice and learning. Practice is consistent with the home’s ethos, objectives and therapeutic approach. This helps children feel safe and supported, while helping staff work consistently and confidently as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff participate in regular team meetings which are well attended and recording is of good quality. They have reflective discussions about the children, their progress and views. Staff discuss research to better understand children’s needs and lived experiences, helping them improve their practice and provide the right support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager identifies strengths and areas for development, implementing clear plans that promote positive experiences for children. There is effective monitoring of children’s progress which promotes the positive impact that living at the home has on their outcomes and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team work positively with external professionals and family members. Feedback provided is positive and one professional said, “The home are absolutely fantastic”. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that Ofsted is notified if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living at the home which the registered person considers to be serious. (Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10).

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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: 2509670 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crystal Care Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1ET

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Inspector

Joy Viles, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509670 8 and 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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