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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 1 SC386810 Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited Full inspection 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

At the time of inspection, no child was living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in September 2025. There is no manager currently in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 2

p.1

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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Following an increase in incidents and concerns about whether the home could continue to meet the child’s needs safely, the child moved out of the home prior to the inspection. Managers, alongside information in specialist assessments, identified that the child required a placement offering higher levels of staffing, education and social opportunities.

p.3

Summary of findings

Physical intervention was rarely used and, where it was required, was used as a last resort to prevent harm. However, weaknesses in recording, evaluation and management oversight limited opportunities for reflection and learning. Leaders and managers did not consistently identify or respond to shortfalls in practice in a timely way. Staff were not provided with effective guidance and were unable to safely care for the child. aim

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. Before leaving, the child was not supported to make progress. One staff member said, ‘I do not think [name of child] made any progress; I actually think they regressed.’ Staff did not prepare the child appropriately for their planned move, despite having a duty to do so. It is unclear what direct work, if any, staff completed with the child to understand their views, wishes and feelings about moving to a new home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff did not actively support the child to make progress in education. The child had limited and inconsistent engagement with an online tutor. Staff did not provide regular or appropriate learning support in the home. Staff also failed to challenge external professionals when the child’s educational needs were not being met. Before moving on from the home, the child spent most days playing computer games, with inappropriate and unsupervised access to online games and purchases. This occurred despite known risks that required a higher level of supervision.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The child’s health needs were not always consistently supported by staff. Although staff kept the child up to date with routine health appointments, they did not provide suitable support or management of the child’s mental health needs. Staff engagement with external mental health professionals was limited, leaving the child without the level of oversight and intervention they required.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff were unable to support or promote meaningful time with peers, leaving the child significantly isolated from other children. The child was subject to a deprivation of liberty order (DoL) that set out specific restrictions on their freedom in times of crisis. However, staff did not fully understand the DoL and were unable to maintain an appropriate balance between adhering to restrictions and promoting safe, healthy peer relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 4

p.3

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

Information contained within specialist assessments, was not consistently reflected in care planning documentation.. Staff were not supported by clear, thorough and accurate risk assessments, and the positive behaviour support plans lacked sufficient detail. As a result, staff could not manage incidents safely or consistently. On several occasions, staff locked themselves in or out of rooms, recording that they felt ‘unsafe to approach the child’. Senior leaders did not address this, leaving unsafe practice unchallenged.

p.4

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

Significant incidents in the home increased and staff were not equipped to manage these safely or in line with the child’s care plan. Although it was agreed that the level of staff supervision would increase, this was inconsistently applied. This did not ensure that risks were minimised. Although managers were aware that the child struggled with some female staff, no identified direct work or exploration was completed with the child to help rebuild relationships.

p.4

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

The use of physical intervention is rare and used appropriately only as a last resort. However, the records of the interventions were sometimes unclear, which limits effective evaluation and oversight. It was also unclear what discussions took place with the child after any physical intervention to understand their views, wishes and understanding of what happened.

p.4

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

Incidents of self-injurious behaviour, including ligature attempts and concerns about the child’s mental and emotional wellbeing were not managed appropriately. On several occasions, staff did not seek medical advice or attention after significant incidents or threats of self-harm. Staff also failed to complete any direct work or supportive discussions with the child to help them understand their feelings or to promote their emotional wellbeing.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager left the home in September 2025. From that point until March 2026, a covering manager was responsible for this home and another home within the organisation, and was in post for the duration of the child’s placement. In addition, the responsible individual has not been in the home since April 2026. A senior leader is reported to be temporarily covering this role. As a result, no manager or senior leader with experience of working in the home was available to lead the inspection. Staff reported variable experiences of management support. Some staff said management presence within the home was inconsistent. Records did not consistently demonstrate management visibility within the service The manager’s hours in the home were not consistently recorded and were not reflected on staff rosters. Managerial oversight of incidents, including those involving physical intervention, was often delayed or

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

incomplete. In addition, delays in notifying external agencies of significant incidents Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 5 further indicated that the manager was not consistently present or providing effective oversight within the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager made a decision that the child needed to leave the home due to the increase in incidents and recognition that staff could not keep the child safe. It remains unclear what reflection or learning has taken place with staff. There is no evidence of meaningful work to identify what went wrong or what lessons have been learned to prevent similar failings in the future.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Records to demonstrate what training staff have attended were not available during the inspection. Staff spoken to could not recall any specific training linked to the child’s identified needs and could not recall completing any training relating to deprivation of liberty. This does not ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge required to care for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers did not ensure that monitoring by the independent person was sufficiently robust, and they did not appropriately address identified shortfalls in the home. As a result, external scrutiny is not consistently effective. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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 the risk of any harm to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b)) 10 July 2026

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— 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 7 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.7

Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

p.7

Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(c)(i))

p.7

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.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 8 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.8

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.8

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.8

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.8

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)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

p.8

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed; 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 9 that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(c)(f))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.9

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.9

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

p.9

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

p.9

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

p.9

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 10 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;

p.9

Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

p.10

Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi)(b))

p.10

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.10

Requirement Due date

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

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.10

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.10

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.10

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.10

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 11 raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

p.10

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.11

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(x))

p.11

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.11

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.11

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 10 July 2026

p.11

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.11

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.11

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and 10 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 12 the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)(b))

p.11

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.12

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 10 July 2026

p.12

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: SC386810 13

p.12

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Crossway Services Limited

p.13

Children’s home details

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

p.13

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kealey Rushworth

p.13

Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC386810 14 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.

p.13

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 . 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.14

Inspector

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

p.14

Inspector

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

p.14