Children's Home run by CF Support Services Limited in Suffolk

Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 1 Registered provider: CF Support Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022 when the home was opened.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first full inspection since the home registered with Ofsted in April 2022. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child is beginning to make good progress and has developed positive relationships with the staff team. Staff provide good-quality and individualised support to the child, which enriches the child’s overall experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have ensured that the child’s education is a high priority. They have supported the child to complete their exams and attend work experience. The child recently took part in their school prom. Staff have maintained a positive routine for the child while further education options are being explored. The child has benefited from a range of training courses that have expanded their skills and knowledge. This is significant progress for the child, who previously experienced gaps in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff organise a wide range of activities that meet the child’s interests and hobbies. Activities are planned with the child and have included swimming, trips to theme parks and climbing walls and a recent trip to the zoo. These opportunities have supported the child’s sense of belonging and positive well-being. The child has compiled a creative photo diary of their experiences, which has provided them with a meaningful keepsake.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence planning for the child is incorporated into their daily activities. Staff understand the importance of developing life skills, and plans are regularly adapted with the child. The child makes progress through a routine of cooking, cleaning and financial budgeting. Consequently, the child has improved confidence and self- determination and is more prepared for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child has access to primary and specialist mental health services. Consequently, the child is receiving the individualised care that they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides cabin-style accommodation in a countryside location. The child’s bedroom is personalised and reflects their personality and preferences. However, external areas need additional maintenance and cleaning. Some furnishings are worn and need replacing. The washing machine is placed in an unsuitable area. These issues detract from what is otherwise a welcoming and nurturing home.

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

Staff help the child to develop personal safety strategies. Frequent and well-planned one-to-one discussions cover important topics, including online safety, healthy relationships, coping strategies and understanding the impact of substance misuse. This improves the child’s knowledge of their personal safety. Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 3 Staff actively follow the child’s clear and responsive risk assessment. Risk-reduction strategies are in line with the home’s model of care and are effective in reducing the level of risk for the child.

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

The home’s location assessment is well developed. The manager has regular meetings with other agencies and updates the location assessment with any new potential concerns. This means that staff are kept updated about the latest concerns and information on crime hotspots in the local area. This information helps staff to keep the child safer.

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

The manager has ensured that recruitment and selection procedures for staff are comprehensive. Good records and verified checks demonstrate this. Staff interview processes adopt value-based principles. This reduces the potential for unsuitable people to work at the home.

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

There are appropriate safeguarding procedures. However, in one case, these were not followed fully when an allegation was made against a staff member. A referral to the local authority designated officer was not made until a prompt was given by an external professional. While this does not appear to have had an impact on the child this time, a delay in external oversight reduces the necessary safeguards for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is working towards a relevant level 5 qualification. The manager and the staff team are child-focused and demonstrate commitment to providing good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff speak highly of the manager and say that they are well supported. Consequently, they are flexible and motivated about their work. This means that the child receives care from a consistent and stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has maintained good relationships with other professionals. These professionals provided positive feedback on the effective communication and personalised care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring supports the manager to make improvements at the home. The independent person’s report provides a good level of scrutiny. The report is discussed at team meetings. As a result, there is a joined-up approach to learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home opened, two children have moved on in an unplanned way in a short space of time. The management team has reflected on this and understands that these were poor experiences for the children. Detailed impact assessments were made. However, in one case, full information was not gathered from the placing authority to inform a measured decision to offer the child care at the home. The Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 4 manager has reviewed placement endings and has identified improvement areas for the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training. However, some important elements are not delivered swiftly for staff to understand and respond to all the children’s needs. The manager accepted a child into the home when essential training had not been completed. Therefore, there were shortfalls in the staff’s knowledge of how to support the child effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In the absence of the manager, there are no clear lines of accountability. This compromises staff’s capacity to make prompt decisions to support the child should they need to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions are child-centred and detailed. However, there were long delays in staff, including the manager, receiving supervision during a critical time in the home’s early development. During this time, there was no opportunity for the staff or manager to reflect on their practice in a challenging period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager did not inform Ofsted of one safeguarding concern. This affects Ofsted’s capacity to have an accurate view of how well children are safeguarded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

, Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 5

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

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when there are allegations made about the staff, these are referred to the local authority designated officer without delay. 28 October 2022

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(f)) 28 October 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 6 In particular:

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Requirement Due date

ensure that all staff attend trauma-informed support training;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that care planning processes and placement decisions are made through obtaining full information from the placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that clear lines of staff accountability are established to support effective day-to-day decision-making.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff supervision is delivered at the frequency outlined in the home’s policy. 28 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 28 October 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a consistently good standard throughout. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children’s home: 2667807 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CF Support Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Three Rivers Business Centre, Unit 11 Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0BF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanne Henderson

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Inspectors

Paula Lewis, Social Care Inspector Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2667807 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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