Children's Home run by Continuum Care Support – Care Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 1 Registered provider: Continuum Support – Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2021 Full Good 16/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from this home. There is currently one child living in this home. The inspector observed warm relationships between the child and staff. The child told the inspector that he likes living in this home, and that staff listen to him and ask for his opinion on the way the home is run.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities with staff. Staff promote children’s individual interests and are keen to introduce children to new activities and experiences. Children living in this home were able to choose their own ‘summer holiday’; one child chose a trip abroad with a member of staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to choose the décor and items for their bedroom. Since the last inspection, changes have been made to the home environment so that children can better utilise the space available. There has recently been some damage to the property. While repairs have been undertaken, some maintenance tasks are outstanding and the home is tired and in need of redecoration. The registered manager has plans in place to address this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children have struggled in school or college, the staff work with teachers and professionals to address any problems. One education professional spoke positively about their communication with the home and said, ‘They [staff] are always supportive of [child’s] education.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional and physical health is well considered. Staff liaise with health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are met. Staff have worked with specialist professionals to ensure that prescribed medication is reviewed when needed and remains appropriate for the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with the people who are important to them. Where children’s family are a considerable distance from the home, staff support contact arrangements flexibly.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home has regular opportunities to share their views about the home and the care they receive. They are aware of the complaints procedure and have used this when they are unhappy about issues in the home. The manager has taken appropriate action to respond to the child’s views and complaints.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all transitions for children moving into and on from this home have been well planned. For one child, there were no records available to provide evidence of how staff had supported their move from this home. The registered manager recognised Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 4 this shortfall, and the child who has recently moved out of this home has done so in a planned and considered way.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the child and take appropriate action to address them. The child has individualised risk management plans with identified strategies to manage and minimise risks. Risk management plans have been reviewed and updated with recent information.

p.4

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

When serious incidents have occurred, the registered manager and staff have responded appropriately in order to keep children safe. Records are detailed and have been shared with relevant professionals, including the local authority designated officer, of matters of concern in the home.

p.4

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

Staff talk to children to help them to understand their behaviour. This includes supporting children to resolve any conflicts with one another appropriately. There is an effective rewards system in place to promote positive behaviour. This is adapted in consultation with children, taking into account any specific goals they want to achieve. The child living in this home told the inspector this ‘works for him’.

p.4

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

Staff have used physical intervention on occasion when it is necessary to keep everyone safe. Debriefs are undertaken with children in order to explore their feelings and to help them to understand the impact of their behaviour. Records are detailed, with appropriate scrutiny from leaders and managers.

p.4

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

When searches of the child’s bedroom are undertaken, the rationale for these decisions is clear and appropriate. Records show when a child has given permission for a search. Records also show when the child was aware of any search that had taken place for which they had not given consent, and of any action taken by staff as a result of any search.

p.4

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

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from this home. Staff spoken to during the inspection were clear about the action they would take should the child go missing from care.

p.4

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

Safe recruitment procedures are in place for new staff, including agency staff. This means that children are protected from unsuitable adults being employed to work in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection there have been changes to the management and staff team working in this home. This has been managed well, to ensure that any impact on children is minimised.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. She is supported by a capable Deputy Manager who shares the same aspirations for Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 5 children. The current staff team is stable, which supports the child to build positive relationships with individual staff members.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from staff describes a supportive environment. Staff receive regular supervision and were positive about the support and guidance they receive from the management team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended by the staff team. The registered manager has used these meetings to share her vision for the home. Meetings encourage staff to reflect on their practice and the work undertaken with children living in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have undertaken a range of training. They spoke positively of both the face-to- face training and online training that are available to support them in their role. However, staff have not received training that is specific to all of the individual needs of the child living in this home. This does not ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to meet the individual needs of the child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works well with external professionals. She will challenge and escalate any concerns appropriately. External professionals spoke positively about the home and say that there is good communication about the child’s progress and any incidents that have occurred.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home receives monthly visits from an independent person. This supports the manager to understand the strengths and areas for development in the home. The manager’s review of the quality-of-care report identifies a number of actions to be taken in order to improve the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff have training specific to the individual needs of the child. 5 January 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there are effective arrangements in place for all children moving into and out of the home. 5 January 2022

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a homely, nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. In particular, that plasterwork is painted and the edging to the kitchen worktop is replaced. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 7

p.6

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: 2509802 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Support – Care Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sinclair, 300 St Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

p.8

Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509802 9 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9