Children's Home run by Continuum Support - Care Services Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 1 Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care 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 children’s home is registered to provide care for one child. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from this home. There is currently one child living in this home. The inspector observed warm and familiar relationships between the child and staff. The child told the inspector that she gets on well with the staff and feels ‘really settled’ living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This small family home is comfortable and well presented. The child was proud to show the inspector her bedroom, which she has personalised to her own tastes. Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to the home, including the installation of a new kitchen.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in this home is supported to attend and make progress in their education. Although there are some difficulties, staff work closely with relevant professionals to ensure that the child is able to reach their full potential. One education professional said, ‘Staff support us and are really proactive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to spend time with the people who are important to her. Staff arrange this time with family, to ensure that it is beneficial for the child. Staff communicate well with the child’s family. One family member said, ‘They always keep in touch and let me know what’s going on.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child told the inspector that she is able to take part in activities that she enjoys and has enjoyed a weekend away with staff. When the child expressed an interest in attending a local church group, staff supported them appropriately with this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff promote good health and well-being for the child living in this home. The registered manager is working with the child’s looked after children’s nurse to support the child to understand healthy development in accordance with her age and understanding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have regular opportunities to share their views about the home and the care they receive. Children living in this home know how to make a complaint, although none have been made since the last inspection. Staff supported one child to access an independent advocate to ensure that their voice was heard when they were unhappy about decisions relating to their care.

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

Staff have a thorough understanding of children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk management plans detail the risks posed to children and the strategies that staff should follow in order to minimise these risks and keep children safe. Plans are reviewed and updated following any incidents to ensure that they contain the most-current information. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 4 When safeguarding incidents occur, staff respond quickly to ensure that children are safe. Incidents are well documented, and information is shared with relevant professionals and children’s families as appropriate. Although the registered manager has reported all safeguarding concerns to other partner agencies appropriately, they have not always notified Ofsted of concerns when it has been appropriate to do so.

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

Leaders and managers are not afraid to challenge professionals when they feel that they are not acting in the best interests of children. They ensure that all professionals are fully appraised of any situations that may affect children’s safety and well-being.

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

Staff support children to manage their feelings safely. Behaviour management strategies in place are effective and well understood. Staff have used physical intervention on occasion when it has been necessary, to keep everyone safe. Discussions are undertaken with children after physical restraints to explore their feelings and to help them to understand the impact of their behaviour. However, records do not always include all the detail required by regulation in relation to physical restraints.

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

Individual plans are in place with actions for staff to follow if children go missing. When children have gone missing from the home, staff review children’s plans and revise the strategies in place. Staff spoken to during the inspection were clear about the action they would take should a child go missing from this home.

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

Staff use key-work sessions to help children to understand the impact of their behaviour and learn about how to keep themselves safe. Individualised incentives and rewards are used to promote positive behaviour.

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

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

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been changes to the leadership and management of this home. The previous registered manager has taken on the role of responsible individual, and the previous deputy manager is now the home’s registered manager. She is working towards achieving the relevant qualification to underpin her knowledge of the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is approachable and child centred. Staff spoken to during the inspection were positive about her leadership and the impact she is having on the home. During the inspection, staff told the inspector that they felt supported in their roles. Staff receive regular supervision and are encouraged to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and demonstrate good communication between the registered manager and staff team. These meetings provide the opportunity to Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 5 discuss the current risks and behaviours of children, so that staff can work together consistently to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff, including the manager, have completed training relevant to the specific needs of the child living in this home. This means that staff have the skills to safely care for this child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has submitted a review of the quality-of-care report within the correct timescale. However, the report is not clear in how the registered manager has considered the views of key stakeholders as part of their review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring by an independent person has supported the registered manager in identifying areas for improvement. A new visitor has recently been appointed to the home to ensure that this external scrutiny remains robust. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 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

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—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 26 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 7 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c) (iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all records of restraint clearly record the position of staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 26 January 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The registered person should ensure that they clearly record how they have considered the views of key stakeholders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that damp on the bathroom ceiling is addressed. (‘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 for children’s home: 2593623 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2593623 9 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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