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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 1 Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care Services Limited

p.1

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 January 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved on from the home. There is currently one child living in the home. The staff team has developed positive relationships with the child.

p.2

The care of children

The child told the inspector that they can take part in activities they enjoy. The child feels listened to. They are given opportunities to share their views on their care and on the daily routines in the home.

p.2

The care of children

The child is currently being home-tutored. The registered manager is working appropriately with the child’s placing authority and the virtual school to progress their education arrangements. Staff also encourage the child to engage in additional activities. This ensures that the child’s interest in learning is promoted and sustained.

p.2

The care of children

Staff understand the child’s emotional and physical health needs. Health plans are detailed. The child is appropriately encouraged and supported to attend routine medical appointments.

p.2

The care of children

The child has been able to personalise their bedroom. The downstairs living area is well furnished and presented. However, the internal door has a lock, which detracts from the homely environment. Not all areas of the home are furnished and decorated to the same standard and there are some outstanding maintenance tasks that need completing.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and associated risks. Individual risk- management plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Plans are detailed and identify risks and strategies for staff to follow to keep the child safe.

p.2

The safety of children

Incidents are well managed. Records are detailed and there is clear oversight from the manager. Direct work is undertaken with children to help them to understand the impact of their behaviour, and reflective debriefs take place with staff. The manager responds appropriately to emerging concerns, increasing staffing ratios as required.

p.2

The safety of children

Where possible, children move into and out of this home in a planned way. However, admission processes have not always been effective, and one child’s placement Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 3 ended in an unplanned way. Matching assessments lack analysis and evaluation of children’s needs.

p.2

The safety of children

When children go missing from this home, staff take appropriate action to find them and encourage their return. However, recording shortfalls were identified during the inspection.

p.3

The safety of children

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident where staff have needed to hold a child to keep them safe. The recording of this incident is clear, with appropriate oversight from leaders and managers.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has begun to address shortfalls in practice identified at the last inspection. The child’s social worker was positive about the care the child receives and the communication from the manager.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are complimentary about the leadership and support from the manager. Staff receive regular formal and informal supervision. Team meetings are used to further develop practice in the home and provide opportunities for staff to reflect and learn.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

An up-to-date copy of the home’s statement of purpose has been sent to Ofsted as required by regulation. This enables the regulator to have up-to-date information about the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has not always recorded the actual hours worked by staff on the duty rota. This means that records kept cannot be relied on if there are any safeguarding concerns.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Five requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. One requirement has not been met and has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good 27/02/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. The registered person must— maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that all hours that all staff have worked are clearly recorded on rosters. This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 14 March 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. Regulation 21 (1)(b)(c)(ii)(iii)) In particular, the registered person must ensure that children have access to all communal areas of their home. 14 March 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) This is specifically in relation to records of missing incidents. 14 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a homely, nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of its children. In particular, the dining area should be furnished and decorated to the same standard as other areas of the home and maintenance in the child’s bedroom repaired swiftly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they work closely with the placing authority to understand the child’s relationship history and the impact the child’s arrival may have on the group living in the home. In particular, pre-admission assessments should be more comprehensive regarding consultation with key stakeholders and the manager’s evaluation of the information held. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care Services LTD

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Genevieve O’Reilly, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2509800 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.

p.7

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 .

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8