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

Inspection report for 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: 20 September 2022

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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: 2667807 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2667807 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four children have lived at the home. One child moved on to planned semi-independent living. Another child successfully moved to their family home. The home ended another child’s placement as they could no longer meet their needs. This was after great efforts to try to support the child to stay at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s moves to the home and meet them before they move in. They bring a copy of the children’s guide, which has photos of the home and the staff team. It provides information on the day-to-day running of the home and details a range of activities in the local area. It is informative and child-friendly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the value of supporting children to learn new skills. The child at the home enjoys music and the staff have bought some instruments so they can practise. Another child enjoyed building bicycles and the staff created a space outside where the child could work on different bicycles. Encouraging children’s interests helps them to build their sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend education. One child took all their GCSEs last year and the staff helped them to get a place at college. The manager and staff advocate for children and appropriately challenge providers who are not meeting children’s educational needs. This focus on education helps children to achieve better outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children a range of activities, such as paddleboarding, climbing, swimming, and going to the cinema and dry ski slopes. Three children had gym memberships and regularly attended the gym. These opportunities enhance children’s physical and mental well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who has just moved in has already joined army cadets. Staff are thinking about other ways to integrate them into the community and have opportunities to spend time with children their own age. Being part of the local community and having friendships close by helps children to achieve a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff. The child at the home seemed calm, comfortable and happy in the company of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides cabin-style accommodation in a countryside location surrounded by trees. There is a cosy and comfortable feel to the living areas. However, the outside space had lots of weeds and brambles that need to be cleared. Inspection report for children's home: 2667807 4

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

Children at the home receive a high a level of care. Staff are always on hand to offer advice, support and, where necessary, supervision to children. This helps to keep children safe.

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

The manager and staff are proactive in working with the team around each child. Communication is very good, and professionals and parents cite this as a strength of the home.

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

Children at the home have been subject to child exploitation. Staff have had up-to- date training and they understand their roles in keeping children safe. They work alongside other professionals when more expertise is needed.

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

Risks for children have reduced during their stay at the home and this is in part due to the consistent and effective implementation of good, up-to-date plans. Plans include clear strategies on how to keep children safe and targets to work towards. Staff actively follow these plans and can talk about the actions they need to take.

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

Children at the home have been helped to significantly reduce their incidents of going missing from home. A child who moved in recently had had several placement breakdowns and a history of significant and concerning missing-from-care incidents. Since living at the home, they have not been missing. Their social worker said this is the happiest she has seen them for some time.

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

The home has excellent missing-from-care plans and a very strong relationship with the local police. The missing-from-care coordinator commented on the strong relationship she has with the home. The strength of this area of practice in the home is having a positive impact on children.

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

The manager has managed allegations of harm quickly and taken appropriate action. She can approach the local authority designated officer (LADO) for consultation when needed. The LADO has given positive feedback on safeguarding processes at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A permanent, suitably experienced manager manages the home effectively and efficiently. They are currently completing a level 5 diploma.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe the manager as supportive and encouraging. The manager shares external feedback with staff to recognise their work and the positive outcomes achieved for children. This helps to inspire the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide staff with a comprehensive induction and development programme. This helps to give staff the knowledge and skills necessary to support the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2667807 5 Leaders and managers provide staff with regular supervision. This provides staff with the opportunity to explore their development needs and reflect on the children’s experiences. Staff described this as a ‘safe space’ where they can be open and honest about their needs but also receive feedback on their performance. This helps to develop an open and reflective team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that team meetings are frequent and well structured. Meetings include discussion and reflection on the care being provided. They also include exploration of the values that support their practice, such as a focus on equality and fairness These good-quality team meetings help staff provide consistent and well-informed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers act on feedback received. They are focused on making improvements. For example, they identified that the quality of external monitoring was not good enough and took action to address this. Inspection report for children's home: 2667807 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the outside area is suitably maintained to create a more usable and welcoming space, free from weeds and brambles. (‘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: 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: CF Support Services, 11 Three Rivers Business Centre, Felixstowe Road, Foxhall, Ipswich IP10 0BF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Joanne Henderson

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Inspectors

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Clare Hannah, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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