Children's home run by Continuum Support - Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 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 owned children’s home provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently operating with a registered manager who is suitably experienced.

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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: 2638202 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at the home since March 2023. The child who previously lived at the home had made progress and has left as part of a planned move. The manager ensured that the child was supported through the transition and helped them move positively to their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living at the home said he is happy. The child has developed trusting relationships with the staff. The staff know the child well and are proud of the progress he is making. As a result, the child is developing a sense of belonging and can discuss issues with staff, when in the past he found this difficult. Professionals reported that the child is making positive progress and that the staff are committed and child centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends school part time. In addition, the child has a tutor who completes work with the child in the home. Staff communicate regularly with the child’s school to review his progress and to review the plans in place to promote his educational needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in good health. The staff ensure that all his medical needs have been met. The child is encouraged to eat healthily and try a varied diet. The child is active and he enjoys going on bike rides and using the trampoline in the garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is consulted on all aspects of his day-to-day care. The child has a choice on his activities both in and outside the home, the daily menu, and he has personalised his bedroom. The child has an allocated key worker who completes planned sessions with the child, discussing a range of topics. Due to his age, the child lacks an understanding of his care plan. The manager is working with other professionals so that the child can have access to an appropriate advocate if he wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has planned family time with his mother and siblings. The manager facilitates the contact by working alongside other professionals, so that the contact takes place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from a safe, comfortable living environment. The child has access to age-appropriate toys and games and staff actively play with these with him. This is helping the child develop his social skills. There is a memory book in place, which has photos and positive comments by the staff and child on the activities he has enjoyed.

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

The child feels safe in the home and the community. He can identify a trusted staff member with whom he can share any concerns or worries. There has been one Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 4 complaint, which the manager has dealt with appropriately and ensured the outcome was shared with other professionals.

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

The manager appropriately responds to any allegations. The manager has ensured that concerns raised by the child were investigated and shared with the local designated officer and other professionals. Follow-up actions to promote the child’s safety have been completed.

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

Staff have developed positive relationships with the child. This helps staff to de- escalate the child’s behaviour at an early stage and prevent incidents from occurring. As a result, there have been no missing from home incidents or physical interventions.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and behaviour. There are clear risk assessments and behaviour support plans in place. These are updated when issues have arisen. There has been limited consideration on how to support the child to understand these plans and to enable him to have input.

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

The child’s positive behaviour is promoted by staff. There is an age-appropriate incentive programme in place, which the child understands. The staff celebrate the successes of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is child centred and aspirational for the child. The staff share the manager’s passion to do the best for the child and are committed to support the child to succeed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear oversight of all aspects of the home and ensures that, through its quality review, the home is meeting the needs of the child. The manager is developing the staff team by supporting staff to take on responsibilities of running the home so that there is a clear sense of shared ownership. The staff feel supported and valued in their roles. The staff receive regular supervision sessions to enable them to reflect on their practice. They can raise any issues and receive feedback on areas of improvement or further development opportunities they may need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate training to give them the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the child. Staff receive a full induction, which is a mixture of training and working alongside a more experienced staff member. This helps them to gain the necessary skills and knowledge of their role. All staff complete mandatory training, and the manager has highlighted specific training courses for the staff team that meet the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built up positive relationships with other professionals to ensure that the child’s needs are met. The manager challenges others when information is not available. This ensures that the child receives the support and help they need. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 5 Since the last inspection, there have been staff vacancies which required agency staff to work at the home. The child said that he did not like it when unfamiliar staff worked in the home. Prompt steps were taken by the manager to recruit new staff and the home is now fully staffed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the child is consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, and that the child has a clear understanding of what is in their plans and that they are able contribute to these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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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: 2638202 7

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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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Sarah Cornes-Sinclair

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Inspector

Simon Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638202 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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