Children's Home run by Supporting Futures Limited in Knowsley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 1 Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home, registered to provide care for up to three children. These children may be experiencing emotional and social issues and/or have a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 17 April 2023.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and have fun in this home. Staff develop positive, trusting relationships with children. Staff spend quality time with them and get to know children as individuals. Children feel valued and understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand each child’s style of learning and communication. Staff use creative communication tools and resources to support children’s daily lives. Children are helped to have a say in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers consider whether this is the best home for a child before they move in. The manager completes a thorough assessment of their needs and vulnerabilities. This ensures that the manager is sure that the staff team can meet the child’s needs. It makes clear that staff have the necessary skills to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use creative approaches to support children in learning about the world around them. Staff use a range of resources, such as storybooks and social modelling. This helps children understand complex social issues, such as racism. As a result, children are developing valuable social skills and awareness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to achieve regular school attendance. Children are making good progress from their starting points. Staff work collaboratively with education staff. They regularly communicate about the needs of each child. Staff supplement children’s academic learning with educational activities at home. Children enjoy learning and are meeting their academic targets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s health needs. Staff understand how to meet children’s health needs to ensure that they live a healthy life. Medications are safely stored and administered. Children are in good health because of the care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of recreational activities. Staff think creatively to find things that each child will enjoy. Children’s experiences are well documented with photos and mementos. Children have fun and learn important social skills.

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

Staff know the needs and vulnerabilities of the children they are caring for. Staff gather information about children’s experiences from a range of sources. This helps to inform a robust risk management plan for each child. Staff also regularly share information within the team about children’s risks. Children receive a personalised approach to keeping them safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 3 Children have not been reported missing from this home. Each child already has a comprehensive missing-from-home protocol and risk assessment. Staff know what to do should a child go missing.

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

Staff understand and are vigilant to online risks. Staff use technology appropriately to allow children freedom online while maintaining oversight. For example, staff use screen mirroring to supervise one child’s virtual reality game. They also have an app that allows staff to see what children are doing online in real time. Consequently, children have a positive and safe experience of using the internet and technology.

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

Staff understand their responsibilities in keeping children safe. Even though the risks for these children are currently low, staff know the indicators of emerging or increasing risks. Staff who are new to residential childcare receive additional support and training about safeguarding. Their shifts are paired with more experienced colleagues. Children are safer because of the care they are receiving.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques to help keep children calm and safe. Staff all approach challenging situations in the same way, providing children with consistency. Leaders and managers regularly consult with external therapeutic professionals. This ensures that staff are using the best strategies to support children. Children know the rules and expectations.

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

Children know how to complain and raise issues. There has been one occasion when a child has made an allegation against a member of staff. This was later retracted. The manager ensured that the allegation was progressed in line with the procedure. Staff provided support to the child and updated all professionals. However, the allegation was not reported to the local authority designated officer. This limits external oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager leading this home. The manager has built a good relationship with the children and understands their needs. She encourages the children to reach their potential and has high aspirations for them. Her leadership is developing a motivated staff team who share the same nurturing, aspirational ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers build good-quality relationships with the people who are important to children. Family members say that they ‘couldn’t ask for more’ from the staff. Social workers report that useful information is regularly shared. This helps inform a personalised care plan. One child’s therapist said: ‘I have been nothing but impressed by the staff at [name of home]. All the staff are friendly and accommodating.’ Children experience consistency of care from everyone in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular training. The manager ensures that staff complete additional training in relation to the specific needs of the children. Consequently, staff have a Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 4 better understanding of the needs of these children and develop the skills to provide good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a consistent team. Changes to the team are minimal and staff members work well together. Staff report feeling supported by each other and by leaders and managers. Regular team meetings are used to share useful skills and ideas. Children experience consistent, good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers emphasise personal development through regular, good- quality supervision. Staff identify helpful targets and training to improve their practice. Staff feel valued and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home each month. The visitor has not consistently gathered feedback from people who are important to children. This limits the effectiveness of their assessment of the quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 5

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that the independent visitor consults regularly with a range of stakeholders as part of their assessment of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered manager should promptly inform the relevant officer or teams within the local authority of all allegations that come to their attention. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 44, paragraph 9.18)

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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: 2719793 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2719793 7 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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