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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 1 SC473375 Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care Services Limited

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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 up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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 outstanding

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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: SC473375 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good 30/11/2021 Full Good 04/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one has moved in. Children moving into the home receive a well-prepared welcome, and all risks are carefully considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a home that is warm and welcoming. The children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes, which encourages a sense of belonging in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop good relationships with children. They interact warmly and naturally with them. They frequently give children positive praise and encouragement. Children can name the staff they turn to for support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families. There are clear plans in place to ensure children can have family time. Staff are proactive in making suitable arrangements in line with each child’s plan, and they strive to make them at easily accessible times for families. Staff support children to spend time with their friends and families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly consulted about their views, and their voice can be heard in written records. They are included in decision-making and feel able to tell staff when they are unhappy. Complaints are rare, but they are acted on, and children are informed of the outcomes. Notably, one complaint led to changes in staff practices, demonstrating that children’s concerns are listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children and ensure that they are doing all they can to promote educational attendance. When this is not successful, they are creative in engaging children in educational activities and looking for alternatives. Education professionals comment that staff have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their attempts to engage one child in education.

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

The manager responds appropriately when allegations are made against staff. There is a robust process in place to ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated. The manager informs the relevant professionals, including the local authority and designated officer. He works collaboratively to provide consistent care. This helps to ensure that there is independent oversight of the management of allegations. This ensures that children are safeguarded.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, staff follow missing-from- home protocols. One recent incident showed that staff took a measured response to keep a child safe. Staff fully considered the child’s mental health needs and used initiative to keep them safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 4 Incidents are not managed in isolation and are considered in the wider context of all aspects of children’s lives. This means that staff are able to explore the reasons behind incidents to tailor practice for the future. When there is no pattern, staff are tenacious in finding a resolution.

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

The manager ensures safe recruitment of staff. He uses a robust vetting process. The manager supports new staff during their probationary period. A thorough induction plan prepares staff to work with the children. Staff continue to benefit from training to ensure they can meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An experienced and knowledgeable manager leads the operation of the home. He is dedicated to improving the service provided to children. The manager has made clear improvements to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has embedded a specific model of care in the home. This has influenced a change in staff practice. The manager has high expectations of staff. He has strived to secure a balance between ensuring children feel like it is their home and ensuring staff provide the best possible care. Staff have embraced this approach. This means that the home has a family atmosphere, which provides children with a sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership work with stakeholders is excellent. The registered manager and staff have highly valued relationships with other professionals, who praise them for their communication skills, their commitment and their ‘above and beyond’ approach to caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A stable and consistent team cares for the children. The staff team is knowledgeable and experienced. Agency staff are rarely used. This means that children can get to know the staff well and build trusting relationships with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for in line with the home’s ethos and statement of purpose. Care planning is secure and includes good multi-agency decision-making and oversight. This ensures that children’s needs are consistently well met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive good-quality supervision, and they are tested on scenarios from the model of practice and training that are appropriate to the children they care for. This practice demonstrates how the manager seeks to ensure the staff are learning and developing and can apply policy and legislation to care for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular supervision that provides opportunities for the manager to ensure that staff know how to care for children in line with their plans. The supervision sessions also provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice in relation to the children they care for and apply recent learning into practice. This is a thorough way for the manager to test out staff learning and development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 5 The manager is leading a skilled, experienced and established staff team. The manager is unafraid of changing practice and supporting staff to understand new ways of working. Due to comprehensive oversight, the manager is aware of areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational, confident and ambitious for children, and they are influential in changing the lives of those in their care. They have high expectations of their staff to change and improve the lives of children and talk proudly of the achievements made by each child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 6

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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: SC473375 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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Inspector

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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