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 registered manager left in December 2023. There is a new manager in post who has applied to register.

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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: 2667807 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2023 Full Good 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

At the time of inspection, there was one child living at the home. Another child moved on, despite great efforts from the staff, they could not meet the child’s needs. The staff received positive feedback from the police exploitation team for the support offered to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is in a quiet countryside setting and has a calming atmosphere. Staff have created a relaxed family home that encourages the children to feel secure and comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are warm and friendly. They know children well and build positive relationships with them. They have a playful approach combined with consistent boundaries. The staff have a nice manner and adopt a gentle approach. This helps children to feel safe and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand subtle cues that children give such as, playing a particular song to express their feelings. Being in tune with children in this way helps them to feel understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational plans are tailored to the needs of the individual children. Children have a range of educational opportunities that they enjoy. The pace and level of education is carefully considered to ensure children achieve in line with their abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop skills that will help them in the future. Staff encourage healthy sleep and hygiene routines. Children are encouraged to work towards specific targets with an incentive plan. Helping children to develop healthy routines supports them to develop essential life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are particularly good at helping children learn about cooking different foods. Children enjoy a range of foods from around the world and enjoy taking part in the planning and preparation of meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered activities in line with their interests. One child likes to watch Japanese animation, another child enjoys doing hair and nails. Staff support and encourage these interests helping children to build their skills and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and provides a cosy space for children. Children have an input in decorating their bedrooms, and children’s artwork is displayed. However, the outside areas are not all in a state of good repair. Inspection report for children’s home: 2667807 4

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

Staff use detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans to work with children. These are individualised to ensure children’s specific risks or vulnerabilities are understood by the staff team. Detailed records reflect the child’s everyday life and are professionally written.

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

When children have gone missing from the home, staff follow procedures and act urgently. The staff conduct searches and make other enquiries. Staff work with other agencies including the police to help children to return safely. Records of missing-from home-episodes are detailed and accurate. Effective actions are taken to mitigate future risks of children going missing from the home.

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

When staff provide physical interventions, these are necessary and proportionate to protect children or those around them. Good records are made in a timely manner, including debriefs with the staff and children.

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

There is evidence of good collaboration between staff and managers with other professionals, including social workers, local authorities, police, and education.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour. They use individualised incentives to reward children for their achievements. The staff actively encourage children to work towards identified targets. One child has a reward chart for improving their school attendance and personal care.

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

A comprehensive assessment of the home and the local area identifies and mitigates against risks. Staff understand risks associated with the internet and electronic devices. They use strategies which keep children safe.

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

The manager makes child-centred decisions about which children come to live at the home. This helps maintain safe group dynamics. Staff and managers welcome to new children to the home.

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

Generally children regularly share their views. The staff encourage children to use an advocate. However, one child asked for their belongings to be collected from their previous home, and these have not been collected for several months.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The last manager left the home in December 2023. The responsible individual has appointed a new manager. The new manager has applied to Ofsted to register. The new manager is committed to improving the overall effectiveness of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The culture of the home is characterised by high expectations and aspirations for children. These are demonstrated in staff practice. The statement of purpose identifies a therapeutic approach to care, and the manager is taking steps to embed this in staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2667807 5 The home is well staffed and there are sufficient resources to meet the needs of the children. The manager has instilled a positive team identity for the staff. The manager uses learning from practice and feedback to improve the children’s experiences. This feeds into future planning for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the manager and the support and energy he has bought to the role. Staff have regular supervision sessions, which are effective and recorded appropriately. This provides the staff with support for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from other professionals is positive. One social worker said that the home had supported the child to make good progress. The local authority designated officer gave good feedback on how they work with the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager oversees the careful recruitment of staff. This includes necessary background checks and taking up references. Staff have good inductions which are overseen by the manager. Staff training is comprehensive and well mapped out. The manager has identified plans with staff to build on their further development and progression. Inspection report for children’s home: 2667807 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the outside area is suitably maintained. In particular, ensure that the garden decking is repaired. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are able to see the results of their views being acted on. In particular, ensure that children have all of the belongings that are important to them. (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: 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 Daniel Rankin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2667807 8 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

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

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