Children's Home run by Supporting Futures Limited in Liverpool

Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 1 Registered provider: Supporting Futures 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 is a privately owned home that provides care for up to two children who may be experiencing social and/or emotional issues and/or children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in July 2023 and the manager registered on 6 September 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 13 December 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/12/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home that is extremely welcoming, friendly and safe. Children benefit from a consistent and nurturing approach to care from staff, an ethos which permeates throughout the staff team. Children’s achievements are celebrated through photos and life-story work. One parent said that they wouldn’t want their child to live anywhere else.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s education is a key focus for staff. One child had not been attending school prior to moving into their home. Both children are now attending full time. Both children are making significant progress in education from their starting points. Staff identify and support children’s individual education needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s existing and emerging health needs are fully met. This is significant progress from their starting point, when their health needs were not being met. Children now attend all routine health appointments and reviews. As a result, both children have better-informed healthcare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child moved into the home with incorrect information relating to their heritage provided by the social worker. The manager showed exceptional professional curiosity and managed to trace the child’s true heritage. This has meant the child is able to experience their culture through celebrations and their community. The child has been supported to explore wider family contact and has been able to meet additional members of their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise the time children spend with their family members or those close to them. Significant efforts are made to facilitate family interactions for both children. In one case, staff have made it possible for a child to spend time with all their siblings and mother, marking notable progress. This has helped the child maintain meaningful connections with their family. Another child is able to spend time regularly with close friends and former support workers, who frequently visit them at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child’s specific communication need requires a significant level of support as they do not choose to communicate verbally with most people. The staff have completed relevant training and have built significant relationships with the child so the child is able to share their wishes and feelings. This has helped the child to develop their confidence and raise their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s moves in and out of the home are extremely well considered and managed. When new children move into the home, their needs are appropriately considered against those of the children already living in the home and the skills of the staff team. As a result, children’s needs are well met and the home is able to provide long-term placements for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 4

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

Children are supported to understand their own behaviours in a reflective and safe way. Staff know the needs of the children extremely well and there is a seamless link from risk assessments to support plans. If children’s needs change, support plans are reviewed and updated in collaboration with the placing authority.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are reviewed regularly and children’s progress is tracked each month. The plans themselves are clear and concise and written to the child. Children are supported to take some manageable risks, such as cycling to the local shops independently. This helps children to understand and manage risk effectively.

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

Children receive strong positive behaviour support from the staff who care for them, most evident in the love and attention given to each child. Staff regularly offer praise for their achievements or simply for being themselves, using dedicated ‘praise books’. This approach helps children build self-awareness and self-esteem, which in turn fosters positive behaviour development.

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

Physical interventions have not been used since the last inspection, primarily due to the home’s caring approach. Staff are encouraged to use all available distraction or de- escalation techniques to prevent the need for physical intervention.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Children have clear and concise missing- from-home protocols and plans. Staff understand the actions they should take if children go missing from the home and confidently explained how they would respond. This demonstrates that children would be supported consistently and safely should they go missing from home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational and lead by example. Team morale is excellent and staff say that they feel a sense of shared ownership of the care provided, which helps to drive improvement. Leaders and managers are held in exceptionally high regard by staff, children, family members and external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team benefits from leadership that puts the care and love of children above everything else. Staff say that they are consistently encouraged to foster a nurturing environment where children are free to be who they want to be. One staff member said that coming to work each day never feels like work and the home is more of a home than their own home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to a wide range of training which ensures that they care for children safely and consistently. Staff training is specific to the needs of children living at the home. For example, staff received specific training from a specialist paediatric team to Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 5 help them to meet the communication needs of one child. The training completed by staff ensures that they are able to provide the most appropriate care and support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are robust monitoring and review systems in place. The registered manager reviews all records on a regular basis. There are systems in place to ensure that all placing local authority care plans and other important records are clearly accessible. When placing authority records are not provided, leaders and managers escalate this. The registered manager reviews and records the progress made by children each month.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Understanding the needs, wishes and feelings of children is a priority for the manager and staff. Feedback from children is obtained in a variety of ways, such as through regular children’s meetings, day-to-day feedback and direct work. One child is able to share their views through communication postcards when they do not wish to communicate verbally. However, children’s feedback is not always sought during the independent person visits or contained within the quality of care review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager carries out a six-monthly quality of care review. However, the review does not take sufficient account of the children’s and wider stakeholders’ views. The report also lacks evaluation and targets for future development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the quality of care review is evaluative and contains feedback from wider stakeholders. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraphs 15.2 and 15.4)  The registered manager should ensure that the independent visitor consults regularly with children, using their preferred method of communication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2729566 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Supporting Futures 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

James Meeks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2729566 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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Inspector

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