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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2725038 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 home is privately owned and provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in July 2024 and an acting manager is in post who has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2023

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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: 2725038 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2725038 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making progress in all areas from their starting points. The staff team are stable and committed. This has enabled the child to trust and build strong relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is enriched with warmth and laughter. Relationships between staff and the child mirror what would be expected in a nurturing home. The child ’s achievements are celebrated. Consequences have been reviewed and are more appropriate, with a focus on learning and making safe choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to ensure the child’s wishes and views are promoted in line with their age and development. Staff have ensured the child can access advocacy to express their views and have an input into care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the child’s health and well-being. The child attends routine and specific health appointments to promote their overall health. As a result, the child understands their own health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work creatively to promote the child’s learning, and the child is making stable progress. The manager and staff work collaboratively with professionals to ensure that education is kept as a priority. However, staff need to ensure that the child’s views are central in decisions surrounding their post-16 learning pathway.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to develop their independence skills through a range of tasks. As a result, the child can safely develop their confidence and skills with guidance from staff.

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

The child feels happy and safe in the home. The child knows that staff care for them and is able to go to any staff member if they are worried about anything. There have been no complaints raised.

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

Staff know the child well and have built trusting relationships. The child is supported to express their emotions safely, which has led to no physical interventions during the inspection period.

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

The child has a history of going missing from home. Staff follow missing-from-home procedures to a high standard. This enables them to safely return the child to the home. Records contain detailed information and have clear management oversight. Work with the child is comprehensive to increase their understanding of potential risks.

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

On two occasions, the child has used self-injurious behaviour. The records of these incidents are detailed and evidence actions taken to keep the child safe. Staff have a Inspection report for children’s home: 2725038 4 sensitive approach and ensure that the child can access therapeutic support to support their emotional well-being. The child feels secure enough to alert staff and seek support.

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

Staff understand the child’s risks. However, risk management plans are lengthy, with duplicate information. This does not make it clear about what actions should be taken to mitigate risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager has come into post. A detailed handover has ensured stability for the child and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child influences the running of the home. The child’s wishes and feelings are considered as part of the planning and decisions made about the home. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste, which allows the child to feel pride in their environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have a range of experience and are stable and consistent. The staff morale is high. Staff say they feel valued and supported by managers. Staff are clear about their responsibilities and accountabilities. They are child focused and understand how their practice has an impact on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision in line with the statement of purpose. Records of supervision are detailed and provide evidence that reflective discussions take place regarding practice, the child and the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff recruitment process is clear and robust. Staff are provided with a range of training, support and development opportunities. This means they have the skills and knowledge to promote the individual needs of the child. Professional feedback is positive about the care that the child receives and the progress they are making. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] loves it. They have responded so well and are making good progress.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2725038 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work closely with the placing authority and challenge effectively to enable children to access consistent learning and get the support they need to participate in their education or training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.17)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis, ensuring that these are relevant to the individual child. (The Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, page 46, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2725038 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Support - Care Services Ltd

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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

Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2725038 7 regulates and inspects 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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