Children's Home run by CF Support Services Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: 2792664 1 Registered provider: CF Support Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home opened in July 2024 and is privately run. It offers care for one child aged between eight and 16 who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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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: not previously inspected

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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: 2792664 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home moved in during August 2024. They were present during the inspection and spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff know the child very well. They have quickly built up a trusting relationship with the child. Staff offer stability and a predictable caregiving environment. Staff have supported the child to make some progress in developing their social skills and coping strategies for their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child does not yet have access to formal education. Staff attend education meetings and have a suitable plan in place to meet the child’s needs beginning this school term. In the meantime, staff think holistically about the child’s educational needs and are creative in planning worthwhile activities that spark the child’s interests and broaden their knowledge. This includes looking at crime case studies and online information about county lines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff are ambitious for the child’s future. They make use of online resources and community groups to develop the child’s interests. The child attends police cadets and aspires to be a police officer. Conversations with staff help the child to develop self-confidence and belief.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of the child’s family relationships. Staff carefully and regularly review plans to ensure that the child can safely see the people who are most important to them. When the child experiences difficulties in their relationships, staff spend time with the child talking about the child’s feelings. This helps the child to make sense of complicated relationships and build social skills for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been significant damage to the home environment following some incidents. The managers and staff have quickly arranged repairs to ensure that the environment is brightly decorated, safe and homely. The child likes their bedroom. They have been able to personalise it with coloured lighting and items of personal interest.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have advocated for the child to receive specialist mental health support. This has led to an increase in the support provided from mental health professionals and dieticians. The child’s physical health needs are thoroughly considered and met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been admitted to hospital for over a week for treatment. During this time, staff made regular calls to them and visited in person. This helps the child to feel cared about and ensures that staff can provide reassurance and maintain their relationships. The child was welcomed home warmly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2792664 3

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

Staff are attuned to the child’s emotional needs and triggers. When the child has been distressed and left the home, staff have followed them and taken steps to keep them safe. Managers consult with staff and the child about the most effective ways to provide support, which informs the child’s plans.

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

Staff provide effective support to reduce the impact of the child’s self-harming behaviours. Clear guidance in this area helps staff to provide reassurance to the child and take practical action to prevent serious harm. The child said that they know the staff care about them.

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

Staff are quick to identify and address new risks because of their close relationships with the child. This includes worries about their eating habits and their online safety. Staff receive training that is responsive and increases their knowledge in areas such as disordered eating, online safety and ligature. Managers and staff put in place proportionate monitoring that balances the child’s developmental stage with ensuring their safety.

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

The regular use of positive rewards helps to motivate the child and acknowledges their successes. The child works towards their individually agreed goals and has been to a cat cafe and several coffee houses as part of an incentive plan.

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

A psychotherapist provides support to managers and staff. They meet once a month to review the child’s and staff team’s progress. This helps them to understand the child’s behaviours through a trauma-informed approach.

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

The child regularly contributes to plans about their care. This helps them to experience control over their life and the support that they receive. However, the child’s care plan is not always accurate and up to date. This relates to the child’s transport and mental health support arrangements. This does not help staff to be clear about expectations of day-to-day care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified for the role. She holds high aspirations for the child and for the staff team. She is supported by two deputy managers who have excellent relationships with the child. Staff say that they find the manager very approachable and are confident in her leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work with the relevant agencies to consider how best to meet the child’s changing needs. When other agencies are slow to respond, the manager assertively escalates this until a suitable plan is in place. When safeguarding concerns are known, managers provide important information to the relevant agencies without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers review records made about the child regularly and have developed a thorough system to ensure oversight. Managers and staff receive regular supervision of their Inspection report for children’s home: 2792664 4 practice. Staff meetings are regular. Managers use these opportunities to discuss areas in which practice can be improved. This helps to provide consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff take part in monthly group supervision with an external psychotherapist. They say that this helps them to understand and process the emotional impact of the work that they do. These meetings help staff to understand the child’s behaviour, reflect on incidents and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals in the police and local authority said that managers and staff are good advocates for the child. Feedback from the police and social work teams demonstrates that the home keeps professionals up to date about the child’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This is a new staff team. An effective on-call system provides necessary and sensitive support to staff while they are in the early stages of their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2792664 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff and managers understand the importance of clear and careful recording in children’s plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2792664 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CF Support Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Three Rivers Business Centre, Felixstowe Road, Foxhall, Ipswich IP10 0BF

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Inspector

Natalie Day, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2792664 7 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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