Children's home run by Supporting Futures Limited in Sefton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480161 1 SC381667 Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may be experiencing social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in September 2008, and the manager registered in July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children have left the home and two children have moved into the home since the last inspection. All children were seen and two were spoken to during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates : 25 and 26 September 2025

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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: 15 January 2025

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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: SC381667 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2025 Full Good 17/01/2024 Full Good 26/10/2022 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have left the home since the last inspection, and two children have moved into the home. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When possible, the manager promotes planned moves to and from the home. Staff work hard with children to help them prepare for adulthood or major changes in their lives. One child who has left the home said, ‘Staff helped me to prepare for independence, and they supported me with getting ready for my move. I didn’t want to leave the home, but it’s part of growing up.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to make sure that children enjoy positive time with their families. Staff also strive to help children and their families develop positive relationships, reflecting staff’s understanding of the importance of effective family support in children’s futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children have developed strong relationships. These relationships enable staff to have open, honest conversations with children, helping children to manage their behaviours and share their feelings and emotions, openly and safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the physical and mental health needs of children. Staff help children to understand the reason for health appointments as well as the benefits of medical treatment on their general health. There are suitable storage arrangements for medication at the home as well as procedures for the safe administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are all doing well in education. Attendance for all children is excellent. One child has progressed to travelling independently home from school and is exceeding in her educational targets. Although other children can at times struggle in school, staff are working with their educational colleagues to find ways to manage children’s behaviour. They share their behaviour strategies and knowledge with education colleagues to improve the child’s experience of school and improve their educational achievements.

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

Safeguarding practice at the home is good and staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. There has, however, been one occasion when safeguarding practice was not sufficient to safeguard children. Although staff reflected on their practice after the incident and could identify how their practice could have improved, records do not reflect sufficient investigation, challenge or consider any changes needed in response to staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 4 Risks for children are overall low. When risks are identified, risk management plans clearly outline the risks and strategies that staff need to follow to minimise risks and safeguard children. Some records could, however, better record the actions taken by staff in response to safeguarding concerns such as phone checks.

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

Staff rarely use consequences following negative behaviour by children, preferring to use rewards to celebrate positive behaviours. Staff enjoy celebrating children’s positive behaviours and achievements.

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

Recruitment processes at the home are mostly followed. However, on one occasion insufficient action has been taken to consider the suitability of one individual. Action was taken when this oversight was identified.

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

The premises are well maintained. However, there are some minor areas of wear and tear that need attention. The manager has already reported these and has a planned date for completion. The manager has created a homely, calm environment for the children, who are happy and settled living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and qualified manager in post at the home. She is reflective in her practice and uses her experience and childcare knowledge to develop her staff team and improve practice at the home. The manager has high aspirations for children and will challenge professionals when children do not receive the help and services that they deserve and need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the manager has a range of quality assurance systems in place, they are not sufficiently robust. Records do not, therefore, always identify shortfalls or the action taken in response to concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a consistent team of staff who work well together as a team to promote positive outcomes for children. Members of staff said, ‘Staff create an environment where both colleagues and children feel safe, supported and valued as part of a community.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they receive a range of good-quality training that helps them to fulfil their role. Staff also receive regular supervision, which staff say provides them with an opportunity to discuss any concerns that they may have and also provides them with an opportunity to receive feedback on their performance, support and guidance from the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards.’ The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1) (2)(b)) 31 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2) (1)(h)) 31 December 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61 paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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) Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 6 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 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 Mary’s Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

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Inspector

Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC381667 8 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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