Children's home run by Supporting Futures Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 1 Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited

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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 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector spoke to one child about their experience of 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: 21 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: 2687920 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/01/2025 Full Good 07/03/2024 Full Good 18/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points while living at the home. The manager and staff team have high aspirations for children and when necessary, advocate for them to ensure that they receive the care that they deserve. Staff talk about children with warmth and affection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff show care and consideration towards children, and this forms the basis of trusting relationships between them. Strong, positive relationships enable staff to help children with any concerns that they may have and help them to understand the structured routines and boundaries to keep them safe. Children have better life opportunities as a result of living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When appropriate, the manager works hard to improve contact between children and their families. This has been particularly important for one child. This work has not only reduced the child’s risk-taking behaviours, but has also enabled them to re-engage with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children understand the expectation of them to attend education. Staff ensure that children have education placements that meet their needs and help them to flourish in education. One child has experienced a delay in having an up-to-date education, health and care plan. Records do not reflect satisfactory challenge by the manager to raise their concerns about the delay and the potential impact on the child’s education and future with relevant professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are enabled to move into and out of the home in a structured, planned and successful way. Staff take time to learn about children and risks to their safety and to gather any other information that is available. Before children move in, staff find out about their interests and any fears they may have. One professional said, ‘The home is excellent in meeting my child’s needs compared to other homes. They listen to his wishes and feelings and spend time getting to know him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children leave the home, staff are committed to their care and do their best to ensure that children have a positive and successful move to their new home. One professional said, ‘Following disruption meetings for my child, it was extremely positive to see how the move for him was managed to his new home. The staff showed that they would still be there for him and despite a number of negative incidents, the support that staff gave to him allowed for a smooth transition from the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transition plans are clear and provide detailed expectations for staff about the planning around the move. Before a child leaves the home, staff use their positive relationships to speak openly to the child and listen to their concerns and anxieties. Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 4 Staff support the health needs of children, both physically and emotionally. They promote the importance of regular health appointments, as well as seeking urgent health advice when necessary to ensure that children are fit and healthy.

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

Children are encouraged to understand the reasons for their behaviours. Natural consequences are used when children display negative behaviours. Staff explain to children the reasons for consequences, to ensure that they learn from them. Subsequently, children take responsibility for their actions and, as a result, incidents have significantly reduced.

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

Risks for children are, on the whole, low. However, risk management plans do not always clearly outline identified risks for children and do not always clearly outline the strategies that staff need to follow to minimise risks and safeguard children.

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

Recruitment processes at the home are good, which ensures that only safe and suitable adults care for children.

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

The home is well maintained. There was one area that required attention on the day of the inspection. The manager had already reported this, and the work was completed before the end of the inspection. The manager has created a homely, calm environment for children, who are happy and settled living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced manager. She is supported by the responsible individual. They both have an ambitious vision for children. They are committed and care about the welfare of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is clearly inspirational in her approach to the care of children and she has high aspirations for children. She models high standards of care practice and expectations of good-quality care. She ensures that children’s plans reflect these high standards.

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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 yet sufficiently robust. For example, records do not 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 staff team who work well together to promote positive outcomes for children. One member of staff said, ‘As a team, we 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 feel supported and that their supervision provides them with an opportunity to reflect in a safe space. The manager leads by example, using supervision and team meetings to share her thoughts and concerns for children as well as ensuring that high standards are maintained at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 5 External professionals spoke highly of the staff team. They said that staff have a welcoming and reflective approach to the care of children. Professionals spoke about staff’s detailed approach, their willingness to listen and learn, and their excellent communication. One said, ‘Their approach is exceptional.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight has improved since the last inspection. However, records do not yet always reflect that the manager reviews and evaluates all incidents at the home, ensuring that any learning is identified to inform future practice. The manager uses her evaluation to direct staff and inform tasks such as direct work and updating plans. Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(vi)) 30 April 2026

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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

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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) (2)(h) 30 April 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 30 April 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 7 assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments clearly outline all risks, and strategies to reduce risks to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 8

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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: 2687920 9

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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

Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2687920 10 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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