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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2593261 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

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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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: 17 December 2024

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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: 2593261 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Good 17/10/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2593261 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child moved out of the home into supported accommodation. Leaders and managers worked with the child and their social worker to ensure that the move was well planned. Staff maintained contact with the child after they left.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home said they are happy there and can talk to staff about any issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop independence skills and are encouraged to take age- appropriate risks. Leaders and managers develop independent living skills plans that outline individualised support for children. Children who have access to the internet receive support to stay safe online.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of positive activities, such as off-road motorcycle racing, cadets, fishing and playing pool. Children spend time with staff making memories, for example, through going on summer holidays and creating a vegetable garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s barriers to education and advocate for their needs in meetings. Children are encouraged to engage in education, training, and employment. As a result, one child successfully achieved qualifications before leaving the home and received support to access work experience. They have now secured full-time paid employment and received positive feedback from their employer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s relationships with their families and friends and positive links with their relatives. This helps children make and sustain enduring relationships with people who are important to them. When needed, children’s time with family is supervised sensitively.

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

The child currently living at the home said they feel safe. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and what to do in a range of different safeguarding scenarios. As a result, staff can help children stay safe.

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

Serious incidents are rare. There have been no incidents of children going missing from home. Children are open about who their friends are and how they spend their time in the local community. When children go out, staff maintain regular contact with them to check they are safe and well. These approaches contribute to children’s safety.

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

Staff receive training focused on emerging risks in the local community, such as knife crime and criminal exploitation. However, they have had limited conversations about Inspection report for children’s home: 2593261 4 these risks with children. As a result, there have been missed opportunities to develop children’s awareness of risk and how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff maintain appropriate boundaries and have clear expectations for behaviour. This supports children’s wellbeing and emotional development. Restraint is only used when there is a risk to a child’s safety and it is a proportionate response. Leaders and managers ensure that trusting relationships are maintained with the children following restraints.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is skilled and experienced. They have excellent oversight and know the home’s strengths and areas for development. The manager carries out thorough audits and uses them to drive improvement plans. An independent person visits the home each month, and the manager promptly responds to their recommendations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager challenges external agencies effectively when children are not receiving the services they are entitled to. The manager is a strong advocate for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A stable staff team provides support to children. Staff new to the home benefit from a clear induction plan. Regular performance reviews help staff consider their learning needs and develop their practice. Staff benefit from monthly reflective supervision, which is an opportunity to discuss children’s care and progress. Staff say they feel valued by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well as a team; they have contrasting skills and offer respectful challenge to each other. Staff meetings offer an arena to celebrate successes and share good practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593261 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are aware of risks in the community so that they can manage their safety outside of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: 2593261 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Support – Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sinclair Accounting Co Ltd, 300 St Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ

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Inspector

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2593261 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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