Social care · Children's home inspection (SCCIF)
Children's Home run by Supporting Futures Limited in Liverpool
Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Group verified
Supporting Futures Limited
- Inspection date verified
24 Feb 2026
- Inspectors verified
Julia Toller
- Helped and protected verified
Outstanding
- Leadership and management verified
Outstanding
- Overall effectivenesssingle source
Outstanding
- Name on report verified
2729566
- URN verified
2729566
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2024.
- OverallOutstanding
- Helped and protectedOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
12% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Outstanding (12,716 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Outstanding.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. p.1
- Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points. p.3
- As a result, the quality of care is excellent and has led to significant changes for children. p.3
- Children continue to make excellent progress. p.3
- They speak about them with pride, love and affection and are ambitious about their futures. p.3
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. p.6
- The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is proportionate. p.6
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Progress & outcomes6
“Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points.” p.3Parents & families4
“Staff build positive and effective relationships with families.” p.3Leadership & governance3
“The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding” p.1
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,225
- about usual (typical 1354)
- Reading level
- Fairly hard
- Flesch 53, typical 49
- Average sentence
- 15 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 1
- Hedged sentences
- 3%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 1 Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework
p.1
Information about this children's home
The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.
p.1
Information about this children's home
The home registered with Ofsted in July 2023.
p.1
Information about this children's home
There is a registered manager in post who registered on 6 September 2024.
p.1
Information about this children's home
At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home.
p.1
Information about this children's home
Inspection dates 23 and 24 February 2026
p.1
Overall experiences and progress of
children and young people, taking into account
p.1
outstanding
How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding
p.1
outstanding
The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding
p.1
outstanding
The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.
p.1
outstanding
Date of last inspection: 24 and 25 September 2024
p.1
outstanding
Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding
p.1
outstanding
Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 2
p.1
Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement
25/09/2024 Full outstanding 13/12/2023 Full good Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 3
p.2
outstanding
Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points. Staff work with professionals to understand the impact of children's complex developmental trauma and loss. As a result, the quality of care is excellent and has led to significant changes for children. Children continue to make excellent progress. Their emotional and mental health have improved considerably since living in this home.
p.3
outstanding
Children have trusted and secure relationships with staff. Care practice is consistently of a high standard. In the rare circumstances when practice does not meet the high standards of the manager, action is taken to challenge and improve practice. Children remain living at the home for long periods when it is in their plan to do so. Staff focus on what children are doing well. Each child's achievements are celebrated. Children's certificates, photos and artwork are on display throughout the home.
p.3
outstanding
Staff know the children well. They speak about them with pride, love and affection and are ambitious about their futures. Structured routines and boundaries are in place. This provides children with a sense of permanence and belonging. Children trust staff and share any anxieties that they may have, so plans evolve at their pace.
p.3
outstanding
Careful, well-thought-out plans are in place. The support offered to one child over an extended period has gradually enabled her to talk to staff and others after a period of selective mutism. This has been a long-term situation for everyone, but because of the trusting relationships with staff, the child now speaks openly to staff, has formed a circle of friends in school and, at times, will share their views with professionals. This is a huge achievement for this child and their life opportunities.
p.3
outstanding
Children attend school, and staff understand the importance of education. One child is planning to participate in a school residential trip for the first time and has completed examinations, which enhance their future life choices.
p.3
outstanding
Children have individual life-story books and memory books, which staff have created. The books provide memories for each child of their journey from the point of moving into the home and are used to support children to identify their feelings and recognise the progress that they have made.
p.3
outstanding
The children spend time with their families and others who are important to them. Staff build positive and effective relationships with families. One professional said, 'Staff go out of their way to build relationships and talk to mum because they know how important this is for my child and how this will benefit her.' Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 4
p.3
outstanding
The manager and staff understand the children's risks well. Children are supported to take risks that are appropriate to their age and understanding, which mean they develop a strong sense of safety. There is an up-to-date risk management plan that addresses each risk, which is clear and directive. The children's plans reflect their personal needs and risks.
p.4
outstanding
Staff are consistent in their approach, with clear boundaries about behaviour and what is acceptable in the home. The staff communicate with the children very well and support them to safely manage conflict or difficult feelings. The manager ensures that positive behaviour is promoted, recognised and rewarded consistently, which is clear from daily logs, key-worker sessions and incentive charts.
p.4
outstanding
When consequences are needed, staff will sometimes restrict access to children's phones for a short period of time. This is not, however, recorded as a consequence as it should be.
p.4
outstanding
Risk management plans for children are clear and well recorded. They are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that staff are aware of all risks to children. Children are encouraged to understand their behaviour. Natural consequences are in place and staff spend time with children to explain the reason for consequences to ensure that children learn from them.
p.4
outstanding
Research-informed practice and a reflective, open approach have enabled the manager and staff to develop a strong, confident knowledge base among the team. This has made a positive difference to the life and overall wellbeing of children in their care.
p.4
outstanding
Staff are recruited safely. The regular monitoring of staff ensures that unsuitable people do not work in the home. Any allegations against staff are managed robustly and sensitively, and the correct approach is followed, in line with safeguarding procedures. The appropriate agencies are informed in a timely manner.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding
There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager in post. The manager is supported by the responsible individual. They both have an ambitious vision for children and are committed and care about the welfare of children and staff.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding
The manager has excellent relationships with the children, families and professionals. Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. These provide opportunities for staff to discuss their roles and responsibilities and to develop and enhance their practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 5 Staff are ambitious about children's futures. They enjoy their work and feel supported by managers. Staff are provided with training that is specific to the needs of the children, such as selective mutism. Staff work closely with associated professionals to ensure that their approach is focused to the child's needs associated with this disorder.
p.4
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding
The manager and staff ensure that individual care plans identify children's health needs. Staff prioritise building effective connections with parents and partner agencies, fostering open communication and cooperation with all involved professionals. These strong links ensure that children receive the external support that they need. The manager asks questions and challenges when they feel a decision may not be in the child's best interests.
p.5
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding
There is a rigorous induction training programme and staff benefit from receiving high-quality training. However, on one occasion, staff had to wait for training to become available, causing a delay to their learning.
p.5
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding
Children's views are central to the running of the home. The positive relationships between staff and children enable staff to have sensitive, detailed discussions to help children with any concerns that they may have, understand the importance of positive relationships and develop the life skills that children will need for a successful future. Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 6
p.5
Recommendations
The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11) The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is proportionate. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 46, paragraph 9.35)
p.6
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: 2729566 7
p.6
Children's home details
Registered provider: Supporting Futures Limited
p.7
Children's home details
Registered provider address: Sinclair, 300 St Marys Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 0NQ
p.7
Inspector
Julia Toller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2729566 8 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.
p.7
Inspector
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p.8
Inspector
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Inspector
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