Children's Home run by Continuum Care Support – Care Services Limited in St Helens

Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 1 Registered provider: Continuum Care Support – Care Services Limited. Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and provides care for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home, both were present during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 4 November 2025

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2025 Full Good 26/06/2024 Full Good 13/09/2023 Full Good 08/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 3

p.2

Summary of findings

Children are encouraged to learn, engage in activities and have positive experiences that help them feel safe and settled.

p.3

Summary of findings

Children know how to raise concerns about their care. Allegations are managed thoroughly, ensuring that children feel they are listened to and know that staff will respond to them.

p.3

Summary of findings

The home environment has undergone some improvements. However, damage to the home is not resolved in a timely manner.

p.3

Summary of findings

Risks are not always managed effectively. The manager has not identified gaps in staff practice and risk assessments are not always clear about the actions staff should take to prevent or reduce risks.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and two children have moved in. Where possible, children move into the home in a planned and considered way. One child moved out in an emergency, however, this decision reflected the child’s wishes, and they were supported to move to another home within the same organisa- tion.

p.3

improvement to be good

While some areas of the home have been redecorated, damage throughout the property has not been promptly addressed. This lack of timely repair work affects the overall quality of the environment and does not provide children with a consistently welcoming, safe or well ‑ maintained home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are encouraged to engage in activities, hobbies, and interests. One child regu- larly attends the gym and enjoys going for bike rides. Another child has been supported to take pride in their appearance and staff book appointments for them to have their hair and nails maintained.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s education is well supported. Staff actively encourage children to engage in learning and talk to children about the value and long ‑ term importance of education. They work with external professionals to ensure that children with additional learning needs are supported appropriately. Children have aspirations for their future.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children are well prepared for independence. Staff support them to understand and take proportionate risks, helping them build confidence in their own decision ‑ making. Through Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 4 consistent guidance and opportunities to practise key life skills, children develop increas- ing independence in readiness for adulthood.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff did not take appropriate action when they detect a smell of burning in the home. Despite an earlier fire-setting incident, staff did not complete a room search or check if a fire had been started. Although no fire was evident, the response shows a lack of profes- sional curiosity to safeguard children effectively.

p.4

improvement to be good

The manager regularly reviews the homes fire risk assessment. However, wedges are used to prop open fire doors, and one fire door’s quick-release mechanism is not fully functional. Action has not been taken to rectify this.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff know what action to take when children go missing from home. They are proactive in their search for children and promptly notify relevant professionals when a child is missing. When children return, staff show appropriate curiosity about where they have been and who they were with.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children are educated about risks in the local community. Staff spend time speaking with children about ways to keep themselves safe when they are out of the home. Measures are in place, such as a mobile phone app, which allows children to alert staff if they feel unsafe.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children know how to raise concerns about staff. Allegations are taken seriously and are referred to the relevant agencies without delay. The manager ensures that investigations are detailed, thorough and completed in a timely manner, with clear follow ‑ up actions that reflect the outcomes of the investigation. Children are informed of the outcome in a way that is appropriate to their age and understanding.

p.4

improvement to be good

Individualised risk assessments are in place. Risk assessments include details of known risks and measures for staff to follow to prevent, reduce or mitigate the risks to keep children safe. However, following an incident in which cigarettes and ash were found in a child’s bedroom, the risk assessment was not updated. As a result, the actions staff should take to reduce risks associated with smoking are unclear.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings and supervision take place regularly. These are child ‑ focused and used to review children’s progress and address any safeguarding concerns. They also provide valuable opportunities to discuss staff recruitment, development and practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has systems in place to track children’s progress and review the quality of care. The manager maintains regular oversight of key ‑ worker sessions and reviews all in- cidents. However, managerial oversight of incidents is not always sufficiently reflective of the information reviewed and gaps in staff practice are not consistently identified. Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 5 There is a stable and experienced staff team. Staff say they feel well supported. New staff members say they are welcomed in the team and able to access support and advice from more experienced staff members.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager ensures that the independent person visits the home regularly. The man- ager reviews the findings of the independent person’s reports and uses them to identify areas for improvement in staff practice. The reports are sent to the regulator within the required timescales to enable appropriate oversight. However, the manager has not in- formed the regulator following a serious incident as required.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager ensures that all staff receive training that equips them to meet the expectations of their roles and the individual needs of each child. Additional learning opportunities, such as quizzes and reflective discussions are used to further embed knowledge into practice. Staff who have not completed the required qualification within the expected timeframe are provided with targeted support and monitoring to help them progress in their learning and development. Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that risk assessment are reviewed following incidents involving smoking and substance misuse.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that there are clear actions in place for staff to take to reduce the risk in relation to smoking and substance misuse. 29 May 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

p.6

Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home; 29 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 7 ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25(1)(a)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that fire doors are in good working order and door wedges are not used to hold them open.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is well maintained, including that damage and general wear and tear is addressed in a timely manner. 29 May 2026

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to,

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 29 May 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 8 a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.8

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted.

p.8

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: 2509802 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Continuum Care Support – Care Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Inspectors

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Joy Viles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2509802 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10