Children's Home run by Continuum Support - Care Services Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 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

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/05/2025 Full Good 03/09/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 3

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Summary of findings

The child is settled in the home and is making progress in relation to their health and education. The child has developed positive and trusting relationships with staff.

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Summary of findings

Staff understand the child’s needs well and provide consistent and therapeutic care. This has supported the child through an unsettled period.

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Summary of findings

The home is warm and welcoming, and the child’s bedroom is personalised to reflect their identity and interests. However, some maintenance and cleaning of the home are needed.

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Summary of findings

Recruitment processes are generally safe, although employment histories have not always been fully explored.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived at the home for nearly two years and is settled. The child is making progress and has developed positive and trusting relationships with staff and managers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s health needs well. The manager works effectively with health professionals to ensure that the child has access to specialist services and receives appropriate support when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued in the home. Management and staff support the child to attend tutoring sessions and engage in education-related activities. The manager advocates effectively for the child and has worked proactively with education professionals to secure a suitable education provision. A plan is in place to support the child to settle into their new education setting and to promote their continued progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager understands the importance of maintaining family relationships. The child is supported to spend time with people who are important to them in line with their care plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of activities that promote their confidence and wellbeing and has had the opportunity to go on holiday to another country.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is personalised with photos and personal belongings, helping the child to feel a sense of belonging. However, some areas of the home require improvement. This includes damage to an external fence, general maintenance issues, worn carpets and aspects of cleanliness in parts of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 4

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

The manager and staff have supported the child through a challenging period. They understand the child’s vulnerabilities and provide care in a nurturing and therapeutic manner.

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

The manager and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and respond appropriately when concerns are raised. Following a safeguarding incident involving the child, the manager worked with relevant professionals to ensure that appropriate action was taken to safeguard the child. Staff supported and worked with the child to help them understand the concerns and to reduce future risk.

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

Staff use de-escalation strategies effectively to support the child to regulate their emotions and reduce incidents of conflict. Physical intervention is used only as a last resort to keep the child and others safe. Following physical intervention, staff complete key-work sessions with the child to support reflection and understanding. Records show that physical intervention is proportionate, appropriate and clearly recorded.

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

The manager maintains effective oversight of incidents and responds appropriately when additional support or training needs are identified. Following an increase in incidents of unsettled behaviour, managers arranged more training and support for staff, including refresher training in physical intervention, workshops and child-centred planning. As a result, incidents have significantly reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child centred, experienced in residential childcare and holds the relevant qualification. Although there has been some instability within the staff team, leaders and managers have recruited new staff and reduced the use of agency staff to provide the child with greater continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff complete an induction programme before enrolling on a recognised childcare qualification. Staff benefit from a wide range of training opportunities and demonstrate the skills and knowledge to meet the child’s needs effectively, including when new needs emerge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported by the manager and are encouraged to develop within the organisation. Team meetings provide opportunities for reflection, discussion about incidents and shared learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and provide staff with opportunities to reflect on the child’s needs and their safeguarding responsibilities and practice. Safeguarding scenarios are discussed during supervision sessions to strengthen staff knowledge and improve practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 5 Safer recruitment practices are generally effective. However, employment records do not clearly record gaps in employment. These shortfalls reduce the effectiveness of recruitment monitoring systems. Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a rigorous assessment of suitability for the role is completed for all members of staff. Additionally, that any gaps in employment are fully documented, explored and analysed. 10 June 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 6 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard, that any damage is repaired promptly and that the environment remains clean and well presented, to meet the needs of the child.

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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: 2750005 8

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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

Sonja Vega, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2750005 9 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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