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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 1 SC473375 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 company. It provides 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, 2 children were living in the home. The children spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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

Date of last inspection: 30 September 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: SC473375 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/09/2025 Full Good 16/04/2024 Full Good 18/07/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive positive and stable care. Planned transitions into the home help children to settle in and make progress in their health and education. Children develop trusting relationships with staff who understand their needs well.

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Summary of findings

Staff provide individualised care that is informed by children’s plans. Effective partnership working helps children to remain safe and access the support they need.

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Summary of findings

Children are encouraged to spend time with people who are important to them, which promotes their wellbeing and sense of identity.

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Summary of findings

The manager is experienced and is supported by a committed staff team. However, leaders need to address weaknesses in recording, a failure to notify Ofsted of a serious incident, shortfalls in safer recruitment records and aspects of the home’s maintenance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and one child has moved in. Careful planning and effective matching arrangements have helped to ensure that children’s needs can be met and that stability in the home is maintained for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s health needs well. They work effectively with healthcare professionals to ensure that children can access specialist services when needed. Children are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend appointments that support their physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued in the home. Staff work effectively with education professionals to encourage children’s engagement and support positive outcomes. Children participate in a range of activities that reflect their interests and help to build confidence and self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time with family members and other people who are important to them. These arrangements are planned carefully and help children to maintain meaningful relationships and social connections.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a welcoming environment for children. Bedrooms are personalised and reflect children’s interests and preferences. However, some areas of the home require attention, including repairs to fencing, communal French doors and the main bathroom. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 4

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

Children are kept safe by staff who are knowledgeable about their current needs and vulnerabilities. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to escalate concerns, including with external safeguarding partners.

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

Staff manage children’s free time appropriately and carry out regular welfare checks. When risks emerge, staff respond quickly, and free time is reviewed promptly to keep children safe.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are managed well. Staff follow missing-from-home procedures and actively search for children. Staff work effectively with partner agencies to support children to return home safely. Return home interviews and key-work sessions help children to reflect on incidents and promote safer decision-making when in the community.

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

Staff take appropriate action to safeguard children following incidents of self-harm. However, records relating to one incident lacked sufficient detail and did not clearly evidence actions taken, including a room search and welfare checks. This limits management oversight and scrutiny of practice.

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

Following a serious incident, management failed to notify Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements. This prevents independent oversight and reduces opportunities for external scrutiny of safeguarding practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced in residential childcare and has the relevant qualification. They are supported by a committed staff team that provides consistent care and stability for children. The manager works effectively with partner agencies to manage risks and support placement stability for one child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, which supports reflective practice and ongoing development. Staff say they feel supported by managers, which helps them to meet the child’s needs effectively. Team meetings are held frequently and provide staff with opportunities for discussion and reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training that equips them with the skills needed to meet children’s needs. The manager ensures that training is reviewed and updated in response to emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records do not consistently reflect children’s wishes and feelings. Children’s preferred names are not always used throughout documentation. This fails to fully recognise children’s identities and individual preferences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 5 Safer recruitment practices are in place. However, detailed employment histories and specific start and end dates are not clearly recorded, and potential gaps in employment have not always been explored. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 personmust comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. 2 July 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 2 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff keep accurate, up-to-date and child-focused records. Monitoring systems should be sufficiently robust to identify and address recording shortfalls.

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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; or

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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 robust recruitment procedures are followed. Application forms must include the precise start and end dates for each period of employment to ensure that any gaps in employment histories for new members of staff are identified. 2 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard, that any damage is repaired promptly and that the environment remains well presented to meet children’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children’s records consistently reflect their preferred names, unless there is a clear and recorded reason not to do so, to ensure that their views, wishes, feelings and identities are recognised. (‘Guide to the Inspection report for children’s home: SC473375 8 Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10)

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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: SC473375 9

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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: SC473375 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 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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