
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Given the function $f(x) = |x-a| + |x+5-a|$,  
(1) If the solution set of the inequality $f(x) - |x-a| \leq 2$ is $[-5, -1]$, find the value of the real number $a$;  
(2) If there exists $x_0 \in \mathbb{R}$ such that $f(x_0) < 4m + m^2$, find the range of the real number $m$.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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