Children's Home run by Progress Children’s Services Ltd in Coventry

Unique reference number SC064117 Inspection date 29/11/2011 Inspector Janice Hawtin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 02/03/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people with learning and physical disabilities.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The service has good quality systems in place which promote the welfare of young people and ensure they develop to their full potential. The service achieves good outcomes for young people who have all made some progress through the outstanding quality of care provided.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from a caring and dedicated staff team who understand the need for attention to equality, diversity and inclusion in providing a service. Care is provided in close consultation with parents, young people and other involved professionals. A parent reported that she was 'very apprehensive' about full time care for her child, 'but it has turned out to be one of the best things I have done for him, he's eating better and is developing independence skills'.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make good use of community activities to support their development and to encourage friendships with peers. It is particularly impressive that young people were fully involved in growing lots of their own vegetables this year and are now rearing chickens to add to the practical skills they are acquiring.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a detailed development plan in place to support changes which will benefit young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Monitoring reports completed by the manager have not been provided to Ofsted, compromising independent checking of the quality of care.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure Reg 34 monitoring reports are sent to Ofsted at a minimum of 6 monthly intervals. (Regulation 34 (2)) 28/12/2011

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are helped to develop a positive self view, they are valued and given lots of opportunities to enjoy different experiences.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There are pictures of young people around the home, personalised bedroom doors and bedrooms giving a sense of belonging and value. Each young person has a life story book with lots of pictures of their time at the home which provides a lasting history when they move on.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people benefit from contact with family members and some understanding of why they are looked after. A particular strength of the home is the work in partnership with parents and helping to build supportive relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people

One parent reported that her son is now eating a healthy diet which includes fruit and vegetables and other young people are now at a healthy weight from being undernourished.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The staff have high expectations for young people whatever their starting point. Attention is paid to building confidence and self esteem by treating each as a unique individual, building on strengths and trying to overcome difficulties. Amongst improvements there is evidence of development of communication skills, personal care skills and other independence skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff are clear about health needs and they encourage young people to gain an understanding of their own bodies and to be involved as much as possible with their personal hygiene.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have good attendance at school and make progress whatever their starting point.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Activities are promoted and supported enabling young people to be positively engaged in the local community, attending youth clubs, after school clubs and some have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people moving on from this service will need continuing support into adult life and staff ensure transitions into adult services are sensitively managed.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Staff have consistently high aspirations for and talk positively about young people which encourages self esteem and emotional resilience. They understand the needs of each young person which are clearly identified in detailed care plans, agreed by parents and placing authorities so that all parties are clear about responsibilities and expectations.

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Quality of care

Regular reviews of progress on all issues ensure that improvement is continuous and the potential for development for each young person is maximised. Young people benefit from comprehensive individualised programmes of intervention which address specific issues such as challenging or socially unacceptable behaviour.

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Quality of care

Relationships between staff and young people are notably caring and built on mutual respect. Young people also get on well with one another and can spend time together; they also have plenty of space and a variety of rooms available to spend time in alone or with staff. Some young people benefit from time spent in a sensory room which allows then to calm down and minimise incidents of challenging behaviour.

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Quality of care

High staffing levels allow individual time to be spent with young people, to attend to personal needs and to help young people enjoy activities.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from attendance at school or college and staff support attendance by providing transport and helping with homework where needed. Good communication between education providers and the home allow for any issues to be addressed quickly and maximises development which can be shared and encouraged in both environments. Young people are involved in school clubs and after school activities which enhance education; these include a cinema club, horse riding and cooking.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to services which meet their emotional, physical and psychological needs. Staff are proactive in finding imaginative ways to support young people to improve emotional well-being one young person who is particularly keen to develop personal grooming skills has been helped to paint her nails and has highlights in her hair. Other young people have been helped to make informed choices about managing their personal appearance.

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Quality of care

Young people are given information in appropriate formats detailing how to make a complaint, and all young people have an independent advocate as an additional supporter who will act on their behalf.

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Quality of care

The staff help young people to understand and appreciate the diversity of society. Difference is celebrated and there are posters around the home which encourage this. In addition young people benefit from cultural days where different foods are tried and traditions, cultural dress and customs are explored.

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Quality of care

The views, wishes and feelings of young people are taken into account in the running of the home and they have been consulted about all the recent redecorating, new furniture and fittings. In addition choice is encouraged in personalising bedrooms, food, toiletries and clothing. Where it has not been possible to act upon young people's wishes the reasons have been explained to them and the staff are working towards trying to achieve the young persons desired outcome.

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Quality of care

The home is situated close to a city centre with easy access to community resources. It is spacious, homely and well maintained and decorated. The large garden has plenty of space for ball games and play equipment. It has also been used to develop young people's skills: vegetables were planted, tended and harvested with the help of young people. Young people were rightly proud of their achievements which are celebrated in the home with photographs of them harvesting vegetables.

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Quality of care

There are many resources including games, toys, specialist sensory equipment, several televisions and internet access, young people also benefit from holidays as well as days out to the seaside and places of interest.

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Quality of care

Fun days are provided and young people can invite friends, parents and siblings, as well as those providing support services. These provide opportunities for young people to take part in competitions, sports and to show people where they live and the achievements they have made.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people appear safe in the home and are protected from unnecessary risk through the use of detailed risk assessments and the diligence of staff. A counter- bullying policy is in place; a good child staff ration and the identification and understanding of triggers to behaviour reduces incidents and protects young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Behaviour management plans identify the particular vulnerabilities of young people and any problematic behaviour, systems are then put in place to manage and change unacceptable behaviour. Care plans can be shared with schools and parents to reinforce positive changes in all aspects of young people's lives. Change is encouraged using modelling, rewards and praise. There is an acceptance that the effectiveness of sanctions is limited and these are rarely used, adding to young people's positive experiences in this home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is minimum use of restraint in this home, two restraints have taken place have since the last inspection and amount to a brief hold and an escort, both are appropriate and fully recorded. Staff are trained in the use of restraint to safeguard young people and to prevent them from harming themselves or others. Regular health and safety checks ensure that young people are protected from accidental harm. Fire prevention, detection and retention devices are fitted throughout the building and external doors will open automatically in the event of a fire allowing young people to safely leave the building.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A well-trained staff team who can identify issues of abuse or neglect and can respond appropriately protects young people. First aid is included in mandatory training for all staff so they can deal with young people's medical emergencies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Strong and proactive relationships with the local police exist and they visit the home to speak to young people and have also attended fun days. This will enable some young people to better understand the services the police provide and give them the confidence to approach the police for support should this be needed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do not go missing from this home and those who would not be safe out on their own are protected from being able to leave the building without staff knowledge. More able young people can operate the locking mechanism or ask permission to leave.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Visitors to the home are carefully vetted to avoid inappropriate people having access to young people in their home. Staff working in the home are also subject to careful vetting and checking procedures to avoid unsuitable people working with and having access to vulnerable young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a home that is well managed by a confident and experienced temporary manager who also manages another children's homes.

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Leadership and management

The senior support staff are also dedicated and enthusiastic and have the support of well-trained staff, the majority of whom have a professional qualification.

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Leadership and management

Young people flourish in this warm, welcoming and friendly environment. The needs of young people are at the core of the service provided and all attempts are made to meet the diverse range of needs and enable young people to make the most of their time living in this home.

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Leadership and management

Managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the service and have kept up to date with recent changes in legislation. A development plan is in place to continuously improve the service and incorporate legislative changes to benefit young people.

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Leadership and management

Young people gain form a staff team who are supported by regular team meetings and individual supervision which allows them to explore any issues and reflect and improve upon practice. The Statement of Purpose is accessible and clear about the aims and objectives of the service. Young people's guides are also available in different formats so that they are useful for helping all young people in understanding what to expect and accurately reflect the service offered.

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Leadership and management

Regular monitoring of the home takes place through Regulation 33 visits and reporting. The manager completes monitoring and any identified issues are dealt with to improve the care of young people. Ofsted has not received Regulation 34 reports and this potentially compromises the independent quality assurance systems designed to protect young people.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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