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

Unique reference number SC064117 Inspection date 25/01/2012 Inspector Robin Whistlecraft Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/11/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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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 special educational needs and disabilities.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

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Progress

At the last inspection in November 2011, the overall quality rating for the service was judged as good with one requirement. The home is continuing to maintain the quality of its service.

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Progress

The requirement made at the last inspection was in relation to submitting quality monitoring reports to Ofsted. The home has addressed this matter and staff are able to show how recommendations from various line management monitoring reports have been followed up. For example, staff now ensure that visitors sign out when leaving the home. This means that the monitoring is effective in maintaining minimum standards in the home, and care benefits from external, independent scrutiny.

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Progress

The home has maintained the outcomes for young people that were identified at the last inspection, even though there have been some challenges since then. After a reactive start, staff are now being proactive in addressing those challenges through liaison with a school, reviewing risk assessments and adjusting some aspects of the daily routine in order to safeguard the young people. These factors demonstrate that the home continues to promote the welfare of the young people who live there.

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Progress

Staff intervene quickly, where necessary, to divert behaviour that has become unacceptable. Interactions between staff and young people are friendly and respectful. Young people appear generally relaxed and happy with the staff, who know their needs and communication preferences well. Young people continue to benefit from involvement in the community, including shopping for the home as well as using leisure facilities.

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Progress

The home’s recording system ensures that staff identify positives for each young person even if there has been some challenging behaviour. However, the recording system does not easily lend itself to identifying the progress that young people make. Therefore, the home may not be identifying all the progress young people make, especially over a period of time. The home has been without a Registered Manager for a considerable time and the temporary management arrangements the provider put in place have now ceased. The provider is currently arranging further interim management cover, pending the outcome of a recruitment drive for a permanent Registered Manager. The provider must supply details about the person who will be the interim manager of the home to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector.

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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) appoint an individual to manage the children's home (Regulation 7 (1) & (2)) 02/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) give notice in writing to HMCI, specifying the name, address and qualifications of the person who will be responsible for managing the home during the absence of the Registered Manager; this relates to the interim arrangements for managing the home. (Regulation 37 (3)) 18/02/2012

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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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Recommendations

 ensure there are effective procedures for monitoring the home’s care practices; this relates to using the recording systems to identify when young people are making progress and identifying which of the home’s strategies was successful in enabling that progress. (Volume 5 statutory guidance, paragraph 3.23)

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