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

Unique reference number SC437486 Inspection date 10/02/2014 Inspector Carole Moore Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This service offers short breaks for up to five children and young people. The service is available to children and young people with a learning disability, a physical disability and/or sensory impairment. This service is delivered and managed by an independent provider that operates other social care services.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the previous inspection in June 2013, the overall quality rating for this home was judged as good with one requirement and two recommendations made. This service demonstrates its capacity to improve because it has met the requirement and recommendations made, and is judged to be making good progress following this inspection. There are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this visit.

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Progress

At the previous inspection shortfalls were identified relating to signing and dating records, improving the young people's guide and ensuring the Regulation 33 reports from the independent visitor contain sufficient information relating to the evaluation of the home's care practice. All of these requirements have been met.

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Progress

The quality of care provided and activity within the home is consistently monitored. The Registered manager is thorough in his internal checks and monitoring of the service. He has implemented an extra system to track records and this ensures all records are signed and dated. He has clear arrangements in place to ensure that a six monthly review of the home's practice takes place and that the report is forwarded to Ofsted. Efficient arrangements exist to make sure the home is appropriately audited in accordance with Regulation 33 and the independent visitor has reviewed their report to ensure there is clear evaluation of the home's care practices. The home has a written development plan which is a working document and clearly defines any planned changes in the operation and resources of the service.

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Progress

The young person's guide has been reviewed and this is now adapted for each individual young person, creating a bespoke document which is responsive to their level of understanding and specific communication needs.

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Progress

The home provides a warm and welcoming environment which is reasonably well decorated and has recently had all windows fitted with colourful blinds. Young people enjoy their short breaks and really value the company of their peers. They participate in a wide range of new experiences and activities such as swimming and ice skating. They have also had their first holiday away in adapted caravans and this went so well it is hoped it will be possible to enable more young people to experience a trip away from home this coming summer. Young people's individual needs and interests are well understood by an experienced and stable staff team ensuring that the care they receive is of a good quality. Staff show considerable warmth and are nurturing in their approach.

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Progress

Staff are skilled and experienced in using a range of communication resources to ensure every young person can be successfully supported to communicate their needs and wishes. Young people share a lot of laughter and fun during their stay and experience genuine affection from the staff team. This means that young people enjoy their time at the home and look forward to future visits.

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Progress

The home demonstrates strength in the quality of their relationships with parents and a range of good partnership working with professionals. This ensures that young people's needs are consistently met and enables them to enjoy their experience whilst on their short break.

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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.

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