Children's Home run by Progressive Futures Care Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC061924 Inspection date 18/03/2014 Inspector Chris Scully Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 28/11/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people between the ages of 12 years to 16 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the full inspection in November 2013 the overall effectiveness of this children's home was judged as good. Some shortfalls were found in relation to the Statement of Purpose; monitoring of the home; the missing from care record; risk assessments; behaviour management plans; health care plans and maintenance of the home.

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Progress

The children's home is making satisfactory progress. The home now ensures Ofsted is notified of any changes to the Statement of Purpose. This promotes transparency and demonstrates the homes commitment to providing good quality care to young people. There have been some improvements with regards to the monitoring of the home by the independent person. This means there is some evaluation in the reports. However, monitoring by the Registered Manager lacks any real evaluation. This means there are limited opportunities for the home to use this as a means of driving forward future improvements or demonstrate the improved outcomes for young people. The Registered Individual is in the process of securing an independent person to undertake the monitoring of the home and feels this will enable them to move forward.

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Progress

Young people live in a warm, welcoming, homely environment. This is because the home has replaced the flooring in the dining room and kitchen areas to provide a safe floor covering for young people. The bath panel has been replaced and the tiles cleaned in the kitchen. Young people have a clearer picture of their time here because staff have improved upon the recording of missing from care episodes. This means there is a clear audit trail of the action they have taken to try and locate the young person and return them home safely. Young people do occasionally go missing but the home has a good track record of enabling them to return home quickly and safely.

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Progress

The recording in young people health care plans is much improved and provides much more insight into their individual health care needs and the action taken by staff to support them. However there is limited information as to how staff are supporting their understanding of their sexual health. Young people are able to access to a range of services to support them in this, but this is not reflected within the health care plan. This is a recording issue as it does not reflect the actual support provided to young people.

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Progress

Young people are safe because their individual risk assessments identify their vulnerabilities and risks associated with these. This means staff are able to effectively support young people while enabling them to take safe risks such as travelling independently to see family members and friends. Staff have a clear understanding of each young person’s behavioural needs and how to support them such as the strategies to implement to help keep them safe. However, these strategies are not contained within the behaviour management plan. This is a recording issue and does not impact upon the care provided to young people. Staff say young people are more able to recognise when they are feeling stressed or vulnerable and are talking to staff about their feelings. Hence they are much more able to manage their own feelings in a constructive way.

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Progress

Young people say they feel safe and happy here. Young people who are new to the home say they are settling in well and staff are helping them to see their friends who live farther away. They are pleased with their new bedroom and are pleased with the colour scheme they chose. Young people say they get on well with one another. A young person was eager to tell visitors about their forthcoming school prom and how they have already begun to look for a dress in their favourite colour, purple. Young people say school continues to go well and staff are helping them to look at college placements for their continued education.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure young people's health is promoted in accordance with their placement, plan in particular, health care plans are sufficiently detailed with regards their sexual health (NMS 6.5)  ensure there are clear and effective procedures in place for the monitoring of the home, in particular reports by the Registered Manager and independent person are evaluative and record any identified shortfalls in particular behaviour management plans (NMS 21.1)  ensure robust systems are in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of records, in particular behaviour management plans are sufficiently detailed. (NMS 22.1)

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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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