Children's Home run by Progressive Care Limited in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC002930 Inspector Jamie Richardson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Progressive Care Limited Registered person address Progressive Care Ltd 51 Attercliffe Common Sheffield South Yorkshire S9 2AE Responsible individual Mohammad Shabir Ali Registered manager Sheila Christine Johnson Date of last inspection 22/10/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 20/01/2015

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Previous inspection inadequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness inadequate

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe inadequate Leadership and management inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

There are no young people currently living at this home. Failings identified at the last inspection in October 2014 included poor management and oversight and poor quality of care. There was a lack of recognition of the individual needs of young people and shortfalls in missing and sexual exploitation procedures.

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Overall effectiveness

All compliance notices made following the inspection were met at the last monitoring visit. The continuation of that progress will be able to be assessed when children are admitted to the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls during this inspection found on-going issues with the Statement of Purpose not being consistent with the running of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a new acting manager in post. The staff team has been reduced. This has left a deficit of experienced and qualified staff. The current staff team is not correctly detailed in the Statement of Purpose. The old staffing structure remains present. This does not give potential placing authorities or parents a true account of the current staffing structure. 3 of 9 The cleanliness, décor and maintenance of the building remain an issue. The environment including some bedrooms are not in a satisfactory condition for children to be admitted to at this time.

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Overall effectiveness

The policy and procedures for the home have been improved. The effectiveness of the new procedures will require it to be tested when young people are admitted to this home.

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Overall effectiveness

Due to the on-going issues it is not clear management fully understand the strengths and weakness of this home. 4 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is one of a number that is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to nine children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2014 Full inadequate 11/03/2014 Interim good progress 27/11/2013 Full adequate 29/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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

5 (2001) ensure the statement of purpose and children’s guide is (a) kept under review and, where appropriate revise the statement of purpose and the children’s guide (regulation 5 (a)) 06/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times, having regard to a) the size of the children’s home, the statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children accommodated there (regulation 25 (1)) a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced person working at the children’s home. 06/02/2015 5 of 9 (2001) ensure the premises are not used for the purpose of a children’s home unless they are of a physical design and layout, which are suitable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives set out in the homes statement of purpose (regulation 31 (1)) 06/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that having the regard for privacy, each child is provided with sleeping accommodation which is appropriate for their need, specifically in regards to rooms not having letter boxes where you can see into the room ( regualtion31 (5)(a)) 06/02/2015 6 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

There has been a focus on staff training around the importance of young people’s education. There is now an in-house tutor employed for young people who cannot access full time education. The education room is currently doubling up as a staff bedroom in the evening. The provider is aware of the conflict of interest of this space. The effectiveness of these new resources will be tested when new young people are admitted to this home.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

A new therapist employed by the company to support young people’s emotional and psychological health. When young people move into this home it will be possible to evaluate the impact of this development.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

The interim manager is placing a focus on young people’s transition to adulthood. This includes looking at ways semi-independent living can be promoted in house though self-contained rooms which include a kitchen area. Currently these rooms remain areas where equipment does not work and are not set up for the task. Placing young people in this space would leave them living in an environment which does not fulfil the purpose of a bedroom or a self-contained flat.

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Quality of care adequate

Bullying and complaints procedures have been revised. The impact of this to ensure any concerns can be fully assessed when young people are resident in this home.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff have created a new filing system for young people’s information. This is expected to provide accurate records of young people’s care and their journey in this home.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff have received training regarding aspects of young people’s care and effective record keeping. It is envisaged this will benefit young people by raising the quality of care they receive as staff will be more knowledgeable about the individual needs of each young person.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Much improved policies and produces will help staff to know what to do to safeguard young people. One staff member commented, `we have lots of training now in team meetings about what to do in safeguarding situations. We also have scenarios to give us experience.’ 7 of 9 The missing policy and procedure has been updated and contact with relevant agencies such as the police has been made. Staff have undertaken training on this subject to help provide them with the knowledge of how to protect young people accordingly. The effectiveness of this training can only be tested when young people are in placement.

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Keeping children and young people safe inadequate

Training has been delivered around sexual exploitation and links with other supporting agencies is being explored. This will help give staff the ability to identify signs of sexual exploitation and provide them with knowledge to react appropriately. Staff ability in this area cannot be assessed until young people reside in the home.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The manager has been in post at this service since December 2014. She holds relevant qualifications and is very experienced in her field. Since the last inadequate judgement she has demonstrated some capacity to make improvements within the home. The pervious compliance notices have been adequately met.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The manager and registered individual have made efforts to ensure adequate improvements are made in some areas. In other areas shortfalls still remain which would prevent young people being admitted to this home and being cared for appropriately.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The homes Statement of Purpose does not fit with the age range the building and resources caters for. It does not contain the correct staffing levels now in place.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The homes does not currently have enough qualified or experienced staff to care for young people should they be admitted to the home. One out of five staff has a NVQ 3 in child care. The others have minimal experience in caring for young people including the senior worker. There is no deputy manager post. This potentially leaves staff with no clear lead when the registered manger is not there. Consequently this may leave a situation where no one assumes responsibility for important tasks such as recording and oversight. This may leave young people at risk of harm and vulnerable to an inappropriate quality of care.

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Leadership and management inadequate

The cleanliness and maintenance of the home remains an issue. For example there are cigarette ends in the entrance yard near the front door and on tops of bay widows which are visible from bedrooms. Bedroom walls are still stained in places and one bedroom remains with a strong unclean smell in it. There are still letter boxes in children rooms where people can see in from outside. This would result in a lack of privacy for young people. There are numerous cigarette burns in the carpets, on the bedside table and writing on the wardrobe. Another bedroom contains a partial kitchen area and cooker which does not work and dirty. This does not give a cared for feel about the home and provides a lack of appropriate standards for young 8 of 9 people to live in and aspire to.

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Leadership and management inadequate

It is not clear the management team have in depth understanding of the strengths or weakness of this service or the impact the environment can have on young people. One member of the senior management team commented `does it really matter to a child if there are cigarette burns in the carpet.’ Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management inadequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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