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

Unique reference number SC431931 Inspector Michelle Edge Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Progressive Futures Care Limited Registered person address Unit 13 Victoria House, North Mersey Business Centre Woodward Road LIVERPOOL L33 7UY Responsible individual Zoe Maria Wilkinson Registered manager Angela Marie Hennigan Date of last inspection 07/05/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 19/01/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home, and the progress and experiences of young people since the last inspection. This visit has found shortfalls in safeguarding practice and procedures that potentially impacts on the welfare and safety of young people. There has been limited development for young people in terms of their Education. Placement plans, care plans and health records do not reflect the current needs of young people.

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This inspection

Whilst Safeguarding procedures are in place they have not always been adhered to. Young people’s whereabouts were not always known and no assessments had been completed in regards to appropriate friendships. For example, young people were going out for several hours without staff having a clear knowledge of their whereabouts. This does not ensure that young people’s safety and wellbeing is adequately maintained.

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This inspection

Placement plans and care plans do not reflect the current needs of young people. They contain out of date and inaccurate information. Young people and the staff team are not asked to sign or comment on the current plans or when any changes are made. It is unclear how young people’s views and wishes are included about how they are cared for and how their future aspirations are to be met. Likewise, the lack of more formalised review of plans by the staff team means they are not consistent in the level of care provided. This was a recommendation at the last inspection and has not been met.

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This inspection

Health plans contain limited information and do not clearly identify young people’s current health needs. For example, when young people are attending medical appointments the dates and times are not routinely added to the records. Therefore they do not identify any areas that need to be monitored or addressed. Staff cannot evidence how they support young people to achieve healthy lifestyles. 3 of 6 Educational attendance has not increased and the home fails to ensure that young people meet the statutory requirements of twenty five hours per week. Young people remain on part time timetables and a placement for work experience is still being sourced. As a result the opportunity for young people to reach their full educational potential is limited.

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This inspection

A range of risk assessments are in place to address behaviours that young people present. However, insufficient action has been taken to ensure they are reviewed and updated so they clearly set out how risk is to be managed and reduced. The plan for risk reduction does not sufficiently distinguish what the current risks for young people are. For example, it appears that although the episodes of missing from care have greatly reduced Staff are unable to evidence if the risks for young people who continue to spend extended periods away from the home have been adequately assessed and action taken to ensure that they are safe.

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This inspection

New arrangements are in place for the professional supervision of the manager. This ensures that they have suitable guidance, support and advice from a qualified and experienced professional. Staff stated that 'they receive regular supervision' and this has enabled them to reflect on their work practices and identify areas of development. For example, a new senior has been promoted and they highlighted how record keeping can be more effective and evidence based so young people’s progress can be more easily tracked. The additional support for the Registered Manager provides improved opportunity to regularly monitor records and staff practice to ensure compliance with the homes policies and to identify trends and patterns.

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This inspection

Young people continue to make progress in some aspects of their lives. Contact with important people is actively promoted and families are encouraged to visit the young people at home. The home recently had a firework display and family and friends were invited. This was a success and young people thanked the staff afterwards. Relationships between staff and young people are positive and young people are comfortable in their home environment. Young people are encouraged and supported to engage in various activities. This includes shopping, going to the cinema or out for meals. This develops young people’s social and independence skills. Young people living within the home commented ‘I like living here, it is good and the staff are nice’. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This home is able to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2014 Full adequate 06/01/2014 Interim not judged 05/06/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 24/01/2013 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) The registered person shall notify HMCI of any revisions within 28 days, of the homes statement of purpose (Regulation 5 (a)) 27/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) The registered person shall ensure that the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there (Regulation 11 (1) ( a)) 27/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

12A (2001) In the case of a child who is looked after by a local authority the registered person must co-operate with the child's placing authority in agreeing and signing the plan for the child's placement prepared in accordance with the provisions in regulation 9 or, as the case may be, regulation 47C (2), of the care planning, Placement and case review (England) 27/02/2015 5 of 6 regulations 2010 (Regulation 12A (1))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) The registered person shall promote the educational achievement of children accommodated in the children's home, in particular by ensuring that the children make use of educational facilities appropriate to their age, aptitude, needs, interests and potential. (Regulation 18 (1) (a)) 27/02/2015

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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 the manager regularly monitors in line with the regulations all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the homes policies to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends and that immediate action is taken to address any issues identified (NMS 21.2)  ensure there is a written record of all medication, treatment and first aid given to children during their placement. (NMS 6.15) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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