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

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are making good progress and have positive experiences as a result of living in this home.  There is effective leadership, supported by a stable staff team who are committed to enabling young people to achieve the best positive outcomes.  The atmosphere in this home is supportive and friendly. Professionals visiting observe warm and relaxed interactions between young people and staff members.  Young people enjoy living at the home. They benefit from a staff team who know them well as individuals.  Relationships with families are very good. Staff offer constructive advice and guidance which families find helpful. They are committed and supportive of contact arrangements.  Partnership working with a range of specialist services is effective in ensuring young people are provided with the necessary support to meet all their assessed needs.  There are a couple of shortfalls in practice. These includes recruitment files

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The children's home provision is good because:

not always holding evidence of staff qualifications and young people’s independence skills are not consistently progressed and evaluated.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg Requirement Due Date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must

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Reg Requirement Due Date

(b)(vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently. 28/09/2015

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Reg Requirement Due Date

32 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. They must ensure:

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Reg Requirement Due Date

(3)(a) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 with particular reference to qualifications. 28/09/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/10/2014 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people benefit from living in a home where staff are passionate and committed to provide high quality care. They enjoy positive relationships with staff members and actively seek out their attention. Staff are clear that their priority is to play, talk or join in activities with young people. In the words of one young person ‘they’re great!’ Observations from visiting social workers support this view, ’they demonstrate an eagerness to find ways to communicate with x’, ’staff have a good rapport with him’. Young people’s success is celebrated with weekly awards presentations where their achievements are recognised with certificates of success.

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good

Young people continue to make good progress. They all regularly attend school. For some this is a significant improvement from their starting point when first placed. Staff support them to achieve their educational potential and aim to offer a range of activities to enhance their development. For example, visits to the National Space Centre and Think Tank science centre take place. Theme days are regularly held to enhance young people awareness of different cultures and traditions around the world including Indian and Spanish. These are often enhanced by the personal experience of staff members and are thoroughly enjoyed by young people, who proudly share photographs of their participation.

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good

Staff ensure that young people’s health needs are appropriately met. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication.

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good

Since the last inspection, young people and staff have all taken part in a six-week healthy living programme. This is being enthusiastically incorporated into the day- to-day running of the home and has resulted in young people increasing their levels of physical activity and expanding their dietary choices. One young person commented, ‘I now eat healthy things now like fruit’. For some young people who previously had very limited food choice this has been a significant improvement and has successfully contributed to individual weight loss plans.

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good

Some young people make significant progress in developing their self-help skills. For example, one young person, at the point of placement was unable to dress and bathe independently and now is confidently undertaking these tasks. Their social worker reports that they have made ‘massive progress’. For others who are at the point of moving to adult provision there is limited evidence of how their independence skills are being consistently promoted and progressed. The manager has acknowledged this and has plans to introduce a new independent skills programme. Young people’s participation has been actively promoted in the home. Their views are consistently prioritised and acted upon by staff. Weekly residents meetings and individual key working sessions provide a strong mechanism for young people to share their views. They are actively involved with planning holidays, choosing activities and play equipment. They are enthusiastic about the activities offered,

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good

which provide opportunity for new experiences such as theatre trips and ice- skating. Social workers recognise the staff’s commitment to promoting opportunities for young people. ‘Despite a history of difficulties with x going out to do activities in the community staff have managed to go to parks, bowling, shops etc. with him’. As a result, young people feel staff care about them, listen to them and consider their views.

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good

New residents receive a warm welcome to the home. Their children’s guide has recently been updated and is personalised to meet the individual communication needs of each young person. Introduction plans are well managed and tailored to reflect individual needs. Similarly, young people have been successfully supported to move on to new placements.

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good

Young people know how to make a complaint and two have been made since the last inspection. These have been appropriately investigated and resolved with the young people.

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good

The staff effectively supports all family contact. This ensures that young people remain close to individuals who are important to them and benefit from being involved in a wider support network outside of the home.

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good

Young people feel safe. They feel reassured by the presence of staff who know them well and give them a sense of security, ‘I like it that staff come in at night to check in on me ‘ ‘I know staff are always around’.

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good

Young people have not gone missing. They are continually under staff supervision and generally do not go out alone. There is a high vigilance about their contact with adults in the community and visitors to the home. At the time of the inspection there was extensive building work being undertaken in the annexe of the home. Staff ensured that young people had no contact with building workers and that the environment was safe and cleans on their return home from school. There is a strong and effective focus on risk management. All young people have individual risk assessments in place that identify areas of potential risk. Staff have a strong understanding of how to keep young people safe and implement strategies consistently, which result in reducing risk.

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good

Effective behaviour management plans are in place. They take account of young people’s triggers and clearly highlight strategies to manage behaviours. They are actively reviewed in team meetings. This ensures that any new incidents are considered and staff are aware of presenting concerns. Staff are consistent in their approach and firm boundaries are in place. This means young people understand what is expected and a result challenging behaviour has reduced. As one young person observed ’my behaviour is getting better’. Staff also work effectively with parents and carers to share behaviour management strategies. They ensure that the significant people in the young people’s lives are using consistent approaches. For example, when they have specific communication systems they ensure that, consistent symbols are used. As a parent observed ‘any queries I have are always responded to by staff who are knowledgeable and helpful’.

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good

Staff are appropriately trained in physical intervention, which is only used to manage immediate risks or dangerous situations. Incidents of physical intervention have been appropriately managed. Records are clear and the manager ensures interventions are evaluated and monitored.

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good

Health and safety are well managed. A member of staff has responsibility for this area and ensures risk assessments are updated and any maintenance or safety issues are addressed. Fire drills and checks are carried out regularly. This results in a safe environment for young people.

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good

The home has been without a registered manager since the departure of the previous one in December 2014. An experienced manager has been in place during this period, supported by an experienced deputy who has worked at this home for several years. They have effectively ensured there is consistency and stability for young people and staff. An application has been submitted to Ofsted for registration but circumstances beyond the control of the individual have meant this has not been processed.

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good

Since the last inspection, staffing stability has improved. Agency staff are now employed on a temporary to permanent contract basis, which reduces staff turnover. This has proved effective. Placing social workers have observed this improvement and are confident that the appropriate staffing levels are in place ’they ensure he has enough staff to manage him safely’. This improvement has enabled the manager to respond flexibly to unplanned demands on his service for example the withdrawal of education transport for one young person. This means that young people are cared for by a staff team who are stable and familiar in their home.

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good

Recruitment processes for new staff are generally very thorough but not all files contained evidence of staff qualifications. This means that young people may be being cared for by staff that do not have the appropriate knowledge to take care of their needs. Young people play an active part in the second stage of the recruitment process when they have opportunity with staff support to interact with applicants and share their opinions.

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good

Staff benefit from regular supervision, which enables them to reflect upon practice and recognise strengths and areas for development. There is a clear learning culture in place and staff benefit from a thorough induction and training programme that enables them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their responsibilities safely. A team development day has recently taken place which enabled the team to reflect on planned service developments and provide opportunity for shared practice learning, for example in key working and medicine dispensing.

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good

Staff attend regular team meetings and actively share their views with managers. Staff are encouraged to contribute to practise development in the home. For example, one staff member has recently developed an independence programme which will be incorporated in the transition planning for young people. Staff feel listened to and valued.There is a sense of shared ownership in the team.They are empowered to make child focused decisions and advocate appropriately on behalf of young people for example in relation to recent structural changes in the home.

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good

Since the last inspection, the manager has strengthened and developed his auditing and monitoring processes. A new independent visitor has been appointed who provides robust challenge to the home. The manger has responded promptly to any shortfalls identified. This includes the statement of purpose being updated and case files being revised to reflect the new quality standards.

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good

The manager effectively benchmarks progress on a monthly basis against his improvement plan. This enables the manager to monitor any shortfalls and prioritise action.

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good

Staff have developed positive working relationships with a number of key stakeholders. These include social workers, schools and police, as well as specialist support services such as the community learning disability team and speech and language service. They are positive about the level and quality of the communication, which promotes effective partnership working. Staff provide effect challenge where appropriate. This extends to transition planning to ensure young people receive the appropriate services to meet their needs effectively. Staff identify alternative solutions based on their knowledge and understanding of the young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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