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

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Records maintained by the home have enough information for staff to care for young people well but they do not show the progress they have made from their starting points.  One young person’s contact arrangements have changed which includes some restrictions. These changes are not recorded in the relevant plans. This does not ensure that all staff are aware of the changes to fully safeguard young person.  Young people’s culture and religion has been explored with them but this is not reflected in their plans. For example, although a young person does not fully follow his faith, he does not eat pork. This has not been included in his health plan.  Young people eat a poor diet and the home’s menus do not show that a healthy balanced diet is offered.  There are basic risk assessments in place. They do not show the history, triggers, strategies, or action for staff to take if an incident was to occur.

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because:

 The home has a system for staff to sign any information that is updated. Not all staff sign these documents.  The independent quality assurance document does not assist the manager to improve the service because it lacks detail about the quality of the records maintained at the home.

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The children's home strengths

 Both young people said this home is outstanding. They value the relationships with staff and said that they were well cared for.  Several professionals said this home was good at caring and working with young people successfully. One professional said, ‘I placed my young person here because I know from past experience that they work well with young people.’  Young people are safeguarded well and the appropriate action is taken when a concern arises. A safeguarding professional spoke highly of the service and the excellent communication between them.  The home has a good track record of working with young people and their parents to repair and maintain their relationships. This has resulted in several young people returning home.  Both young people are in full time education. They are supported by daily routines and incentive schemes to continue to have excellent attendance. Both young people receive the educational support they need and have

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The children's home strengths

ambitions for their future.  The manager is aware of the short falls within the records and has taken action to address this. All managers and senior staff will be meeting in the New Year to look at the homes documents in detail and how these can be improved.

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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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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1) (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met. This is specifically in relation to addressing their cultural needs within their health plan. 31/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (d) that contact is between each child and the child's parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child's relevant plans. This is specifically in relation to updating these plans when arrangements change. 31/12/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the home's records represent a significant contribution to a child's life history. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 62, paragraph 14.5)  Ensure that all children's case records are kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author. This is specifically in relation to staff signing the records that give them up dated information. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 62, paragraph 14.3)  Ensure that each child's day to day health and well-being needs are met. This is specifically in relation to offering a healthy balanced diet. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 33, paragraph 7.3)  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is specifically in relation to including

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Recommendations

agreed strategies and actions for staff to take within young people's risk assessments. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 42, paragraph 9.5)  Ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/01/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/06/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

Young people come to live at the home in a planned way. The manager ensures that all relevant paperwork is received so an informed decision on whether the home can safely care or meet the young person’s needs can be reached. Good impact risk assessments support the decision and other young people at the home are part of this process. As part of this process, the manager can demonstrate when unsuitable referrals have been rejected. One young person said, ‘I came to visit, I stayed for tea, received a welcome booklet and staff went through the boundaries and expectations of the home.’ He continued to say, ‘It helped to know where I was going and I think I have settled in well.’ This means that young people are suitably placed and are welcomed into the home.

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requires improvement

Both young people are working towards plans of returning home in the near future. Staff discussed with the inspector all the good progress that the young people have made in education, health, relationships and much more. But, the records within the home do not reflect this. The records only contain basic and sufficient information to care for young people. They do not show the starting points at admission, the work undertaken by staff, how professionals have been included or the steps to the good outcomes young people have achieved. This means the home cannot evidence the good work that they do. But more importantly, when young people access their records now or in the future they cannot see the journey that they have taken, be proud of their achievements or reflect on their past.

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requires improvement

Both young people said that staff always ask them their views and try to make things happen. They said that they were fully involved in their care and felt that they could influence decisions about them. One young person was getting ready for his review on the day of the inspection. Staff encouraged him to write his thoughts, feelings and questions down so he would remember them. On his return he was happy that he was able to talk, raise his issues and be part of his review. He said, ‘By attending I know what was said, I was able to share my thoughts and I am clear on what I have to do to return home.’ As a result, young people see the value of being involved in their care. Both young people said that the home’s complaint system is fully discussed with them at regular intervals. They said that they have access to a named independent advocate, can speak with their social workers, Ofsted or the independent visitor if necessary. However, they said that

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requires improvement

staff were excellent in listening to them, sort out any grumbles quickly and they discuss any issues within their weekly meetings. This means that they have a range of independent people who they can talk to about any worries or concerns they may have.

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requires improvement

Prior to coming to this home both young people had poor attendance at school. Before young people are placed the manager works closely with the young person’s social worker, virtual head and educational professionals to ensure that there is an identified and suitable education provision for them. The manager and staff attend meetings to share information and plan the introduction to the school. They continue to liaise with the head teacher to ensure that young people are doing well or to discuss any issue. One young person said, ‘It is a new school. I visited and looked around before starting here. I do not like school but I know I have to go. I want to do something in business or construction when I leave so I know I need to get some good grades to go to college.’ Another young person said, ‘I do not like school but I now do one day at college as well. I want to be a beautician.’ Both young people said that staff ensure that they are ready for their

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requires improvement

day, help with homework and speak to teachers on their behalf if they are not happy. The home has good incentives and rewards schemes in place that encourage young people to attend school. They have received additional clothing money, activities, and personal items to celebrate their achievements. As a result, both young people have excellent attendance at school, are being supported to work in line with their peers and have ambitions for their future.

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requires improvement

Young people’s personal health has improved since being at this home. They regularly attend all health appointments. One young person has recently received dental treatment that she has previously refused. Staff worked closely with her, the specialist nurse and dentist in alleviating her fears and discussing why it is important to have the necessary treatment. All staff are trained in dispensing medication and have a first aid qualification. This means that good medication and accident procedures are followed and that young people receive their medication in line with their prescription. However, young people eat an unhealthy diet with lots of fast food. For example, one young person had chips as part of their main meal on four consecutive days plus two takeaway options. Staff say that this is what they have chosen to eat but the home’s records do not show what was offered. Therefore, they cannot demonstrate that they encourage young people to eat

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requires improvement

healthy. In addition to this, both young people are from different cultures. One young person does not follow his religion fully by praying or attending a mosque but does continue to follow dietary restrictions. These restrictions have not been addressed within his health plan. This means that his cultural needs are not being fully met. For example, it is not clear that when sausages are provided as part of a meal that they do not contain pork.

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requires improvement

Placement plans briefly identify young people’s culture and religion. Young people say that staff discuss with them how they can support them in these areas and look at places of worship, groups within the community and any additional support they require. However, both young people said they mostly followed English culture and did not wish to follow their own culture or religion. Staff have spoken with their parents to ensure that their views are fully considered in their care. For example, they have recently discussed arrangements for celebrating Christmas.

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requires improvement

This home mostly works with young people whose plan is to return home. Staff work closely with the young people’s parents and professionals to prepare young people to return safely. They do this by including parents in their child’s care, keeping them updated on their progress or concerns and ensuring that everyone is following the plan. Part of this plan is to ensure that they have regular, meaningful and safe contact with each other. This is built up over time to overnight stays and longer periods at home with support from the home. The home has an excellent record of being successful in this area. A young person has recently moved back home. She has continued to attend her education and is keeping herself safe. Both the young person and her mother remain in contact with the home and report that things are going well. However, arrangements for contact are not clearly recorded within young people’s plan such as dates, times and specific arrangements. In

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requires improvement

addition to this, recent changes to one young person’s contact have not been recorded. This is important because there are some restrictions to places where contact can take place. The lack of information provided does not ensure that staff are aware of the changes and can take appropriate action.

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requires improvement

Young people say that they are offered a wide range of activities. One young person attends a local youth club twice a week and has made friends. Friends visit the home, stay for tea and are sometimes included in activities. One young person said, ‘We had a pool party with a barbeque in the summer. My friends came and it was great fun.’ Another young person said, ‘I enjoy going out with my friends but I had fun at ice skating. I have also joined the gym.’ This means young people have friends in the community, take part in community life and experience new leisure opportunities.

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requires improvement

Young people take pride in their home and help keep it clean and tidy. It is nicely decorated and furnished to a high standard. It is warm and welcoming and young people have put up Christmas decorations and a tree. Both young people are making plans with staff to redecorate their bedrooms in the new year.

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good

Young people describe staff as ‘fantastic’, ‘brill’, ‘funny’ and ‘great’. They say the support from staff has enabled them to reflect and change their behaviour, understand why it is important to go to school and be healthy and to be able to recognise why adults had concerns about them. One young person said, ‘I am going home soon and this would not have been possible without the staffs support and help.’

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good

Young people say that they are safe at this home. They also talked about how staff provide them with good advice and information to keep themselves safe. One young person said, ‘I am much safer because I now understand that it is important to let staff know where I am and what I am doing, so they know I am safe and well.’ She continued to say, ‘I am safe on-line because staff have discussed important things with me about sharing confidential information or not knowing who you are speaking with.’ Staff are fully able to support young people in these areas because they have had training in safeguarding, child sexual exploitation and child exploitation on-line protection training. This is refreshed frequently so staff are aware of any changes to approaches or legislation.

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good

In general, care plans and placement plans identify young people’s needs, routines and daily living. These are incorporated into their behaviour management plans. But, although risk assessments identify known risks they do not show the history, triggers, strategies or actions for staff to take if an incident was to occur. This does not ensure that a consistent response or that agreed strategies or action is taken to safeguard young people.

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good

There has only been one reported missing from home for the young people currently in placement. One young person had gone home after school but because staff did not know his whereabouts, they followed the missing from home protocol. Other young people who have now left the home did have a history of being missing prior to placement. Initially, their missing periods continued for a time but the home was successful in lowering these episodes and ensuring that they understood the concerns and safety implications of being missing. A safeguarding professional said, ‘I have no concerns about this home. In fact, they are very proactive. They keep me informed and do everything possible to ensure young people are safe and that protocols are followed. She continued to say, ‘Before young people are admitted the manager discusses the concerns and how we are going to respond to them. This means if additional support is required, such

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good

as a child sexual exploitation worker we can put this in place quickly. We also have weekly chats so I am aware and updated on the past week’s events.’ The manager is aware of the different processes of each local authority in completing missing from home return interviews if necessary.

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good

Effective and meaningful partnerships between the home, police and other safeguarding professionals promote young people’s safety and welfare. Staff spoken with during the inspection fully discussed their roles and responsibilities in ensuring young people were safe and the procedures to follow. All professionals spoken with said that the home was excellent in sharing information, keeping them up-to-date and having the safety of young people at the heart of their practice.

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good

Young people generally behave well. They are supported to improve their behaviour through good advice from staff, incentives and reward charts. Therefore, sanctions are minimal but when applied young people say they are fair. Young people have not been held for their or others safety. Staff receive regular restraint training to ensure that if an incident occurred that they could do this safely.

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good

A range of health and safety checks are completed to assess whether there are any hazards which could pose a risk to young people and staff. They take part in regular fire drills to ensure they know how to evacuate the building safely in case of an emergency. These measures help to ensure that young people continue to live in a safe environment.

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requires improvement

There is a well- qualified and experienced manager in place. She was registered with Ofsted in 2011. A senior care worker who is undertaking his Level 5 in leadership and management supports her. The manager is working closely with him with the view of her stepping down from the management role in the summer. Staff describe the manager as being fair, approachable and supportive. Young people say they have an excellent relationship with her and because she is often at the home they can talk to her about anything.

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requires improvement

The home’s Statement of Purpose has recently been up-dated to reflect the changes within the Children’s Homes Regulation. It clearly sets out the ethos, aims and objectives of the home and is regularly reviewed. This ensures young people; parents, professionals and stakeholders know what services and support they can expect to receive from the home. There is a clear process for admission, which ensures that the home can meet a young person’s individual needs.

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requires improvement

There have been no new appointments of staff since the home’s last inspection. As a result, a very stable staff team who know them well cares for young people. Young people say that this has been a significant feature of them building good relationships and making good progress. Staff say that the support, regular supervision, staff meetings and appraisals helps them carry out their duties and informs their practice well.

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requires improvement

Records within the home lack in-depth information because they do not contain a young person’s starting point and the steps taken to ensure good outcomes. For example, a young person’s education plan only has his current school details within it. There is no information around his past attendance at other schools, progress there, the excellent arrangements that staff did on identifying this new placement, how they have liaised with teachers to ensure that the placement does not break down etc. Although some of this information is within another section called contact with professionals. This does not show a clear picture of a young person’s educational history. The quality of information held within records was discussed at another company home at a previous inspection. The responsible individual has taken decisive action and scheduled several meetings, with managers, in the new year to address this. She said, ‘I am aware that the records need a complete

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requires improvement

overhaul but we did not want to rush this. We are going to look at each plan separately and look at how these can improve.’ In respect of this, a general requirement has been given to improve all records within the home. In addition to this, the company has a system were all staff sign to say they have read any up- dated information; but not all staff have signed. This does not ensure that the staff know and can implement any changes necessary.

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requires improvement

The manager assesses the quality of care at this home by completing six monthly monitoring audits. The home also has an independent visitor who monitors the home on a monthly basis. These reports are completed and sent timely to Ofsted. However, they contain overall statements, do not say which record was sampled and do not reflect the findings of this inspection. For example, Decembers report says that young people eat a healthy balanced diet. The inspector viewed the same records and found that young people were eating large amounts of fast food, chips and refusing breakfast. There is no evidence in the records that vegetables or fruit are offered or eaten. The manager also confirmed that these reports did not help her improve the recordings or practice within the home.

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requires improvement

The home’s notification system is robust. As a result, all serious events are reported promptly to all agencies. The home works well with a variety of professionals such as the safeguarding board, social workers, local and placing authorities to ensure young people are safe. The manager is confident that she would be able to challenge professionals, if necessary on behalf of young people or if there is a shortfall.

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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

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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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