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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home since the home’s last inspection. A good impact risk assessment clearly shows that all of his needs were considered, and ways in which the home could promote these. He has settled in well and is forming relationships with staff. Another young person has moved into a solo home of the company, due to a potential safeguarding concern. This placement was identified quickly and with the consent of all professionals, to ensure that the young person was fully safeguarded. The manager consulted with a range of safeguarding professionals such as the police Unity team, which deals with child sexual exploitation matters, to ensure that the correct action was taken to establish whether the young person needed additional support, and to ensure that the safeguarding professionals were fully aware of the incident. Clear records show all the actions taken, the professional involvement, and the strategy meeting that concluded that no further

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

action was necessary. However, as the young person is soon due to move into semi-independence, it was agreed that she would remain in the identified home rather than returning here. One young person is preparing to move into an identified setting, to undergo an assessment. She has been involved in choosing her new placement, and is being prepared for the move. An adequate transition plan shows the young person’s views, wishes, and feelings, consideration of alternative placements, discussions, and meetings that took place. These arrangements were finalised at her recent review, and the local authority is awaiting permission for funding. When this is secured, there is a clear plan for introduction, including visits to the placement. This demonstrates that young people move in a planned way, and that staff and professionals are clear of their roles and responsibilities in executing the plan. Young people’s attendance at educational provisions has improved. This is because

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the manager has challenged a young person’s school and educational professionals about the young person having a full educational timetable. Previously, the school was only offering short days or requesting that staff pick the young person up early. The manager is in further talks with them about a vocational course in mechanics for the young person, as he is very interested in this area. This shows that the home takes prompt action in ensuring that young people have the same opportunities as their peers, that their views are considered, and that the home is proactive in ensuring that young people’s needs are met. Neither young person has been reported missing from this home for a significant period of time. This is because there are good routines, structures, incentives, and activities in place. One young person has time with her boyfriend that has been agreed by the staff, and staff have made good relationships with him. He often

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

comes to the home, stays for tea, and goes out on activities with them. She no longer goes missing to see him. A young person who has recently been placed here due to his history of being missing, and incidents within his community, has not been missing or reoffended. The home has worked closely with him about the reasons for the incidents, and put effective systems in place. For example, there are clear contact arrangements in place for him to see his father, brother, and friends. There is a wide range of activities that he engages with and additional activities, such as go-karting, which are used as rewards. The home has the local authority protocol and clear risk assessments in place for staff to follow, if an incident were to occur. As a result, the home has been very successful in reducing the episodes and concerns that professionals had for young people, when they are missing from home. In addition to this, these good routines and structures ensure

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that young people’s behaviour is very good. They have not been held in a restraint and they have not received any consequences for negative behaviour. All staff receive regular training in these areas, and the home’s recording system captures all the information necessary to show robustly the action taken. There have been no complaints since the home’s last inspection. Young people are taken through the home’s complaint system periodically, and have the opportunity to raise issues in their young people’s meetings. They also talk with the manager on a daily basis, talk to the independent visitor once a month, and have advocates who they can speak with. This means that young people have several avenues through which to discuss or raise a concern if they wish to. The home has restructured the young people’s files. The manager and staff say that this has improved the systems in the home because sections are clear, and old

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

information is now archived. They have also put new recording books in place. The manager has completed a guide to each separate book to ensure that staff record the necessary information required. He said, ‘I identified that information differed between what staff recorded. Therefore, these books give staff clear advice on what to record and what is required by the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 and the quality standards.’ This shows that the home is continuing to improve and develop the service. The home has a stable staff team in place. This means that young people receive consistency of care by a staff team that knows them well. A new deputy manager joined the team in December 2015. She has the level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management. She has experience of managing a large children’s home and supporting a staff team. She has been instrumental in supporting the manager and putting the new systems in place. Monthly staff meetings give the team an

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

opportunity to discuss the young people’s progress, and any house issues, and they regularly review the home’s policies and procedures. For example, staff are due to update their fire safety training. Therefore, they have looked at the fire safety policy, in preparation, and how this affects the home. At the last inspection, the home was asked to ensure that case records are signed and dated by the author. However, the social worker has not signed the new young person’s placement plan and care plan. Therefore, this recommendation has been repeated. At the last inspection, a requirement was set to improve the quality of the Regulation 44 reports completed by an independent visitor. This requirement was specifically in relation to identifying what records have been viewed, and giving an evaluation of the quality of them. There has been a slight improvement in consulting with young people and professionals, but several sections about records

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

maintained in the home still give overall statements. For example, there is a heading that states, ‘The use of measures of control, restraint, and discipline in respect of children placed there.’ Observation by the independent visitor says, ‘The home uses positive reward systems to manage young people’s behavioural issues. Incentives are encouraged and rewards given with achievable outcomes. The management system in place has proven successful.’ This does not identify what record was looked at, or the quality of it, and there is no comment about restraints or sanctions. The manager said, ‘They still do not give me enough information to help improve or develop our home. We are addressing this matter.’ This means that an independent person does not effectively monitor the quality of care within the home.

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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

24/03/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory 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 (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

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

The independent visitor must produce a report about a visit which sets out in particular the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. This is specifically in relation to identifying what records have been viewed and giving an evaluation of the quality of them (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b)) 29/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that case records are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author (‘Guide to the Quality Standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3).

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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