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

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

Young people at this home continue to receive good quality care from committed and caring staff. The home provides a homely and comfortable environment to meet their complex needs. As one family member observed, ‘we initially thought we were knocking on the wrong door when we first visited as it just looks just like the rest of the houses on the street. Inside it’s really homely. We are very impressed’. All the short breaks are tailored to meet the individual needs of young people. They are able to experience activities and opportunities with their peers in a nurturing and happy environment. They are encouraged to develop new skills. As a result, they are supported to reach their potential. Where young people have difficulties expressing their views, staff consistently work to ensure that every opportunity is taken to facilitate effective communication. For example for one young person recently introduced to the service, staff have developed a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

communication pendant with widgets attached to improve and ease his ability to communicate independently. This ensures that young people have the opportunity to participate in making choices during their short break at the home and their views are listened to. Introductions and matching of young people on their short break is carefully planned and regularly reviewed. A particular strength of the service is its flexibility planning introductions which are tailored to meet the needs of the young people and their families. This ensures that they are appropriately placed with others with similar abilities and needs. Parents and siblings are welcomed at the home ensuring the young person has a nurturing and supportive experience. When young people leave the service, as they approach adulthood, they are effectively supported and their families assisted with their transition to adult services. The registered manager understands the strengths and areas for development for

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the home. He has an ambitious and achievable plans in place to ensure the service continues to progress. Staff understand the needs of the young people using this service. Staff training ensures that staff remain skilled in meeting the needs of the young people. The registered manager effectively utilises developmental opportunities in team meetings to promote practice for example recent meetings have focused upon incident reporting which was identified as a shortfall at the last inspection. Record keeping is now more robust with consistent management oversight ensuring that the home has the information needed to effectively safeguard young people. Staff understand how to support young people to behave in socially acceptable and safe ways. This is done through skilful redirection, de-escalation and gentle guidance. Physical intervention is only ever used when it is necessary to keep young people and others safe. There have been no incidents since the last

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. A new picture exchange communication form has been developed to ensure young people are consistently spoken with following an incident. This will improve staff’s ability to reflect and learn from incidents to inform future practice. There have been no incidents of young people going missing. Managers and staff are knowledgeable of the local protocol to follow with local police should such an incident take place. Staff fully understand the particular vulnerabilities of young people in their care. The ratio of staff caring for each young person is carefully assessed and means that risks are reduced and this further strengthens safe working practice. Partnership working is effective and ensures that young people are well cared for and supported during their stay. Professionals working with the home consistently praise staff’s communication with services. As one educational professional commented, ‘it is evident staff know the young people well and are in tune with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their needs’. The two requirements and one recommendation made at the last inspection have all been met. There are no new requirements made as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This service offers short breaks for up to five children and young people. The service is available to children and young people with a learning disability, a physical disability and/or sensory impairment. This service is delivered and managed by an independent provider that operates other social care services.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

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

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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