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

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 mostly come to this home in a planned way. Good pre- planning that includes the young person’s views ensures that they settle at this home quickly.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 When the home has been unable to meet a young person’s needs, the registered manager has worked closely with the local authority to identify a suitable placement.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 When young people have continued to place themselves at risk, the registered manager has been proactive in calling a strategy meeting to address concerns as they arise. He has challenged professionals successfully when they have not responded quickly or listened to young people’s views, feelings and wishes.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home has been able to maintain the current young person’s educational placement and her hobby. This means she has been able to continue with some friendships and have some stability in her life. Her attendance has improved significantly, and she has aspirations for her future.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff at this home are well supported through good supervision and training. The stability of the staff team helps ensure that young people receive continuity of care from adults who know them well.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 An independent visitor assesses the quality of care that young people receive. Their reports have improved because there is more evaluation of the records. This means that the registered manager can identify and improve things quickly within the home. However, there have been occasions when the reports have not been sent to Ofsted. In addition, the notification procedure is completed by the registered manager. As a result, Ofsted was not notified of some significant events when the registered manager was unavailable for work, including an occasion when a young person was missing from the home for several days and a notification was not completed. This does not ensure that Ofsted has a clear account of the action the home is taking to improve the service and to protect young people.

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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 person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious, or any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. In addition to this, the notification must include details of any action taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40(4)(a)(e) (5)(iii)) 31/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recordings. This includes ensuring that records are up to date, signed and dated by the author of each entry. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph, 14.4)

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Information about this children's home

This privately-run children’s home can accommodate two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/08/2014 Full Good

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Good

All referrals to this home are assessed robustly. An impact risk assessment considers the young person’s needs and whether the home can meet these. Young people mostly come to this home in a planned manner. A member of staff said, ‘It helps young people to settle if they know where they are going and spend time with members of staff who can answer any worries or concerns they may have, prior to coming here.’ The current young person moved in sooner than expected. The young person’s social worker said, ‘Because there was a good plan in place, when her placement broke down over a weekend, she was able to move quickly and she has settled in extremely well.’

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Good

The home has a good record of being able to work with young people to turn their behaviour around. As a result, some placements have been over a significant period, with good outcomes for young people. A social worker said, ‘I have placed young people here before and I will continue to do so because they offer a warm and nurturing environment. I have had several young people make excellent progress here because of this.’ The management and staff team have also been proactive in identifying when the home is not meeting the young person’s needs and that the placement needs to end. In the last year, the home has given notice on two young people. These decisions were not made lightly, and were taken after all other avenues had been explored. The final decision was made because the young people had not engaged with the home, and therefore staff had not been able to keep them safe.

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Good

The young person currently living at the home said that she was happy and safe, and had settled in well. She was interacting with staff appropriately, and carrying out her daily routine. She spoke briefly with the inspector and said that: staff care for her well; she received a welcome booklet; staff had gone through the rules and boundaries of the home with her; she had been able to complete her own placement plan; she has a lot of opportunities to comment on her records and her care; and the complaints system had been fully explained to her. She confirmed that there were several other independent people she could contact if she was unhappy, but that she was very happy and settled at the moment.

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Good

The young person had been attending an alternative educational placement prior to coming to this home. As the home had this information prior to her being placed, they were able to continue to support this educational placement. They introduced themselves and met, and were quick to request a personal education plan meeting. As a result, all members of staff know what the young person’s academic level is and how they can support her. These excellent arrangements are evident in her improving results and attendance. Previously, her attendance had been 75%, but it has been at 100% since being placed here. The young person said that she had received extra clothing money in recognition of these improvements. This means that young people see the benefits of engaging in education, have the same opportunities as their peers, and have stability in a main area of their life when other things are changing.

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Good

The home has also maintained the young person’s hobby. She enjoys roller skating and has attended a club for a long period of time. She has numerous friends who also attend. These friends are encouraged to visit the home, and several have stayed for tea or Sunday lunch. The home offers other alternative activities but the young person said that she is happy going to roller skating and does this about four times a week.

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Good

The young person is in good health. She attends all routine health appointments and eats a balanced diet. Good oversight of the young person’s health has identified that she has missed her HPV vaccination. The home is working closely with a specialist nurse to ensure that this is completed soon. The young person is not currently taking any prescribed medication. However, the staff team is fully trained in administering medication and they all have a first aid qualification. This ensures that the young person would receive support from qualified people, if required. In the past, the young person has received extra emotional support from the children’s mental health team. However, she decided that she no longer required this support. At a previous placement, she was completing life-story work so that she could understand her background. The registered manager is trying to locate this work, so that this can be fully concluded. This will enable the young

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Good

person to understand her journey, and why certain decisions were made.

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Good

The young person does not have contact with any significant person. She has one sibling, who she can contact if she wants to, but at the moment she does not wish this. The registered manager said that this option will be explored periodically with her, and a contact plan would be put in place to ensure that it is done sensitively and safely.

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Good

The young person has many opportunities to reflect on the care that she receives. She is encouraged to comment on and sign all relevant documents. Key-working sessions are used effectively to address concerns and/or to check the young person’s level of understanding in certain areas. As a result, the home has been able to get additional services or more information for the young person if they feel they do not understand some issues. For example, the home is looking at purchasing additional media programmes around being safe. In addition, the home is using meetings with young people more productively. Members of staff look at the local newspaper to see if there are any topics of interest they can use to support meaningful discussions. As a result, young people have had interesting conversations around legal highs, local crime and issues of safety in the community. Staff fully support young people to become as independent as possible. They

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Good

assess their skills, and support them in learning to do tasks such as cooking. As they get older, they are encouraged to do more things. For example, some young people have a budget similar to one they would receive independently as an adult. This helps them to learn good budgeting skills. A good transition plan shows how one young person moved successfully into supported living accommodation. The young person remains in contact with the home and, although some things have not gone to plan, she is doing well.

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Good

The young person said that she was safe in this home. Staff are concerned that she may be at risk of child sexual exploitation. Therefore, they are working closely with her on recognising potential perpetrators, and on how to keep herself safe while out in the community and when accessing social media. The knowledge that staff have gained from the good training they have received in child sexual exploitation has been put into practice. For example, when the young person returned to the home with new clothing, one staff member’s thoughts were around whether the young person was being exploited. Immediate action was taken in identifying where the young person had been, who with and whether she had missed education. Although there was a different explanation for the new clothing, this shows that members of staff are vigilant in this area.

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Good

The home works closely with a range of safeguarding professionals to ensure that strategy meetings are completed when issues arise. Information is then taken into the young people’s risk assessments, and the concerns are highlighted. This means that staff understand what support is required, are able to take appropriate action that has been agreed with a range of professionals, and update strategies to prevent or lessen incidents. These good arrangements are further supported by staff having regular training in safeguarding areas. For example, the staff team has recently received training in radicalisation. This means that staff have up-to-date knowledge, and would be able to recognise and taken action if an incident was to occur.

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Good

The young person has a history of being missing from care. The home identified quickly that this issue would need to be addressed with the young person. An agreed incentive was put in place. This has been extremely successful, as she has not been reported missing since being placed. Her social worker said, ‘This is a massive improvement and shows that the excellent supportive environment works.’ However, the home has not always been this successful and, although they have tried different strategies, some young people did not engage with this. One young person started to engage, and reduced his episodes of being report missing. But, when his local authority did not respond to his requests quickly, he became disillusioned and reverted back to his old behaviour. The registered manager challenged the local authority, and was thanked by the independent reviewing officer for being proactive and for being a good advocate for the young person. In

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Good

the meantime, the young person continued to go missing for long periods, including overnight. After much consideration, the staff team concluded that they could not keep him safe, and notice was given to the local authority. But Ofsted was not informed when the young person was missing overnight. This does not ensure that all parties are aware of significant incidents. In contrast to this, when young people do go missing from the home, members of staff follow the home’s protocol for reporting, searching and trying to make contact with the young person. The registered manager ensures that return interviews take place. This means that an independent person enquires about the reasons why they went missing and appropriate action can be taken, if necessary.

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Good

A stable staff team cares for the young person. This home is adjacent to another company home. There are four core staff in each home and two long-standing casual staff. Members of staff often work across the two homes to cover sickness, annual leave and any other shortfalls. The young people often spend time together, especially on significant dates such as Halloween and Bonfire Night. The flexibility of members of staff, and the close proximity of the homes, mean that young people receive continuity of care and agency staff are rarely used. Staff take pride in their relationships with young people, and equally young people describe staff as ‘great’, ‘fair’ and ‘approachable’. This is evident in the number of young people who remain in touch with the home after they have left.

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Good

Young people have not been restrained, for their own or others’ safety. Members of staff are trained in this area, if required. The home works on incentives to improve behaviour and reward achievements. For example, young people have received extra clothing money, payments to go on large activities, visited restaurants, been on trips out, and received personal items in recognition or in celebration of these successes. This means that sanctions are minimal, and when applied young people have commented in the record that they have been fair.

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Good

The young person lives in a nicely decorated, well-maintained, homely and safe environment. The home ensures that any maintenance is completed quickly, and that health and safety certificates are renewed annually. All new young people are taken through a fire evacuation procedure within the first 24 hours of their arrival. This is then updated periodically with them and members of staff. These good practices keep young people safe. Judgement grade

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Good

The home benefits from good leadership. The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2006 and has a relevant leadership and management qualification. He also manages another home within the same company, which is in close proximity. He divides his time well between the two homes and maintains regular presence and good oversight of both homes. He has strong support from a well-qualified and experienced deputy manager, and an experienced and stable staff team. This means that there is little disruption to the day-to-day care of young people, and because of this young people settle well.

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Good

The home’s Statement of Purpose reflects the service offered at this home. Professionals confirm that they received a copy, and that the ethos of the home is evident in the good outcomes for young people. One professional said, ‘This home offers a warm, caring and nurturing environment which young people often embrace. I have placed and will continue to place young people here because they do a good job.’

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Good

The registered manager ensures that young people’s reviews, 72-hour placement meetings, strategy meetings and personal education plans are completed within timescales. As a result, young people’s plans are regularly updated. However, some members of staff have not signed these plans. This means it has not been confirmed that everyone has read and understood any changes to the plans. The registered manager said this was an oversight, and took immediate action to remedy this with the staff on duty at the time of inspection. In discussion with the inspector, members of staff demonstrated clearly that they knew what changes had been made since the young person had arrived. The young person said that she fully understood her care plan, and was confident that she could influence her care. The home has recently devised a child-friendly placement plan. This will allow young people to set goals to reach their aspirations, and will give members of staff

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Good

information on how a young person wishes to be supported in each area to achieve these. Although this is in the early stages of implementation, it shows how the home makes young people central to the care they receive.

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Good

All staff are qualified in caring for young people. Staff say that regular supervision, appraisals, staff meetings and training support them in providing good, consistent care to the young people. They say that the registered manager is very approachable and fair, and offers constructive advice and feedback.

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Good

An independent visitor monitors the home on a monthly basis. Since the home’s last inspection these reports have improved slightly. This is because the visitor is evaluating some of the records more thoroughly. The registered manager is working with the visitor to ensure that the reports improve further. However, some of these reports have not been sent to Ofsted as required. The registered manager also completes a similar report on a six-monthly basis. It addresses the quality of care within the home adequately. However, the registered manager has recognised that it needs improving and is currently reformatting this report. He said that this will evidence clearly the good practice within the home and in identifying areas for improvement. He discussed how this will improve the content of his development plan, and provide a focus for staff to implement change.

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Good

The registered manager takes sole responsibility for informing Ofsted and any other relevant parties of any reportable incidents relating to significant events. Some incidents occurred when he was unavailable for work for a month. He did send these notifications on his return, but this meant there was a significant delay. In addition, when a young person was missing from the home for three days, Ofsted was not informed. This does not ensure that Ofsted is able to assess whether the home has taken robust and appropriate action to safeguard 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 children looked after 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 that 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 that 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

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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