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

An experienced and qualified manager manages this home very well. He also manages another home run by the company. A new deputy manager has strengthened the management arrangements. This means that there is good daily oversight of the home. There is also a stable and experienced staff team that provides a consistent approach to caring for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The currently placed young person has been residing at the home since October 2016. At a recent meeting, several professionals commented positively on her progress across all areas of her life. A compliment made by a professional stated, ‘I cannot believe how well she is doing. Out of all the homes that I visit this is by far the best one and has a homely environment.’ Another professional said, ‘She has made a massive improvement.’ This is significant because of the short time that she has been at the home. For example, the young person had a prior history of going missing and this had led to concerns of potential child sexual exploitation. However, since being placed here she has not been reported missing. The young person said that she had not been missing because she was happy, settled and felt safe at this home. She continued to say that, because of the work completed with her by staff, that his has helped her understand and recognise the risky situations

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that she was putting herself in. There is a strong emphasis on supporting the young person to learn about how to keep herself safe, and members of staff and the young person regularly openly discuss media coverage of incidents within the young person’s meetings to build this awareness. The young person has also completed the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children ‘speak out’ education project. Due to this she has been able to raise a concern about an unsuitable adult and an investigation is ongoing. Similarly, the young person confidently said that members of staff listened to her and acted quickly on any concerns that she may have. The home has taken appropriate action in response to a concern that was recently raised and all professionals involved in her care were informed. Ofsted has also been alerted to the continuing investigations because the home now sends regular notifications as required. This means that there are strong

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safeguarding procedures in place at this home that safeguard young people well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has successfully completed a hair and beauty course at level 3 at an alternative education provision. The home rightly recognised this as a significant achievement and the young person was able to choose a suitable reward. At the young person’s personal education planning meeting, it was recognised that the young person has the ability to sit exams and achieve good grades. Therefore, since the young person finished her level 3 course, the manager has been proactive in trying to find a mainstream school for her. The manager worked closely with the virtual head and a school was identified. Several meetings took place before the young person started at the school and the school was confident that they could meet her needs. Unfortunately, after a week’s attendance the school decided that they could not keep her safe. The manager has formally challenged the school about this decision and has advocated strongly on the young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person’s behalf, because of the subsequent gap in her education that has resulted. The young person has now identified another school that she would like to attend. As a result the manager has made enquires and is continuing to work closely with the virtual head so that her educational needs can be met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has enabled the young person to continue to enjoy her hobby of roller- skating. She has made several friends and they visit the home and stay for tea. This means that she has been able to develop and maintain relationships with peers that are important to her. The young person has started training to complete a marathon to raise money for children in Africa. She said, ‘It will be fun and also help others.’ Members of staff are fully supporting her by taking part. In addition to this, the home has booked the young person and members of staff on a bicycle safety course in readiness for the summer holidays. This shows that the young person is physically healthy, has compassion for others and that the home is forward thinking in identifying and planning activities for the holiday periods.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good approaches to the management of behaviour in this home. Although staff have regular training in behaviour management and restraint, the young person has not been physically held while being at this home. This is because members of staff pride themselves on being able to divert or de-escalate negative or unacceptable behaviour. The young person said that any sanctions imposed are fair and proportionate. The home celebrates all achievements and continued good behaviour through agreed incentives and spontaneous recognition. For example, the young person has received new roller skates, meals out and extra activities. The emphasis on positive reward and recognition has been instrumental in building the young person’s self-esteem and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s records have improved. Members of staff are becoming more confident in recording the young person’s starting points and the progress they have made while being at this home. Also, members of staff now take greater care when recording information. This means that there are clear and objective entries that are signed and dated by the author.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is very confident in challenging social workers, parents and a range of professionals to ensure that young people receive the services and support required for them to progress. A stable, qualified and well-trained staff team provide good standards of care to young people. Members of staff say that supervision is regular and important to them because this gives them the opportunity to discuss their practice. Similarly, they say that staff meetings are an open forum to discuss the young person, any changes in their placement plans and how the home is developing. However, the home does not routinely discuss new research, legislation or articles that may help improve how they care for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are good internal and external systems for monitoring the quality of care in the home. An independent service carries out the external monitoring and they are successfully consulting with young people, staff, stakeholders and the local authority on what the home does well and how they can improve. This means that there is a good all-round view of the services provided by the home. The manager is then able to reflect on any suggestions for improvement and takes these through to his development plan. This approach ensures that the home continues to improve and grow. However, the independent visitor reports have not been sent in a timely manner to Ofsted as required by the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

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

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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 within 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)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on: (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. 31/03/2017

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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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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