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 judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy their short breaks. They have fun, laugh and have positive experiences, made special by the enthusiastic and committed staff team. Young people make good progress across all areas of their development. They are able to engage in a wide range of activities and have increased in confidence as a result. Parents and professionals involved with the service all speak highly of the care provided to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A particular strength of this service is its flexibility and designed to meet the needs of the young people and their families. Introductions and matching of young people on their short breaks are carefully planned and regularly reviewed. This ensures that young people are appropriately placed with others with similar abilities and needs. As one parent of a young person newly accessing the service commented:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

We were put immediately at ease from our first visit. Staff are lovely and made us feel at home. They took great care listening to what suits him. He’s settled really well and really looks forward to his stays.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is currently enhancing the matching process to take into account young people’s views and has developed a questionnaire to enable young people to express particular preferences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service has recently responded to a crisis in a young person’s family and successfully supported his transition to full-time foster care. Staff worked effectively alongside placing social workers and foster carers to support his transition, skilfully using social stories to support his understanding of the moving process. In the words of the placing social worker, this was: ’An excellent example of effective partnership working. Staff have gone over and above what I would have expected to progress the plan.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are protected from harm by good safeguarding practice. Staff members have completed safeguarding training. They also receive training in more specialised areas to ensure that they are able to provide sensitive and safe care. All young people have individual risk assessments. These contain detailed information about young people’s vulnerabilities, risks and needs. Consequently, young people receive good and safe care from a well-informed and knowledgeable staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff are highly motivated and have an exceptional understanding of the needs of young people who have complex disabilities. The staff team provides young people with consistent structure and routine. As a result, young people feel settled and have a sense of security.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has managed recent incidents of challenging behaviour well. At times when young people have displayed aggressive behaviours towards staff and others, the staff have had to intervene to keep the young people safe. Staff know young people well and have a good understanding why young people’s behaviour may be affected by outside pressures in their lives. All staff have received training in physical intervention but work hard to prevent situations deteriorating to a level at which it is necessary. Young people benefit from detailed behaviour management plans. The staff understand and implement these plans well, which has a positive effect on young people’s behaviours. The manager uses team meetings effectively to reflect upon incidents and promote learning opportunities for staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not go missing from the home. Due to their highly complex needs, none of the young people currently receiving this service goes out alone. They receive a high level of staff supervision both inside the home and when out on activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has responded well to meeting the two requirements made at the last inspection. The manager makes sure that, following a physical intervention, incidents are now reviewed and evaluated in the required timescales. This has improved learning. The provider has now implemented new systems which ensure that safe recruitment processes are fully completed before new staff commence employment. This ensures that there are effective and safe recruitment practices in place, meaning that young people are protected from adults who may wish to harm them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager understands the strengths and areas for development for the home. Regular quality-of-care reviews are completed which review the progress achieved and identify areas for future progress. The views of family members, social workers and other professionals, however, are not considered. This means that the manager is unable to assess effectively how the home meets the needs of young people living there. Partnership working is strong. Social workers and family members commend the commitment of staff. All are consistently positive about the quality and regularity of the information they receive. As a result, young people experience an integrated approach to meeting their needs and promoting their welfare. Staff challenge services effectively when they consider that plans do not adequately meet young people’s needs. This effective partnership working ensures that young people benefit from consistency of care.

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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 who have 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 02/08/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5)) 28/04/17

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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 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. Whenever 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 whom 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 0300 123 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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