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

Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 1 SC064117 Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be led by a well-qualified and experienced registered manager. He has a good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. At the last inspection, two requirements and one recommendation were made. The manager has made progress addressing these. Staffing sufficiency has improved. New team leaders have been appointed and are beginning to have a positive effect on young people’s care. Staffing levels were put under strain over the Christmas period due to staff illness. The manager and a number of core staff completed additional shifts to ensure that the young people received continuity of care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection. it was unclear how the results of young people’s views were being listened to and acted on. This has now improved. Young people are encouraged to express their views and opinions about the home. They contribute to menu and activity planning in one-to-one sessions and a weekly young people’s meeting. Young people’s Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 2 communication needs are assessed, and information adapted to help them understand what is written, making it more accessible for them. Some information includes picture symbols assisting young people to make sense of what is asked of them. Young people now have photo journals that document their experiences and show how their views are actioned.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement is repeated, as it has not been fully met. Work undertaken by staff to prepare young people for the physical and emotional changes in puberty has been limited to ad-hoc individual sessions. There has been no planning or evaluation. The manager acknowledges that this is a shortfall and has plans to address this with staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress in most aspects of their lives. Staff and managers work closely together to provide a bespoke service for young people in the home. Staff know the young people well and are committed to making a positive difference in their lives. They are warm, caring and committed to understanding and responding to young people’s needs. Staff have a good understanding of young people’s complex needs. They receive training in specialised areas that meets the needs of those they care for, for example in Makaton, autism and epilepsy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has moved to live with foster carers. His move was carefully planned. His foster carers and their family were warmly welcomed into the home to begin introductions. Staff then took the young person to visit his new home before overnight stays began. This approach has meant that he has taken the transition in his stride and settled in well. Two new young people have also joined the home. The manager completed comprehensive impact risk assessments prior to their admissions, taking careful consideration of the needs of the other young people and staff skills and experience. Both young people have settled well and are beginning to develop positive relationships with staff. One parent said, ‘Staff have done really well supporting his move. His behaviour has really improved. He’s much calmer and happier there.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress because they work with staff who know their needs well. Young people are encouraged to develop skills as part of independence planning. For instance, they accompany staff into the community for shopping or leisure pursuits, such as swimming. They develop confidence from knowing what is expected of them. They attend school and are achieving well. One young person who refused to attend school and use school transport has been supported by staff to return. Both his parents and the school’s consultant psychiatrist have commended staff’s dedication and perseverance. The clinical psychiatrist commented, ‘[The staff] did an exceptional job getting him back into school. They used the opportunities in school holidays really well to encourage him to travel in a car and go out on activities.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a warm and comfortable living space for young people. Young people are able to personalise their rooms. However, one young person’s wardrobe doors are broken, and they have no appropriate storage for clothes. Their clothes were in a pile on the floor at inspection. This does not help young people to feel valued and detracts from the homeliness of their surroundings. Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 3 Young people have a limited concept of safety, so staff and managers make sure that they are safeguarded at all times. Each young person has a detailed risk assessment, which is regularly reviewed and updated. Young people do not go missing from the home. Due to their highly complex needs, young people currently living in the home do not go out alone. They receive a high level of staff supervision both inside the home and when out on activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from robust behaviour management plans. Staff work hard to develop strategies for young people to manage their behaviour and anxieties better. Staff are trained to use physical intervention but only as a last resort. Staff know what triggers challenging behaviour and they pre-empt situations before they happen. This helps them to support young people before behaviour escalates. This protects young people from injury or harm and helps them to learn coping strategies.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one complaint made about the poor induction of agency workers and staff practice. This complaint has been fully investigated, and placing authorities and the local authority designated officer were informed. The manager has acknowledged the shortfalls surrounding this incident and has taken appropriate action to ensure that this is not repeated.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent visitor monitors the home monthly. Her insight into the service and young people enables her to produce detailed reports with valuable recommendations. The manager uses these to develop and progress the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is strong. Social workers and professionals from specialist services commend the commitment of staff. As a result, young people experience an integrated approach to meeting their needs and promoting their welfare. Staff effectively challenge services when they consider that plans do not adequately meet young people’s needs. This partnership working helps young people to overcome difficulties that previously affected their development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager makes sure that staff actively support young people’s relationships with family members. They ensure that family members are welcomed into the home and are kept regularly updated about a young person’s progress. The manager and staff recognise the importance of young people maintaining relationships with family members, which are safe and positive.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The health and well-being standard is that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10(1)(b)(2)(a)(iv)) Specifically, this is with particular reference to preparing young people for the physical and emotional changes in puberty. 30/03/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are provided with appropriate furniture, such as a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19). This is with particular reference to ensuring that all young people have functioning wardrobes to store clothes.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 5 experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Progress Children’s Services Ltd, Progress House, 127 Millfields Road, Wolverhampton WV4 6JG

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Inspector

Anne Daly, social care inspector Gareth Lecky, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064117 6 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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