Children's home run by Progress Children’s Services Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 1 SC020859 Registered provider: Progress Children‟s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number of homes operated by a private company. The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2018.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2018

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard—

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that damage to the home is repaired promptly. 29/06/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

p.3

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that copies of local authority placement plans, pathway plans and education, health and care plans are on file and up to date. 31/05/2018

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person has systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people receive good-quality care from passionate and committed staff. Staff know the children and young people well and care about them. Good support and a nurturing environment help children and young people to make significant progress in many aspects of their lives.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff keep children‟s and young people‟s views at the heart of their practice. This allows children and young people to participate in the day-to-day running of their home. Their views are also central when more complex decisions are made about their care. This empowers children and young people and gives them a real sense of belonging.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make excellent progress, developing practical and social skills that enhance their independence. For example, a child now independently walks to local shops to buy items for the home and uses public transport with staff support. A young person is able to prepare drinks and increasingly interacts with staff and peers.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children and young people attend school and make good progress with their learning. Staff develop good links with teachers and pastoral staff and communicate effectively with them when issues arise. Staff are ambitious for children and young people and persistently support and encourage them to achieve to their ability. A teacher told the inspector, „Staff consistency to keep supporting (children) in the face of adversity really stands out.‟

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people take part in a wide variety of activities. This gives them increased confidence and self-esteem. As a result, children and young people are keen to develop and explore new opportunities. For example, a young person who previously struggled with noise now regularly attends a disco. Another child is being supported to join a cricket club.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children and young people to manage difficult emotions and feelings effectively. Staff are inquisitive, and offer calm and reassuring care. This helps children and young people to feel understood and respected.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the home receive a well-prepared and warm welcome. The registered manager ensures that key information is shared with the staff group. This helps children to settle in quickly. A recently admitted child told the inspector, „I really like it here. The staff care. I‟d score it 9.5 out of 10.‟

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand and manage risk well. They ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to protect children and young people. With the support of staff, children and young people talk about, and understand, risky behaviour. This approach helps children and young people to learn how to keep themselves safe. Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 5 Staff encourage children and young people to take age-appropriate risks. This enables them to become increasingly independent.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has strong links with key safeguarding agencies. This contributes to an open and transparent safeguarding culture at the home. Managers and staff promptly refer child protection incidents to the relevant authorities and investigations are handled appropriately and in line with statutory guidance. Following clear safeguarding procedures protects children and young people.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff build strong links with local police community support officers (PCSOs). Staff work alongside PCSOs to help children and young people to learn from incidents that happen. This approach discourages anti-social behaviour and reduces the risk of children and young people becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children and young people receive praise and rewards for positive behaviour. This encourages a positive and nurturing environment and helps to build strong relationships between children and with staff.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff manage challenging incidents well and use de-escalation techniques effectively. This has significantly reduced the number of restraints required to keep children, young people and others safe from harm.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff listen to children and young people and respond to any queries or concerns that they raise. Children and young people also know how to complain. Staff take complaints seriously. This helps children and young people to feel valued, safe and secure.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a passionate and inspirational leader who knows the children and young people well. He is ambitious and committed and ensures that children and young people receive increasingly good care. The registered manager‟s enthusiasm and drive inspires the staff team. As a result, the staff are aspirational for children and young people and they work well together to help children and young people to achieve their potential.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recently introduced monitoring systems enable the manager to successfully track children‟s and young people‟s progress. When necessary, the registered manager takes action to ensure that children and young people receive the support that they need. For example, he will contact schools, social workers or other agencies to address concerns and remove obstacles to progress. As a result, children and young people receive care that responds to their needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that children and young people contribute to, and understand, the information contained in their case files. However, in some instances required documents are not on file or are out of date. The impact of this is lessened as staff know the children and young people well and are meeting their needs. A Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 6 requirement is raised to ensure that all necessary documentation is requested and received from placing authority social workers.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the registered manager and morale is high. As a result, staff turnover is low. The supportive, learning culture has created a strong and resilient staff team. Children and young people benefit from being cared for by a consistent and stable staff team. In most cases, staff supervision is regular. However, there are some gaps, particularly for new staff.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager uses research to enhance staff learning. Monthly staff meetings often include workshops which focus on key aspects of care. Staff also receive regular, specialist training. As a result, staff continue to develop their knowledge and skills and have a real sense of pride in their roles. A member of staff told the inspector, „I now feel so happy and proud about my job. It‟s changed my life.‟

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Work is underway to improve the physical appearance of the home. Children and young people help to choose the decor, and one child is helping to paint his bedroom. However, some areas of the home have been damaged by a former resident and other areas need redecoration. The registered manager has plans in place to address this.

p.6

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.

p.6

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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progress Children‟s Services

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Yasser Madugu Kpabia

p.7

Inspector

Gareth Leckey: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC020859 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8