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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 1 SC064117

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Progress Children’s Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this monitoring visit, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 24 February 2021. The provider is yet to appoint a new manager. A registered manager from another children’s home operated by the organisation is acting as interim manager.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out after Ofsted had received a complaint about the children’s home. This visit was conducted using a blended approach, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Inspectors spent a limited period of time at the home and then continued the inspection remotely. The inspectors considered a sample of documents provided via email, conducted interviews with managers, and gained feedback from the staff and children’s placing local authorities.

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This monitoring visit

This visit has raised serious concerns in respect of the safeguarding of children living in the home. As a result of the concerns, Ofsted has issued a restriction of accommodation notice that prevents any new admissions to the home. This came into effect from 16 March 2021 and will remain in place for up to 12 weeks. In addition, three compliance notices have been issued under regulation 12, regulation 13 and regulation 23.

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This monitoring visit

In recent months, the stability of the core staff team has declined. In addition, the registered manager has left the home. There have been occasions when the children’s home has not had the required number of staff on duty to reflect children’s needs. This has impacted the care that children receive. For example, the shortage Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 2 of staff has had an impact on one child being able to spend time in the community, in line with his care plan.

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This monitoring visit

Changes in staffing have, on occasion, resulted in less-experienced staff caring for the children. Some staff do not always have the knowledge and skills to communicate with the children or know how to respond to the children’s behaviour. These shortfalls mean that staff are not equipped to provide the individualised care that children need.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to capture in children’s risk assessments all known information about children’s needs and vulnerabilities. This means that comprehensive strategies to manage children’s risks are not always available to staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not always understand safeguarding in the context of the children that they care for. For example, two children’s risk assessments indicate that there is no risk of allegations by the child because the child is non-verbal. A lack of communication plans for children means that staff are unaware of things such as how children will show signs of being distressed or upset. This omission fails to demonstrate that staff have the skills and knowledge to understand children’s vulnerabilities and to look at ways of bringing in protective measures to safeguard children from abuse and neglect.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not supervise children in line with agreed staffing ratios. As a result, incidents can occur. For example, on one occasion, a child was able to gain access to the laundry room and equipment despite being on a one-to-one staffing ratio. This shortfall places children at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to ensure that there is an effective and safe medication management system in place. This omission fails to prioritise children’s health and well-being.

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This monitoring visit

There are shortfalls in reporting and recording. Staff do not ensure that records of incidents contain all essential information. Furthermore, children and staff do not always receive the opportunity to have a debrief following an incident. As a result, records cannot be relied on in the case of an investigation and the feelings of children after an incident are missed.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to ensure that staff receive regular supervision. This means that staff have missed out on the opportunity to reflect on and develop their practice.

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This monitoring visit

The home environment lacks individual touches that reflect the children’s needs and interests.

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This monitoring visit

Management systems to support oversight of the service are weak. For example, managers have repeatedly failed to notify Ofsted of significant incidents. In addition, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 3 the statement of purpose is not up to date and the manager has not submitted a quality of care report to Ofsted. This lack of clear oversight has limited the opportunities to reflect on and develop the service.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have already identified the shortfalls raised at this visit and have implemented an action plan to address them. However, this is a recent development and changes are still in their infancy.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/02/2020 Full Good 10/10/2019 Interim Not judged 02/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii)) 30 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 25 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 5 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that children’s risk assessments are up to date and contain all relevant information, that all staff know and understand children’s risk assessments and the strategies in place to reduce risks, and that staff understand children’s communication methods and have the skills to support these.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(h)) 25 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

*The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 25 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 6 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) 30 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 30 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a)) 30 May 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is kept under review and that, when updated, a copy is provided to HMCI. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 8  The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support and, where possible, this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that children’s case records and internal plans fully reflect their individual progress. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Progress House, 127 Millfields Road, Wolverhampton WV4 6JG

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Inspectors

Tracey Coglan Greig, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC064117 9 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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