Children's Home run by Progressive Futures Care Limited in Sefton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 1 SC061924

p.1

Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

There are two children living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in.

p.2

The care of children

One child has lived in the home for almost three years. He has made progress in relation to his education. The staff have helped him to rebuild a positive relationship with his father and younger sibling.

p.2

The care of children

Staff have access to children’s care plans. This ensures that they have up-to-date information about each child’s needs. However, not all care plans show children’s aims and objectives, which hinders the manager’s ability to monitor progress.

p.2

The care of children

There have been recent changes in the staff team. However, this has not affected children’s relationships. Children said they get on well with staff, and the inspector observed positive relationships.

p.2

The care of children

Children’s views are captured and evidenced in key-working sessions, which cover a range of issues that are specific to each child. Children are involved in their review meetings, which enables them to express their views and wishes.

p.2

The safety of children

Risks are identified, understood and managed effectively. Staff have clear strategies to manage children’s risks.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff respond to incidents well. Staff said that they feel supported when dealing with challenging behaviours. Staff lone work with children, but are able to use an on-call system when additional staff are needed.

p.2

The safety of children

When children go missing from home, staff are proactive in trying to find them. Staff look for children and share important information with the relevant people.

p.2

The safety of children

An inappropriate sanction has been used in the home and a requirement will be made to address this. Leaders have reflected on this and have worked with the child to resolve the issue.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has not been a registered manager since March 2021. There was an interim manager in place from August 2021 to May 2022. However, there has not been a Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 3 manager in post since this time. Recruitment strategies for a manager have been ineffective.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The director of the company has had daily oversight of the home and will continue with this until a manager is recruited. Leaders have recently recruited a deputy manager to the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The absence of a manager has led to shortfalls in internal monitoring. Monitoring is not used appropriately to improve the quality of care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Four requirements were made at the last inspection. Three of these have been addressed and one will be a repeat requirement.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2020 Full Good 19/11/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 4

p.3

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.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to leaders ensuring that they have oversight of the home to monitor the quality of the care provided in the home. 29 November

p.4

Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child—

p.4

Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation. (Regulation 19 (1) (2)(f))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to ensuring that consequences are appropriate and are restorative in nature. 29 November

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.4

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and 29 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 5 the registered provider—

p.4

Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to ensuring that the home has a manager.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 22 Hoghton Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 0PG

p.5

Inspector

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 6 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.

p.5

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 .

p.6

Inspector

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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6