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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 1 SC038526

p.1

Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to nine children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities including sensory impairments.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager who is suitably experienced and qualified.

p.1

Inspection date: 31 October 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 31 October 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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: SC038526 2

p.1

Outcome 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

Findings from the inspection

Staff provide care for children that meets their needs, keeps them safe and provides them with good experiences.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s needs well. They are attentive to children and take action to ensure their well-being. Staff manage children’s complex health needs well, sustaining or improving their health. For example, one child has had an extended period in hospital. Staff have managed his specialised care well following his discharge from the hospital. As a result, he is making a good recovery and external health professionals no longer need to visit as often.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff provide a range of enjoyable activities for children. At the time of the inspection, children were enjoying a Halloween party. All children were included, and activities were sensory based, in line with the children’s needs and abilities.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans set out the actions staff must take to provide safe care for children. Plans also detail children’s individual needs and preferences for communication. Staff are competent in understanding the individual ways children communicate. As a result, children respond well to staff interaction. Staff have warm and nurturing relationships with children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The quality and records of staff supervision have improved. However, there is still a shortfall in the frequency of formal supervision for all staff. This reduces opportunities for staff development. There have been some improvements in the home environment, including a new bathroom. Yet, there are still areas where the home and garden need further improvement.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been three medication errors at the home since the last inspection, all for the same child. No harm has come to the child. Managers have taken these errors very seriously but have been unable to prevent them from reoccurring. A full investigation is in progress, with a range of actions being taken to address this pattern of errors. Managers recognise that there has been a shortfall in the shift leader’s understanding of their responsibilities and of the allocation of duties to staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Not all of the requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Three of the requirements have been met, and two requirements will be restated.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The organisation has provided both scrutiny and support to the manager. Consequently, the manager has reflected extensively and has a renewed sense of confidence in addressing concerns and developing the home and staff practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 3 Progress is evident, and the manager continues to drive plans forward for further improvement. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 4

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 01/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/07/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

The specifically relates to the home being appropriately decorated, maintained and clean.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 February 2024

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for 28 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 6 whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 February 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. Staff leading shifts at the home must ensure that all staff know their individual duties. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC038526 8 regulates and inspects 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.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 .

p.8

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.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: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8