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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 1 Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. It provides residential short breaks for children with learning and/or physical disabilities. There are currently 52 children accessing short breaks at this home. Children attend for short breaks in small groups of up to six children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is permanent in post and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 15/11/2021 Full Good 08/01/2020 Full Good 19/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good experiences during their short breaks. Staff provide respectful care to children that promotes their dignity. The home has a relaxed atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from planned and gradual introductions to the home. The pace of the introductions considers the views and wishes of children and their parents and carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a vast range of activities, at the home and going out to places. For example, they go to beaches, safari parks, local shops and play areas. Staff evaluate activities for enjoyment and suitability for children. This informs planning for future activities, to maximise benefit and enjoyment for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good communication with children’s families and carers before, during and after short breaks. This can vary due to children’s needs, and parent and carer preferences. The information-sharing helps staff to prepare for children’s short breaks. Any change in need is reflected in their plan and the care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are very complimentary about the home, particularly the level of communication and the activities and outings children enjoy. Parents are confident in entrusting the care of their children to the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff set children specific targets to work towards, which are broken down into stages. This is in its infancy but is starting to show children’s progress. All managers and staff are aspirational for children and delight in their progress and achievements. This joy is shared with children and their families through praise and ‘wow’ certificates.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled in understanding children’s methods of communication. Staff are proactive in using and devising new resources to support children’s communication. Children are supported and encouraged to make choices. Staff help children to learn about self-care and routines through communication aids.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some areas of the home are worn and in need of redecoration. Some items need replacing, such as missing and broken photo frames. These detract from the otherwise welcoming and well-planned environment.

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

Children’s safety is the priority during their short breaks. Children have detailed care plans that outline their needs and risks. This provides staff with guidance about how to care for and keep children safe. Plans set out the required level of supervision for each child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 4 Staff regularly read children’s plans to refresh their knowledge and understand any new information needed to provide safe care to children.

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

Children have not gone missing from care during their short breaks. The risk of children going missing is considered in their plans. The preventative measures are clearly documented. However, plans do not consistently set out the actions staff must take in the event of a child going missing, even for children assessed as high risk.

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

Staff have good knowledge of children’s needs. Staff are skilled at pre-empting behaviours of concern and use good strategies to help to reduce children’s anxieties. This reduces the number of incidents for children. Physical intervention is only used when necessary.

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

Managers thoroughly review all incidents and complaints. Actions and recommendations from these reviews are always addressed, for example updating children’s plans, upskilling or retraining staff.

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

Staff work in partnership with children’s families, carers and other professionals to develop strategies that support children most effectively and keep them safe, for example sharing information with school or health agencies. This also increases the consistency of care provided to children, across all the places where they spend time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an impeccable level of organisation. She is an excellent role model for the staff team. She is vigilant in her oversight of the home. The manager sets high expectations for the quality of care for children. When there have been concerns about staff practice, these have been addressed promptly, and appropriate action has been taken.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported by leaders and managers. They are inspired and motivated by their enthusiasm and high aspiration for children. Leadership and management are enhanced by a deputy manager and team leaders. There is a key focus on development and upskilling leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a core team of staff at the home. However, a high number of agency staff are currently being used. This is while recruitment is ongoing for vacancies. Staff are safely recruited at the home. Agency staff receive introductions to the home and the children they care for. Regular agency staff are provided with formal supervision. These measures somewhat mitigate any disadvantages of using agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Shift leaders ensure that the home and children’s care are well organised. As a result, staff fully understand their role and duties well. This provides children with reassurance around who is caring for them and what the expected routines and activities are. Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 5 Staff receive regular supervision that is supportive of their well-being and development. They are well trained in a range of topics. The training offer has been enhanced to upskill staff in specialist areas, such as communication methods. Staff can articulate the benefit of this training, in communicating more effectively with children and understanding their needs. Furthermore, staff have a good understanding of the model of care and apply this in supporting children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive and well-considered approach to deciding which children access their short breaks together. This is continually reviewed to ensure that it optimises children’s enjoyment and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has strong working relationships with the placing authorities. As a result, leaders and managers contribute to wider care planning and outcomes for children, for example in supporting them to move to longer-term or alternative provisions in line with their needs and circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager strives for continual development and improvement. As a result, children are safe and have thoroughly enjoyable experiences during their short breaks. Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 6

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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, 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.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that the home is well maintained and provides a pleasant environment for children to enjoy.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated from the last inspection. 29 March 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28) Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children’s home: 1266267 8

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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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Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1266267 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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