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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746884 1

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

There is a new manager in post, who took up position in November 2023. Ofsted is currently processing his application for registration.

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This monitoring visit

On 16 November 2023, Ofsted carried out an Assurance Inspection and found serious and widespread concerns in leadership and management of the home. As a result of serious shortfalls, a decision was made to issue a restriction of accommodation notice on 17 November 2023. A monitoring visit took place on the 19 December 2023. It was found that there had been insufficient progress, so the restriction of accommodation remained in place. This has been adhered to and no new children have moved into the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was conducted to assess the progress made by the provider in addressing the previously identified shortfalls. Managers have taken action to address the regulatory breaches identified at the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit managers have reflected and reached the decision that they were not equipped to meet the child’s needs or help him make sufficient progress. Notice was served and the child has now moved on from the home.

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This monitoring visit

While the child lived at the home, the manager and staff did take action to improve the child’s routines. This included a plan to manage online safety and the time spent gaming. Progress was very limited due to him moving on from the home. However, staff have demonstrated resilience and a greater consistency in their approach. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746884 2 The manager has undertaken a reflective learning review in respect of this child’s placement at the home. The manager has identified the learning and actions to take to prevent the same shortfalls in the future.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has an increased understanding of care planning for children. This includes the decision-making process to admit a child to the home. Resources and ideas have been developed to support implementation of education, routines, agreements, boundaries, and expectations for children.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have taken further action to upskill the workforce. Staff training has been enhanced and now includes child specific training. A bespoke training session for staff has been facilitated by therapeutic staff, this provided staff with development around behaviour support.

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This monitoring visit

The number of staff has now increased, and there are further staff due to start imminently. Managers are realistic about the number of children they can care for with the current staffing. Staff recruitment continues to be on going.

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This monitoring visit

A new area of concern arising from this monitoring visit is about the confidence and competence of the manager and staff in managing allegations. When the child commented that staff had taken his belongings, they reassured him of where his items were. However, this was only managed as an allegation two weeks later.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit three of the requirements have been met in full, and one requirement will remain in situ. Furthermore, the restriction of accommoda- tion notice has been lifted. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746884 3

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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 with the given timescales.

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the home being sufficiently staffed and well managed to provide safe and consistent care to children.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to ensuring that managers and staff are trained and understand procedures for managing allegations. 30 April 2024 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746884 4

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2746884 5

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Progress Children's Services Ltd

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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 - monitoring visit: 2746884 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 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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