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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 1 SC066242 Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Inadequate 10/05/2023 Full Inadequate 24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. Staff speak positively about the child and have a good understanding of her likes and routines. Staff recognise the progress the child has made from her starting point and celebrate the child’s success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff hold regular key-work sessions with the child. They record lots of information about the work carried out on matters such as missing from care, positive friendships, the dangers of vaping and alcohol. Records of these sessions provide a good insight into the support that staff provide to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively seek the child’s views, wishes and feelings. This means that she is encouraged to have an active input into meetings and her plans. The child said that she likes the staff. She said that they provide a lot of support and are there to listen to her.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is aware of how to make a complaint. She can identify staff in the team who she can talk to if she is worried or upset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to carry out daily tasks independently, in line with her individual needs. Tasks include cooking, managing personal care routines and budgeting, which helps the child to prepare for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote family time and make the necessary arrangements for the child to spend time with her family. Therefore, she is supported to maintain relationships with the people who are important to her.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work closely with local authorities and other agencies to support the child’s educational needs. The manager has worked closely with the careers agency to ensure that the child has access to a provision that meets her needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to all universal healthcare services. Staff have recently sourced specialist support from other agencies, such as child and adolescent mental health services and outreach services, to support the child’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained, and the child enjoys living in the home. Repairs are mostly addressed in a timely way. However, the bathroom requires updating. A recommendation has been made regarding this.

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

There have been few missing-from-home incidents. Missing-from-home protocols are clear and up to date. Staff have a good understanding of what to do when a child goes missing from the home. They look for the child during such incidents. Direct work has Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 4 been carried out with the child to discuss the reasons why they go missing and to reiterate the risks. This has helped the child to develop a better understanding of their personal safety. Furthermore, the episodes of the child going missing from the home have reduced significantly.

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

The child’s risk assessments are up to date, and they outline the known risk factors. Risk assessments contain clear and detailed strategies for staff to follow. Risk assessments are reviewed and have good management oversight. This means that staff have clear guidance and take appropriate action when the child is at risk of harm.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted. However, when consequences are used, these are often purely financial and not restorative in nature. This does not help the child to understand the consequences of their behaviour nor help them learn to make positive choices. Furthermore, the manager does not always comment on the effectiveness of the measure used.

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

Staff ensure that the child’s medication is stored safely and correctly administered. Recording is good and staff are all suitably trained.

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

When room searches take place, these are recorded appropriately. Staff use professional curiosity to ensure that the child is safe and well cared for.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are followed, and robust checks are carried out on all staff before they start to work in the home. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a new manager in post. Staff have welcomed the improvements she has made and are positive about the high levels of support she provides. The manager has established a good relationship with the child. She has high aspirations for the child and is committed to helping her to achieve good outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said they have received training on matters such as missing from care, child sexual exploitation, substance misuse and alcohol. This means that staff have the necessary skills to work to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. Staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice, what they have learned, and the skills that training has given them to help improve children’s outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals is positive. They describe communication in the home as ‘brilliant’ and say that they are kept up to date. A strength of the team is the collaborative relationships staff have with other professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 5 The manager recently produced a report about the quality of care at the home. However, this lacks analysis, evaluation and an action plan. Additionally, the report was not sent to the regulator within the required time frame. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 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

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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Requirement Due date

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 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 7 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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing, and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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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) (2)(a)(d)(c) (3) (4)(a)) 30 August 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a welcoming environment. Attention should be given to update the bathroom as it appears tired and dated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 8

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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: SC066242 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 55 Hoghton Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 0PG

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Inspector

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066242 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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