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

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

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Registered provider: Progressive Futures Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider and cares for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since October 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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

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Outcome from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Outcome from the inspection

 Shortfalls in the understanding of safeguarding and risk management practice.  Ineffective leadership and management of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection risks for one child living in the home have increased. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans do not include all known risks for children. Records have not been updated following serious incidents to include strategies to support and safeguard the child moving forward. This means that staff do not have access to clear guidance of how to provide the required level of care to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Due to the level of risk, there is a strong multi agency approach in supporting one child in the home. However, internal plans for the child do not reflect the level of concern and risk posed to the child as shared by professionals. Furthermore, staff do not identify significant risks such as exploitation for the child. This means that plans are not in place to ensure that the child is safeguarded effectively moving forward.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to attend health appointments. However, children’s records are not updated to reflect changes to their health needs or following medical diagnoses. Staff hold conflicting views to medical professionals when children are diagnosed with eating disorders. As a result, staff do not understand the impact or severity of children’s health needs. A requirement has been made to address this.

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Findings from the inspection

Systems are not in place to ensure that there is effective oversight of the care being provided to the children daily. The manager has not identified shortfalls in staff practice or monitored staff’s performance in respect of maintaining up to date and accurate records for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not taken effective action to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Action has not been taken to rectify the issues in respect of the home environment. Furthermore, staff have not undertaken assigned training in specific topics that are relevant to the children’s individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The children living in the home are happy and settled. One child spoke of the positive relationships they have with the staff team. The children are cared for by a small established team. Agency staff work in the home to cover shortfalls in staffing levels. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2024 Full Good 19/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that leaders and managers must ensure that staff understand and recognise children’s risks, that children’s risk assessments include all known risks and include clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow. 29 September

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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— 29 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 5 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that leaders and managers ensure that systems are in place to monitor staff practice, identify shortfalls in staff practice, and that all staff undertake training to improve knowledge of children’s individual needs The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and 29 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 6 well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that leaders and managers ensure that children’s health plans include all known health needs and diagnoses and provide clear guidance for staff in how to support children with these. In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the manager effectively challenges the local authority when plans are not robust.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated 29 September

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 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— meet the needs of each child; and

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the kitchen floor is replaced. Walls are painted in the home to freshen up the décor, attention is required to the stain on the lounge carpet. Additionally, the bathroom requires updating as it looks tired and worn.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated 29 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 7 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated 29 September

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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

The registered person must— 29 September Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 8 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (1)(2)(a)(d)(c)(3)(4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff working in the home undertake a refresher on their understanding of the role of the local authority designated officer in line with their safeguarding roles and responsibilities (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.21)  The registered person should ensure that all notifications under regulation 40 are sent to the regulator in a timely way. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 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

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC061924 10 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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