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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 1 SC061924 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 offers care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the company in September 2024. A new manager is in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, one child was living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 August 2024, Ofsted carried out an assurance inspection at the home due to concerns that were raised by other safeguarding professionals about the safety of children living in the home. Inspectors identified concerns about safeguarding practices in the home and ineffective leadership and management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, two compliance notices were issued under section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the actions taken by the provider to meet the compliance notices. Ofsted found that the provider has taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the assurance inspection, the registered manager has left the organisation, and a new manager has been appointed. The new manager previously managed the home and has a good understanding of how the organisation operates. He has taken immediate action, alongside the responsible individual, to review care practices in the home and support the staff team to understand and manage risks effectively. This has improved day-to-day care practice, while reducing risks. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 2 Leaders, managers and staff have taken action to safeguard the child following incidents of self-harm and substance misuse. Staff have followed the guidance in the risk management plans to ensure that appropriate action is taken to reduce the level of risk to the child. This has safely supported and guided the child. Direct-work sessions have been carried out with the child to understand the risks they faced.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments and risk management plans for the child now include up-to-date information and reflect all known risks. This means that staff have clear guidance to follow to support the child’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have now attended training that is specific to the child’s needs. This ensures that staff understand the actions that they need to take during missing-from-home incidents and if there are any concerns about alcohol and substance misuse. This helps to ensure that the child is safeguarded.

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This monitoring visit

Following training, managers talk to the staff and reflect on their learning. This supports improvement in practice. The child has also accessed training courses to understand why staff are worried about them when they face risks in society, including exploitation and substance misuse. The child said that this was helpful and interesting.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have developed new monitoring and review systems. This will enhance management oversight. An analysis has been carried out by the leadership team. This identified the shortfalls in care practices that led to the compliance notices. Action has been taken with staff to understand how to manage safeguarding incidents and improve staff practice. Reflective sessions have taken place with staff in team meetings and supervision sessions. Staff say that they are now more confident in dealing with incidents, and managers’ oversight is robust.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have been meeting regularly as a team to develop their practice. Group discussions around care planning and risk management are improving the staff’s knowledge on how to keep children safe. Detailed procedures have been put in place to support children living in the home. As a result, children feel supported with difficult change in their lives.

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This monitoring visit

The child said that this is a good home and that he is happy. The child continued to say that the best thing about this home is their relationships with the staff and the changes the new manager has made. He said that the new manager and staff listen to him and are open and honest.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff work closely with a range of safeguarding professionals to ensure that the child is safe. Professionals say that when a concern arises, swift action is taken, everybody is informed, extra safeguarding measures are put in place and strategy meetings are arranged. Good records are kept showing the action taken, the involvement of all agencies and the outcome. This ensures that all procedures are followed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 3 The home has had a new carpet fitted and flooring in the kitchen. However, a lock on the bathroom door requires attention. The manager is working on the home being welcoming, clean and free of hazards.

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This monitoring visit

Previous requirements were not considered during this visit. These will be reviewed at the next full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 4

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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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 5

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 12 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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,

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 12 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 6 This requirement is restated.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 12 July 2024

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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: SC061924 7

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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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Inspectors

Michelle Edge, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector Catherine Fargin, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC061924 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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