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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 1 SC020859

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Registered provider: Progress Children’s Services Ltd

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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 operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to six children who have learning disabilities. There is a registered manager at the home, who is suitably experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. All children were present and spent time with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 24 September 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector(s) evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC020859 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

There are areas of the home that are unclean, for example dusty floors and mould in bathrooms. There are no significant hazards, but the environment lacks care and attention. One child has a health information poster, and an unused chart displayed on their bedroom wall. These factors detract from the improvements that have been made, including an upgraded kitchen, new sofas and fresh paint in some areas.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand and meet children’s day-to-day care needs well. There are clear and well-established routines, and all children attend school. Children enjoy a range of activities at the home and going out to places for fun. Staff help children to pursue their interests, for example, one child loves transport and staff take him on bus rides and plane spotting.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand and respect children’s cultural needs. Meals are provided in line with cultural preferences. The children have been to parties to join with others to celebrate events including Halloween and Valentines Day. Furthermore, an Eid celebration event is planned for all children to enjoy. Staff also make sure that children spend time with those who are important to them.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some safeguarding investigations at the home relating to staff practice, including inappropriate use of physical intervention and failing to supervise a child in line with their plans. These have been isolated incidents and children have not come to significant harm. Leaders and managers have taken all concerns very seriously. All concerns have been shared with the relevant agencies and thoroughly investigated. Some staff no longer work at the home as an outcome of the investigations. Leaders and managers acknowledge that the concerns relating to staff practice, has at times, reduced the quality of care provided to children. In response, managers have implemented a comprehensive training programme to upskill the entire staff team with a focus on enhanced safeguarding practice. Managers have used some creative approaches, including ‘test and check’ and quizzes. This ongoing approach to development is now embedded at the home through team meetings and staff

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Findings from the inspection

supervision. As a result, staff do have a greater understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have moved on from the home. Both local authorities have raised concern about poor communication with managers in planning these moves.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been some changes of staffing. Staff benefit from a structured induction that helps prepare them for their roles. The home has relied on the use of agency staff; however, this has recently been reduced. In addition, children usually know these staff as consistent agency staff who work at the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 3 Leaders and managers do understand the shortfalls and what actions are needed to continue to improve the quality of care.

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Findings from the inspection

Two requirements from the previous inspection have been restated, as shortfalls remain. All other requirements and a recommendation have been met. One new recommendation has been made at this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/11/2023 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/09/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 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, 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 that staff—

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that staff are equipped with the skills to assess children's risks effectively, follow children's plans consistently and take action to reduce risks to children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 30 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 30 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 5 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 environment is clean, well maintained and reflects a domestic not institutional setting.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a key role in developing the home's effective working relationships with each child's placing authority and with other relevant persons. These working relationships will also be key to success in delivering the care planning standard. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 6

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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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC020859 7 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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