Category: Progress

Sometimes, the most important kind of support is simply being in a room with people who understand you.

Parents arrived at our head office (Progress House) in Wolverhampton last Friday carrying the familiar mix of hope and unspoken resilience that often accompanies families who rely on Stourbridge House’s short breaks. But the atmosphere inside felt gentler than usual. The conference room had been rearranged into something quieter and more welcoming. There were soft conversations instead of handovers, relaxed seating instead of routines, and staff moving calmly through the space, laser-focused on ensuring the parents in attendance relaxed, connected and fancied a cuppa rather than paperwork.

This was Parents’ Day, the second of its kind for Progress’ outstanding Stourbridge House, and one that has quickly become much more than an annual event. For Registered Manager Kim, the day is a rare chance to place families at the centre of everything without the usual busyness of schedules and support plans.

“Families go through so much, and often they feel like they are on an island,” she said. “If today helps them realise they are not on their own, even for a moment, then we have done what we came to do.”

The first Parents’ Day, held last year, focused heavily on the children. Staff shared updates, independence goals, activities and progress. It was valuable, but Kim wanted something different this time. Something softer. Something that didn’t feel like another appointment families had to squeeze into their already stretched lives.

So the team redesigned everything. They created a calm, unhurried space inside Progress House. A healthy buffet replaced clipboards. The usual structure gave way to natural conversation. Instead of parents being updated on what their children had been working on, staff turned the focus toward the adults themselves. How are you coping? What support do you need? What has been hard? What is getting easier? How can we help beyond the hours your child spends with us?

For Team Leader Tadi Nashe, this shift was essential.

“A lot of our parents seem like they are going through it alone,” he said. “But we see the similarities every day. If we can bring them together, even just two of them, then suddenly they’ve got someone who gets it. That alone can change everything.”

Across the room, that change was already happening. A single mother who often arrives visibly strained found herself in gentle conversation with another parent. A dad who rarely stops long enough to talk lingered at a table, laughing at a comment only someone in a similar situation would understand. A parent who had carried something heavy for weeks finally spoke to the on-site therapist and walked away breathing a little easier.

These are the moments the team wanted. Honest, human moments. Not structured workshops or formal updates. Just connection.

For Kim, this approach reflects the heart of the service.

“Parents need more than a break,” she said. “They need a community. They need to know someone else understands, that they are not failing, that they are not alone.”

Throughout the day, staff eased into open conversations about what families want from the service as it continues to grow. Parents talked about what helps at home, what unsettles their children, what small changes could make a huge difference and what they hope to see as Stourbridge House expands.

Because expansion is coming. Construction is already underway, and once complete, the service will support more children and more families across Wolverhampton, Dudley and Sandwell. For Kim, this is not just about bigger numbers. It is about strengthening the safety net that allows families to keep caring for their children at home.

“We are here for the children, of course,” she said, “but our primary aim is to keep children living at home. For that to happen, families need support, trust and connection. Expanding the service means offering that to more people.”

Recruitment is central to that growth, and Kim remains firm on one thing: values beat experience.

“I can teach someone how to do the job,” she said. “I cannot teach them to care. If someone has passion and the right heart for children, the rest we can build.”

The day at Progress House also arrived at the end of a year that has shaped the team itself. New children arrived. Others transitioned to adult services. The service remained stable and strong. The children enjoyed a holiday at Alton Towers. Staff grew in confidence and skill.

And for Tadi, the year marked personal transformation.

“I look at things differently now,” he said. “I think about other people first. I’ve grown as a person as much as I’ve grown in the job.”

As Parents’ Day drew to a gentle close, no one rushed. Conversations lingered. Parents connected. Staff moved slowly, letting everyone take the time they needed. It was a small event by design, but one with an impact that stretched far beyond the afternoon.

For the families who arrived carrying the weight of daily life, Progress House became, even for a few hours, a place of shared understanding and relief.

And as the last parents left, Kim summed it up simply.

“If today reminded even one family that they are not doing this alone,” she said, “then it was worth everything.”

Progress Children’s Services is celebrating another proud moment as Megan, Team Leader at Oak Cottage, was named the winner of the Rising Star Award at this year’s Progress Superstar Awards. The award was presented by Harjinder Deo, Finance Manager at Progress, in recognition of Megan’s remarkable growth and dedication to the people she supports.

Megan’s journey with Progress has been one of drive, hard work and heart. In just twelve months, she rose from support worker to team leader, taking on more responsibility and helping to strengthen her team’s work with children and young people. She has supported her manager with administrative tasks, contributed to inspections and built trusted relationships with colleagues, children and external partners.

“Megan has developed from a support worker to a team leader in the last 12 months,” said Harry during the presentation. “She’s gone from not leading shifts to helping with everything from admin and Reg 44s to inspections. She’s supported her colleagues and the children, formed strong relationships and always goes the extra mile.”

Megan was nominated by both colleagues and senior staff, a reflection of the trust and respect she’s earned across the service. Her story is already familiar to many within Progress, following the publication of From Support Worker to Team Leader in Twelve Months, which highlighted her rapid progression and commitment to making a difference.

The Rising Star Award shines a light on individuals who demonstrate exceptional personal and professional growth, showing initiative, leadership and an unwavering commitment to high-quality care. Megan embodies those values every day in her work.

Are you inspired by Megan’s journey at Progress? Apply to attend our next recruitment event. Fill the form below: