Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC410537 Inspection date 07/10/2011 Inspector Louisa Bayley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/11/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This children's home aims to meet the needs of children and young people presenting with complex behavioural, psychological and family problems, usually associated with inappropriate and risky behaviour to self and/or to others. It provides residential accommodation to two children and young people, either boys or girls, between the ages of nine and 18 years, who require intensive supervision, support, and therapeutic help in the community. The home consists of a lounge, dining room and kitchen, with a garden at the rear. There is accommodation for two young people and a sleeping-in area for two staff members with office space also used on the second floor of the building.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people in the home make significant progress in all aspects of their lives. Comprehensive assessments of young people’s needs, coupled with the staff team’s understanding of the young people, contribute to highly individualised care programmes. Pro-active work with other professionals ensures that strategies are employed with young people, based on medical and therapeutic models, supporting them to overcome specific difficulties. Young people say they feel safe and enjoy living in the home. They feel supported by staff and well prepared for the future. Staff firmly advocate on behalf of young people so they can access experiences and opportunities, weighing appropriate risk against potential positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a genuine warmth between staff and young people, and within the staff team. Staff and young people are respectful of each other. Young people remain in contact with the staff after moving on from the home, demonstrating the value they place in the relationships they have formed with the staff. The approach to meaningful promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding and truly embraced by the staff and the young people. Staff take pride in the home, the young people and their work. Young people are regularly consulted about the daily running of the home and are encouraged to contribute their views and opinions.

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Overall effectiveness

The management focus is clearly placed in promoting the best possible outcomes for young people. Identified shortfalls are primarily in regard of recording and documentation, however, they do not impact on the outcomes for young people. One requirement pertains to ensuring all staff, including casual workers, have completed all mandatory training. There are three requirements and one recommendation.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is a procedure to be followed when any child accommodated in the home is absent without permission which has regard to the relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children (Regulation 16 (4) (b)) 11/11/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons are working in the home, with specific regard to ensuring that all staff have completed all mandatory training including physical intervention, safeguarding and care of medicines (Regulation 25 (1) (b)) 18/11/2011

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that a record of children entering and leaving the home is complete and up to date. (Regulation 29 (1)) 11/11/2011

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resource. (NMS 15.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported by staff to make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives. The home places great importance on challenging barriers faced by young people. This means that young people have equality of access to opportunities and experiences which promote their confidence and skills, fostering a positive self view. The sense of homeliness created by the staff ensures that young people feel welcome and settle in well to the environment. There has been a significant reduction in presenting behaviours and difficulties for young people, as a result of the highly individualised care that is provided. Excellent outcomes such as; 100 % attendance in education, participation in external residential trips, independence planning, achievement within education, learning to drive and contributing to the local community are a reflection of the quality of care. Young people say that they 'love it here', 'staff support me to become more independent' and 'I feel safe.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff place great emphasis on supporting young people to understand their background and past in addition to promoting contact with families There is also a great deal of importance placed on nurturing friendships. Young people are encouraged and actively supported to meet with friends. This is also true where friends have moved school or home; nevertheless the staff continue to ensure that the young people remain in contact. Young people report that this is very important to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported in promoting their independence skills, as appropriate to their age. Where transitions to other provisions are planned, the home takes full account of the skills required and works with young people to help develop these skills. The staff also remain in contact with young people when they have moved on, taking an active interest in their progress. Young people contribute to cooking for others and one young person said that 'I really enjoy being able to bake cakes here.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Positive outcomes are consistently reinforced and staff take time to praise, clap and commend good behaviour and achievements. Young people are encouraged to voice their opinions and views in regard of the day-to-day living in the home. Weekly residents meetings take place and the staff support young people to take turns to chair the meetings.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people say that they 'get on well with all of the staff.' They fondly recall activities and trips they have been on with staff. It is clear that these relationships are fundamental to some of the young people's most precious memories. The young people in the home have good relationships with each other and with previous residents who have moved on.

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Quality of care

Staff in the home have high expectations and aspirations for the young people. They recount progress made for each young person, whether small or significant, such as changes in the way a pen is held or how handwriting has improved. The awareness staff have of individual progress, enables them to reflect on this with the young people, promoting self esteem. Additionally, staff are acutely aware of improvements in health, psychological, social and emotional well-being. The support that is given to young people to access a wide range of experiences is exceptional. The staff team demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the young people and genuinely cares for them. There is also a steadfast determination from the staff that young people should be able to overcome barriers such as disability, historical behaviours and medical conditions. Staff members fiercely advocate on behalf of young people to ensure they access their rights. This has resulted in young people accessing

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Quality of care

unsupervised mobility, residential trips and independence planning.

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Quality of care

When asked what the strengths of the home are, one member of staff said 'equality and diversity, it is very important to us and it is important that young people are tolerant and accepting of other cultures.' The home fully embraces diversity and ensures that young people experience foods, festivals, history and origins of other cultures. The diversity of the staff team brings a richness of experiences, knowledge and backgrounds that young people find both interesting and educational. Young people say that they 'enjoy the carnivals and festivals and finding out about other cultures.'

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Quality of care

The home places great emphasis on education and takes every step to ensure that young people are supported educationally. This support ranges from daily communication with school, supporting with homework and promoting additional educational activities through to attending parent's evenings. As a result, young people have excellent attendance at school or college.

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Quality of care

The home is spacious, well appointed and extremely well furnished. The look and feel of the home is warm, welcoming and inviting. The rooms are reflective of a family home, with photographs of the young people, certificates commending achievements and art work completed by the young people. Each young person has a key to their room but there are no issues regarding invasion of personal space. Young people are permitted to keep rabbits and are supported to fully take on the responsibility that goes with owning a pet. One young person said of their rabbit, 'I love him to bits.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that they feel safe and have no complaints or concerns. Young people also report that they have no concerns regarding bullying. They benefit from comprehensible and consistent positive behaviour management strategies. There is a clear emphasis on reinforcing positive behaviour and staff support young people to understand why some behaviours are not appropriate. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of young people's vulnerabilities; however this is very well balanced against ensuring barriers and obstacles to experiences and activities are removed wherever possible. Examples of this have been unsupervised mobility, attendance of community groups and participation in residential trips. Staff are guided by thorough risk assessments and have a good awareness of how risks can be mitigated.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are well informed on safeguarding procedures should the need arise. There are policies in place and there is a named designated safeguarding children officer. The approach and management of the home has resulted in very rare incidents of physical management and there have been no complaints or incidents of bullying. In addition to the complaints process, young people also have the opportunity to air any grievances with other young people during the weekly resident’s meetings. The Regulation 33 visitor also gives young people an opportunity, on a monthly basis, to raise any issues. There have been no incidents of young people going missing. There is currently no protocol with the local police for young people going missing. While this is not an issue at the present time, this could change in the event of a new admission to the home. Effective multi-agency working has enabled the home to follow strategies suggested

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Safeguarding children and young people

by other professionals. As a result, young people have been supported to reduce risky and harmful behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safety checks within the home are up to date. Young people are confidently able to discuss the action they need to take in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home is well managed with a focus on the outcomes for young people. There are good arrangements in place for the monitoring of the quality of care. The Regulation 33 reports are comprehensive and timely and take into account the views of young people. The manager completes regular monthly monitoring of the quality of care. There is a prompt response to identified shortfalls and the requirements and recommendations raised at the previous inspection have been met. However there is no written development plan to reflect how the home will continue to support young people to make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives.

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Leadership and management

The staff in the home are positive and passionate about their work and the young people. There is a sense of team and staff say that they ‘feel supported’. Staff report that they receive regular supervision, which helps them in their role and recognises their strengths as well as areas for development.

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Leadership and management

The staff team has a good culture and gender balance and brings a range of skills and knowledge. The majority of staff are qualified to a minimum of National Vocational Qualification at Level 3. The home’s training programme is comprehensive however all staff have not completed the mandatory training.

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Leadership and management

The home recognises the importance of ensuring records are up to date on young people’s files and is pro-active where there are known delays in receiving reports or minutes from other professionals. As an interim measure, staff ensure they make their own notes to place on file until the formalised minutes are received. The records regarding the admission and discharge of young people to the home however, are not currently up to date.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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