Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC410537 Inspection date 22/08/2013 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 26/02/2013 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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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides residential accommodation for three young people, male or female, who have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is privately run and forms part of a group of four children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The home offers a good level of care to the young people. Young people develop in many ways due to the high level of individualised care that is provided by an enthusiastic staff team. The staff team does well in ensuring that the young people feel that the house is their home and that the adults are caring role models. Relationships between staff and young people is of a highly professional standard. Young people are consistently consulted about their care, the home and issues within it, although key worker meetings require more regular recording.

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Overall effectiveness

Planning for young people is individualised. Staff have a very good awareness of the differing needs of the young people and how these are able to be responded to. Placement plans are not consistently updated with up to date information however. Young people enjoy a wide range of activities and achieve within school due to education being given a high priority in arrangements at the home. The physical and emotional care of the young people is of a good quality, the home has nurturing atmosphere and young people are encouraged to eat healthily and to take their health care needs seriously.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are supported with their development and there is an awareness with the young people that they will at some point move from the home. Some independence skills training is supported by the staff team, but they do not fully utilise the information that is available within the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's safety is paramount within the home and staff are vigilant in responding to issues that relate to safeguarding. One investigation does not sufficiently record how a decision had been concluded and if external bodies had been consulted. Young people state that they are safe within the home and that the staff are 'always looking out for you.' Positive behaviour is promoted

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Overall effectiveness

The home is appropriately managed and the staff feel well supported by both the manager and their colleagues. Supervision and appraisals allow for staff development. Monitoring of the home, both internally and from the others allows for the further development of the home in line with the development plan.

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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 the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the children's home is situated, of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the children's home (Regulation 16.2b) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure written records to be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response (Regulation 16.2d) 30/09/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the events that relate to Schedule 5 (Regulation 30.1) 30/09/2013

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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 young people are supported to develop a range of independence skills (NMS 12.1)  ensure the views, wishes and feelings of young people are taken into account in developing the home (NMS 1.7)  ensure all statutory reviews and reviews of Placement Plans are recorded on the child’s file (NMS 25.8)  ensure all areas of the home are well maintained and decorated (NMS 10.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are provided with a safe and nurturing environment in the home. They are able to develop in their awareness of their own achievements and can talk about how they were when they came into the home as opposed to where they are now. One young person stated that they are now the 'person that they always wanted to be' and that they 'couldn’t have achieved this if it hadn't been for the support that they had had from the staff.' Young people have been able to develop appropriate attachments with adults and a young person stated that they were a 'lot more mature now.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle. Healthy meal choices are prepared and young people are encouraged to try new foods. Young people are supported to attend medical appointments and choices about attendance are made at a level that is appropriate to the age of the individual young person. As a direct result of this young people develop a sense of personal responsibility. Young people have also been able to access activities that they had not previously experienced to develop their health.

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people are actively involved in their education and have achieved in the differing provisions that they have attended. Young people confirm that education is actively promoted by the staff in the home and there is an expectation of regular attendance and good attainment. Young people are able to discuss their hopes for their education in the future and how this is to be achieved.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Differing contact arrangements are in place to ensure that young people have appropriate contact with families and significant others where appropriate. This allows them to continue with support structures that will be in place when they leave the home. Young people are involved with developing their independence skills. A detailed set of information is available relating to independence, although this has not been fully utilised within a timescale that has fully supported young people who are soon to leave.

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Quality of care

A caring and enthusiastic staff team provide a good quality of care. Relationships between staff and young people are very positive and young people enjoy spending time with staff and each other despite the difference in ages within the home. Young people are listened to consistently. The home has a variety of systems for consulting with young people on their individual care and the day-to-day running of the home. These include individual key work sessions and young people's meeting. Young people develop confidence and a sense of ownership because they are encouraged to have an influence in the running of the home. Some of the key work meetings are not fully recorded and therefore cannot be used to enhance the development of the home and the service provided. Young people state that they are fully aware of the ways they can raise any concerns. Young people have access to advocacy services or to managers from other

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Quality of care

homes should they wish to raise any issue. Staff actively encourage young people to engage with professionals who are involved in their care. Because of this young people know that they are listened to and appropriate explanation for decisions given.

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Quality of care

The health care needs of young people are well met within the home. All young people attend the required medical appointments and health checks. In addition the staff are proactive at carrying out work with the young people on health issues such as drugs, sexual health, contraception, and alcohol. Where support is needed regarding young peoples mental health this is provided through differing services. Young people's health is additionally supported by a robust system for the safe handling, administration, storage, disposal and recording of medication.

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Quality of care

All young people have individualised care plans that are supported by Looked After Children documentation. Young people are involved in the planning of their care through the review process and regular discussions. Some of the placement plan information is not up to date. Other information within their files supplements the care plan, showing the correct level of care. Staff have a very high awareness of current expectations relating to the care and needs of the young people and how these are being met.

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Quality of care

The staff have high expectations for the young people and place a high importance on education. Each young person has an individual education plan which is regularly updated and is known by staff. Young people regularly attend school and their attainment levels are good. Good communications with the schools ensures that the young people receive the support they need, to make progress and achieve their potential.

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Quality of care

A good range of activities are completed both within the home and externally. Young people are able to talk about activities that they enjoy as well as holidays that they have been on. A recent Burnham trip was enjoyed immensely. Young people learn a range of new skills and friends with the activities that they do. A young person was able to discuss how they enjoyed cubs and a recent camping trip.

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Quality of care

The home is a pleasant and homely environment. Young people enjoy their own space within highly personalised rooms. They are encouraged to decorate their own rooms and funding is made available for this to create an awareness of belonging at the home. Communal areas are comfortable, although the mould on the bathroom sealant requires removal.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe and feel safe at the home. There is a culture of mutual respect and young people know that their concerns, views, wishes and feelings are listened to and acted upon. When disagreements occur within the home they are swiftly responded to, to decrease any level of possible bullying. Incidents of young people going missing from the home are rare and responded to appropriately to ensure their safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Good arrangements are in place to promote positive behaviours, including the use of reward charts and well known expectations of appropriate behaviour. The staff use rewards following specific achievements well. Additional measures of control are appropriately carried out and young people are aware of why sanctions are put in place. Sanctions used are fair and proportionate. There have been no instances of restraint at the home since the last inspection. Staff are all however, trained in the use of restraint and this is refreshed on an annual basis. Young people are positive about the way that differing behaviour management techniques have allowed them to self regulate emotional outbursts.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Safeguarding concerns are recorded, although the Registered Manager needs to sign off that he has seen these in all cases, to fully ensure the safety of young people. Allegations against staff are extremely rare and when one occurs it is responded to swiftly. Records following such an allegation, do not fully show the chronology of decision making to conclude such an event. Records do not sufficiently show whether or not Local Safeguarding Children's Boards have been involved with the case, in line with the home's policy. Recordings do not therefore show that processes are fully open and robust to safeguard young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All staff in the home are recruited through robust employment processes which include reference checking and all statutory checks. All visitors to the home are monitored and must sign in and out of the building. This keeps young people safe from contact with people that are unsuitable. Young people are protected and feel confident that staff safeguard them. Regular health and safety checks are completed around the house to support the safety of young people and staff. A good range of risk assessments are in place relating to the young people, their activities and the home itself.

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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's Registered Manager is suitably qualified and experienced. He provides appropriate leadership and support to the staff group. This means they subsequently provide a good quality care tailored to address the individual needs of the young people living in the home. The staff team are positive about the support they receive within the staff team. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the good progress young people achieve.

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Leadership and management

The staff team are enthusiastic, caring and work well together to promote young people’s welfare. The numbers of staff on duty are in line with those stated in the statement of purpose and are sufficient to meet the needs of young people in residence. This enables staff to provide the required support the young people need to attend activities, visits and appointments. Staff are suitably qualified and receive appropriate training to develop their individual skills and knowledge to ensure that they can meet the specific needs of the young people they are caring for. Staff receive an annual appraisal of their skills and this also informs future training that can be provided. The staff team meet on a regular basis and discussions include the progress of the young people and how this can be further enhanced. This meeting is also used to inform the staff team of issues within the organisation and the home.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring of the home is completed by the manager on a monthly basis, using a comprehensive template and examining all expected areas to develop the home further. A development plan for the home is in place to also support the development of the home. External monitoring of the home is completed on a monthly basis and reports are forwarded to Ofsted. The majority of significant events that occur within the home have been forwarded to the necessary parties, although no information has been received relating to the examination of an allegation made against staff.

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Leadership and management

Recommendations and requirements were made at the last inspection to develop good practice. All of these have been responded to. Information regarding appraisals and training is in place and placement plans highlighted at the last inspection have been signed off by social workers. Young people are all now in education and staff have had discussions relating to meeting the needs of differing age ranges within the home.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s written records are securely stored and provide a clear and detailed picture of young people’s progress and experiences. The records generally provide a narrative for young people’s daily lives, observations about young people’s mood and behaviour, and analysis of the day’s events. Social workers state that the home communicates information well and that 'there is always someone available that you can talk to to discuss issues with the young people.'

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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 and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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