Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC410539 Inspector Jo Stephenson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Positive Pathways Limited Registered person address Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park Wood Lane, Erdington Birmingham B24 9QR Responsible individual Kevin John Epps Registered manager Alison Jane Corkingdale Date of last inspection 31/03/2014 2 of 11 Inspection date 05/08/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care adequate Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive a level of personalised care that reflects their individual needs. Staff devise detailed internal plans that highlight the progress young people make in this placement. Nevertheless, staff do not ensure that statutory review meeting minutes are held on young people’s case files. Furthermore, not all young people have up-to-date statutory care plans on file. This means that staff are unable to verify that the contents of internal plans are compatible with the aims and objectives of the placing authority. As a result, young people do not benefit from an integrated approach to meeting their care needs. This is detrimental to young people’s development and progress.

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Overall effectiveness

Relationships between young people and staff are positive and appropriate. One young person said, ‘I get on well with all the staff because they care what happens to me.’ Young people are activity involved in one-to-one keyworker sessions with staff. This means that the views and feelings of young people are included in the review of their internal support plans. However, the thoughts and wishes of young people relating to the development of the home are not appropriately captured. This is because the home does not have an up-to-date development plan in place. Subsequently, young people’s opinions regarding the quality of care provided by the service do not influence the development of the home. 3 of 11 Young people say they feel safe in the home. Incidents of young people going missing from the home have increased since the last inspection; however, staff ensure young people have detailed risk assessments in place. Nevertheless, staff do

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Overall effectiveness

not appropriately compete missing from home records. This means that the evaluation of these events is ineffectual. This is because necessary information to establish possible patterns and triggers to this behaviour is lacking. As a result, young people’s safety and welfare is compromised. Furthermore, the custom and practice use of bedroom door alarms in the home restricts the liberty of young people. The use of this measure of control is not risk assessed to establish a need for this restriction in order to safeguard young people. This negatively impacts on young people’s welfare and well-being.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager regularly monitors the quality of care provided by the home. However, action plans in place to address identified shortfalls are ineffectual. For example, the fire risk assessment for the home has expired and has yet to be revised or reviewed. This potentially compromises the safety of young people. Also, young people do not have access to a telephone without reference to staff. This means that should young people wish to raise any concerns with external agencies, they are unable to do this without the knowledge of staff. Furthermore, the Statement of Purpose has not been amended to reflect regulatory changes or sent to Ofsted as required. Although this does not impact on the welfare of young people, a requirement has been made to address this shortfall. 4 of 11

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with may emotional and/or behaviour difficulties. The service is operated by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/03/2014 Interim good progress 05/12/2013 Full adequate 30/01/2013 Interim good progress 08/08/2012 Full good

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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

4 (2001) compile in relation to the children's home a written statement (in these Regulations referred to as "the statement of purpose") which shall consist of a statement as to the matters listed in Schedule 1 (Regulation 4(1)) 29/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which may be used without reference to persons working in the home; a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private (Regulation 15(4)(a)) 29/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

22 ensure that electronic or mechanical monitoring 29/09/2014 5 of 11 (2001) devises for the surveillance of children are not used in a children's home except for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned (Regulation 22(1))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home a record in permanent form which includes the information, documentation and records specified in Schedule 3 relating to that child (Regulation 28(1)(a)) 29/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) shall, after consultation with the fire and rescue authority take adequate precautions against the risk of fire. This specifically relates to the completion of a fire risk assessment (Regulation 32(1)(a)) 29/09/2014

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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 written records kept by the home when a child goes missing detail act taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reasons given by th child for running away from the home, and any actions taken in light of those reasons (NMS 5.10)  ensure a written development plan is available in the home (NMS 15.2) 6 of 11

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people participate in regular one-to-one sessions. These sessions support them to reflect on their behaviour, consider alternative ways of managing their frustrations and celebrate the progress they make. This means that young people are able to make sense of their backgrounds and the reasons for their placement. As a result, young people develop the emotional resilience they need to make progress in their lives and influence their future. Subsequently, young people grow in confidence and self-esteem. However statutory documentation is not on file for all of the young people and therefore the progress they make is not adequately chronicled. This means that positive outcomes for young people, in all aspects of their development are not demonstrated.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Education is central to the ethos of the home. Some young people, taking account of their starting point, make considerable progress in this aspect of their development. For example, young people have school placements that reflect their learning styles and abilities. This means that some young people experience educational success and recognise the benefit of regularly attending school. One young person said, ‘I like school. It can be hard at times but staff help me with my homework.’

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are encouraged to be responsible for their own health. For example, when possible, young people self-medicate and are responsible for ensuring their medication is stored correctly and safely. When young people require additional support and guidance, they are able to access specialist health services. This means that young people receive the care and encouragement they need. As a result, young people recognise the importance of maintaining good health and the positive impact this has on their development.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people participate in regular young people’s meetings to discuss the development of the home. One young person said, ‘We look after the house because it’s our home and we want it to look nice.’ However, the home does not have an up- to-date development plan. This means that young people’s contributions to the home do not effectively influence the day-to-day running of the service. For example, when young people make suggestions regarding ways to improve the home, these are not acted on or discussed further.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people say they enjoy spending time in the local community. One young person said, ‘there is lots to do around here and I like living here.’ This sense of belonging means that young people experience improved self-esteem and confidence. This further promotes their welfare and well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Contact between young people and their families are detailed in weekly activity plans. Young people are encouraged to invite their friends and families to the home and 7 of 11 maintain regular phone contact. This means that young people are not isolated from their families and this further promotes their well-being.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff and with each other. One young person said, ‘Living here is like being a family.’ Staff ensure that young people have detailed support plans in place. These are regularly reviewed with young people during one-to-one sessions. Staff encourage the young people to consider the progress they make and reflect on their unacceptable behaviours. This means that young people are able to recognise the potentially negative impact some of their actions have on their development. As a result, young people develop an understanding of the influence their actions have on their future aims and ambitions. However, staff do not ensure that up-to-date statutory care plans are completed by the placing authorities for the young people. For example, the care plan for one young person relates to a previous placement and has not been updated since admission to this home. This means that the internal support plans devised by staff,

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Quality of care adequate

may not be compatible with the aims and objectives of the placing authorities. In addition, staff do not work in effective partnership with allocated social workers to ensure that minutes of statutory review meetings are sent to the home in a timely manner. As a result, young people do not benefit from integrated care. This potentially compromises young people’s development and welfare.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff ensure that young people have risk assessments in place that detail their support needs and highlight their personal vulnerabilities. However bedroom door alarms are utilised. This has not been risk assessed to ensure that this measure reflects the safeguarding needs of young people. Furthermore, this restriction of liberty is used without discussion with young people and the need for this restriction is not defined within placement plans. This compromises the welfare and well-being of young people because the continued need to use this measure is not evaluated or assessed.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people’s education is central to daily routines in the home. Staff ensure that they work in partnership with allocated learning provisions and schools. This means that when young people face barriers to education, staff identify solutions to ensure that young people are unable to continue with their learning. For example, some young people are unable to attend school full-time. In these circumstances, staff work with teaching staff to ensure that young people complete work in the home that reflects their skills and abilities. Academic studies are complimented by practical educational activities, such as library and museum visits. Furthermore, staff assist young people to complete their homework and continue their studies outside of school times. As a result, young people recognise the importance of education. Young people are encouraged to celebrate their achievements and this further 8 of 11 promotes their self-esteem and confidence.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff support young people to take responsibility for maintaining a healthy life-style, including self-medicating when appropriate. When young people require additional support, staff work in partnership with specialist nurses and health professionals. This means that young people are provided with the guidance and essential information they need to make positive decisions about their health and well-being. Furthermore, young people enjoy a healthy diet and are involved in planning and preparing meals.

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Quality of care adequate

Young people say they understand how to make a complaint. One young person said, ‘We can write complaints down or talk to staff. Things get sorted out.’ Staff ensure that complaints are appropriately recorded and actioned within suitable time-scales. As a result, young people are confident that any issue they raise will be taken seriously and addressed. Nevertheless, young people are unable to access a telephone without reference to staff. This means that should young people wish to raise any concerns they have, they cannot do this without the knowledge of staff. This compromises young people’s welfare and privacy.

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Quality of care adequate

Staff ensure that young people are provided with a wide and varied range of social and leisure activities. Some young people devise weekly activity plans with the support of staff. This means that young people are encouraged to try new hobbies and interests and widen their social circles. As a result, young people learn new skills and are able to pursue their personal interests. This further promotes young people’s self-confidence.

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Quality of care adequate

The home is suitably located and well maintained. Young people say they are involved in the decoration of the home and encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. This means that young people invest in their home and this further promotes their sense of well-being.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people said they feel safe in the home. One young person said, ‘I feel safe because the staff care about me and look after me.’ Young people do not report bullying to be an issue in the home and there have been no incidents of this behaviour. Nevertheless, staff are trained to recognise the signs of bullying and intimidation and this promotes young people’s welfare. The home has robust safeguarding referral procedures in place and staff receive regular safeguarding training. This means that should any allegations be made regarding staff or their practice, these concerns are recorded in detail and referred to the appropriate authorities. As a result, young people are protected from harm and their safety and welfare is promoted.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

There has been an increase in young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. However, staff ensure that all young people have detailed missing 9 of 11 from home risk assessments in place. In addition, staff work in effective partnership with the local police and placing authorities. For example, staff arrange meetings with allocated social workers to review these events and consider alternative strategies to promote young people’s safety. Furthermore, staff ensure that they undertake debriefing sessions with young people following each missing from home episode. Nevertheless, staff do not ensure that missing from home records are completed in detail. There are occasions when staff have failed to record the time and date of young people’s return. This means that staff are unable to effectively evaluate these events. Subsequently, trends and patterns associated with these events may not be noted. As a result young people may not receive the support they

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

require and this is detrimental to their welfare and well-being.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff devise individual reward chart for young people. Young people are encouraged to set their own targets for achievement and their progress is monitored through regular one-to-one sessions. As a result, young people are encouraged to recognise their vulnerabilities and manage their own behaviour. This improves young people’s confidence and self-esteem and further supports their welfare and development.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The Registered Manager ensures that all staff employed in the home are subject to adequate vetting checks. Staff files contain all necessary information included previous employment references and recent disclosure and barring service checks. As a result, young people work with staff who have been assessed as suitable to provide young people with the care they require.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff ensure that health and safety checks on the home are completed on a regular basis. Furthermore, young people regularly participate in fire drills and practices. This means that staff are able to verify that young people are aware of how to safely exit the home in the event of a fire. Nevertheless, the fire risk assessment for the home has recently expired and has not yet been reviewed. This potential impacts negatively on young people’s safety because fire risks in the home are not continually evaluated.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home has a permanent manager in post who has been registered with Ofsted since November 2013. The Registered Manager has a number of years’ experience of working in and managing children’s residential care. In addition, the Registered Manager holds suitable level vocational qualifications in both leadership and management and children’s social care.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home’s Statement of Purpose is supported by a young person’s guide. This means that the placing authority, young people and their families understand the aims and objectives of the service. Furthermore, the young person’s guide provides young people with information about independent advocacy services. This means young people can access external support services should they wish to raise any 10 of 11 concerns they have. Nevertheless, the Statement of Purpose has not been reviewed in line with regulatory amendments. Although this is not detrimental to young people’s welfare, a requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff receive regular and effective supervision that supports their development and monitors their practice. In addition, training programmes for staff ensure that all staff undertake mandatory courses that support young people’s development, and additional courses to reflect the specific needs of young people. This promotes young people’s welfare and well-being. Furthermore, staff participate in regular team meetings. This means that staff have the opportunity to discuss practice and areas for improvement. As a result, young people work with knowledgeable staff whose practice and performance is regularly monitored.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager works in partnership with the placing authority and other agencies to ensure that statutory reviews are arranged. However, the Registered Manager does not ensure that young people’s case files contain up-to-date statutory care plans or the minutes of review meetings. This means that staff are unable to confirm that internal support plans reflect the aims and objectives of the placing authorities. As a result, young people do not benefit from a comprehensive or integrated approach to meeting their care needs.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager monitors the quality of care provided by the home and outcomes for young people. A range of systems are in place to evaluate the performance of staff and the progress young people make. However, monitoring systems have failed to identify some shortfalls in the home. For example, the incomplete missing from home records. This means that although the Registered Manager is aware of some of the strengths and weaknesses of the service, other are not addressed. As a result, the continued development of the home is compromised. Furthermore, the home does not have a development plan in place. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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