Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC410537 Inspector Hannah Bates Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Positive Pathways Limited Registered person address Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park Wood Lane, Erdington Birmingham B24 9QR Responsible individual Danielle Epps Registered manager Alison Jane Corkingdale Date of last inspection 20/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 09/03/2015

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

p.2

This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

This inspection

Young people make good progress. Staff actively support young people’s educational progress through regular attendance and good communication with schools. Young people have aspirations and hopes for their futures. Young people learn independence skills appropriate to their age and ability. They learn to budget, do food shopping, and cook. This gives young people the necessary skills for when they leave the home.

p.2

This inspection

Young people are happy. They say they feel safe and that staff listen to them most of the time. When young people do have issues or concerns they raise these directly with staff and management. Any issues are quickly resolved. Significant incidents and physical interventions are rare. The home is settled and young people’s risk taking behaviours have reduced. Young people feel like it is their home. They have pets and are encouraged to take responsibility for them. The provision encourages young people to engage within the community. As such, young people have part time jobs, volunteer and join clubs. A social worker said; ‘The placement is excellent. They care about the young person. They don’t always impose their way onto the young person and instead encourage them to make choices’.

p.2

This inspection

The home meets young people’s needs well. Matching of young people is robust. The home completes assessments of young people’s needs prior to them starting their placement. This means that young people have services and education ready for when they start their placement. Young people have direct input into their risk assessments including how staff should respond to some risk taking behaviours. Young people feel they have some control over their care planning.

p.2

This inspection

Staff are experienced at working with young people with complex needs. They use tools such as ‘mood boards’ to support young people to communicate their feelings. Key working sessions are planned, purposeful, and regular. Young people receive 3 of 5 consistent direct input into managing their emotions and increasing their self- esteem. This means that young people make good progress during their placement.

p.2

This inspection

There is robust management oversight within the provision. The Registered Manager has met the requirements made at the last inspection. The home has a strong focus on partnership working with families, placing authorities and health professionals. The Registered Manager passes on any concerns to the placing authority. This ensures the safety of young people within the provision. The Registered Manager is a strong advocate for young people in their care and wants them to have the best service possible. Young people recognise this and as a result feel valued. Not all staff receive formal self-harm training. This leaves gaps in their knowledge to help to keep young people safe from harm. 4 of 5

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is operated by a private provider.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2014 Full good 20/03/2014 Interim good progress 22/08/2013 Full good 26/02/2013 Interim inadequate progress

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

ensure that all persons employed by him receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 27(4)(a)) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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.

p.5

What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5