Children's home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

 Young people consistently make exceptional progress from their starting points. One young person said: ‘I could never thank the staff enough for what they have done for me over the past three years. I couldn’t even shout their praises loud enough. They’ve completely opened my mind and taught me how beautiful life can be.’  Key strengths of this home are the recognition of young people’s individuality and providing a bespoke plan to develop and progress each young person. These result in young people feeling valued for who they are, which improves their confidence and self-esteem.  Young people benefit from a stable, experienced and highly motivated staff team, which establishes trusting and respectful relationships with young people. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of research that underpins their work with young people.  The house feels like a family home. It is a friendly and welcoming environment

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

where young people feel relaxed and can take pride in their home.  The registered manager and staff are ambitious and aspire for the young people. They demonstrate great tenacity in helping young people to achieve their goals.  Staff actively promote, support and celebrate education within the home. This encourages young people to participate and to make exceptional progress within their educational settings.  Young people’s risk-taking behaviour reduces significantly throughout their placement, through coordinated risk-management strategies and confident planning to minimise risks.  The registered manager ensures that good quality monitoring, both internally and externally, results in the service evolving and continually striving for improvement at all times.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (i) has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (b)(i)) 19/09/2016

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

Young people benefit from living in a home that is warm and welcoming. Young people have strong relationships with staff, who support them to develop a strong self-view. One young person said, ‘This feels like home. I know staff want the best for me.’ Staff encourage and welcome young people’s friends to visit. There are a number of pets at the home that contribute to the homely feel. As one placing social worker commented, ‘Staff create a nurturing environment that feels safe and comfortable for young people. They are very child-focused and great advocates for young people. This is a very special home.’

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Outstanding

The relationships between staff and young people are close and mutually respectful. As one young person commented, ‘They make me feel comfortable being me.’ Staff have high expectations of young people in respect of achievement, participation and behaviour. Staff help them to take responsibility for their behaviour in the home and the community. Staff support and encourage young people to undertake voluntary work in the local community and part-time work that promotes their self-esteem and confidence. As one family member stated, ‘He’s grown as a person and his confidence has rocketed. He’s made some great connections with staff, who have helped build his independence and encouraged his hobbies.’

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Outstanding

The registered manager makes sure that new admissions are well planned, consulting both staff and young people. Staff warmly welcome new young people into the home. Staff sensitively manage introductions and overnight stays prior to their moves. As a result, young people settle quickly.

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Outstanding

The care provided in the home is highly individualised. Staff develop plans alongside the young people. This gives young people a sense of ownership and accountability in achieving their own goals. As one placing social worker commented, ‘They have been able to formulate a plan with him, that he has contributed to and is committed to. This is a real achievement.’

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Outstanding

Staff use attachment and social learning theory effectively to inform their understanding and practice of young people’s emotional and behavioural needs. These underpin their practice. The provider’s clinical psychologist guides staff’s work through regular clinical review meetings, and team discussions enhance staff intervention. The impact of this is that the support that young people receive is tailored to their individual needs and gives them the best possible opportunities for progression and development. For example, staff working with a young person with Asperger syndrome have used visual prompts to work with him to help him to recognise emotional triggers. Key worker sessions are meaningful and in-depth, and young people appreciate having their one-to-one time to discuss things that are important to them.

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Outstanding

All young people make significant positive progress in education from their starting points, and achieve far beyond expected levels. Staff are persistent and encouraging in their approach. All young people had significant absences from education prior to placement. One young person has subsequently achieved 12 GCSEs and has recently attained a double distinction in her first year in college, receiving a local authority award for her achievement. Others have actively engaged with education provision and become interested in learning again for the first time. They have secured college places and have aspirations for their future careers. As one placing social worker commented, ‘It has been the icing on the cake for him to be offered a college place. He is so pleased with his achievement.’

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Outstanding

Young people are consulted in a wide variety of ways to make sure that their voices are heard and that their views are taken into consideration. The registered manager has established a number of processes to ensure that young people’s views are taken into account, for example in contributing to staff appraisals. The registered manager diligently makes sure that all comments or suggestions receive a written response. Staff support young people to access independent advocacy services and one young person has recently challenged their placing authority’s leaving care plan with support from their advocate and staff. This promotes their self-esteem and allows young people some control over their lives.

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Outstanding

Young people have complex health, emotional and behavioural needs. Their engagement with external services is excellent, despite them not always wanting to attend appointments. Staff actively encourage and support them to address their health, emotional and behavioural issues, which results in them increasingly taking responsibility for their own well-being. All young people attend routine health assessments and appointments with doctors, dentists and opticians.

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Outstanding

The registered manager and staff actively advocate on behalf of the young people, challenging local authorities where they have concerns for the plans for a young person or appropriate provision of services. The registered manager is persistent in her efforts to ensure that all agencies are fulfilling their responsibilities and ensuring that the young people have the best opportunities possible even if the young people are placed at distance from their family. Staff make sure that young people benefit from a wide range of social, educational and recreational activities. All young people participate in healthy activities, such as badminton, gym and ice-skating. Each young person is encouraged and supported to pursue their own interests. All have opportunities to participate in community clubs and groups, such as cadets and youth clubs, which provide opportunities for widening their social network.

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Outstanding

The home provides young people with a very considered balance between nurture and developing independence. Staff fully understand the need to promote independence, and skilfully provide support in this area while continuing to offer a high level of care and a homely, caring environment. Staff make sure that young people are emotionally and practically prepared for their independence. Staff remain in contact with young people and provide supportive advice for young people living independently for the first time.

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Good

Young people say that they feel safe and that their risk-taking behaviour significantly reduces because of actions taken by staff to safeguard them. Agencies and family members consulted as part of this inspection consistently report a high level of satisfaction with the staff’s actions in respect of keeping young people safe. Staff develop high-quality risk assessments that make sure that there is a proactive response to any identified risks, and this reduces the risk of harm and actively tackles areas where harm may occur. Support provided in line with risk assessments ensures that young people become increasingly safe.

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Good

Young people rarely go missing from this home. For some young people, this has been a significant improvement from their starting points. Staff understand the risks associated with young people’s missing behaviour. They develop effective working relationships with local safeguarding agencies and police to ensure a coordinated approach. Each young person has a missing from home plan, which includes trigger behaviours and strategies for prevention. There are good systems in place for recording any missing incidents and ensuring that independent return interviews are completed. Although missing incidents are rare, the staff’s highly effective planning and strong sense of safety demonstrate that they are proactive in keeping young people safe. Staff have an excellent understanding of the risks of sexual exploitation. Staff members have undertaken specific training with a specialist service to equip them

p.8

Good

to undertake awareness-raising within the staff team, and to undertake individual bespoke training with young people There are robust systems in place in respect of internet use to minimise the risks of online grooming.

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Good

Self-harm is a specific risk for some young people living here. All young people who previously displayed this type of behaviour have made significant improvements in managing their anxieties. For some young people, this behaviour has ceased, and for others who joined the home more recently it has significantly reduced from their stating points. The home manages the incidents well and seeks appropriate medical assistance when required. Staff have undertaken specific training to support young people undertaking dialectical behaviour therapy and work effectively alongside mental health professionals to support young people. A child and adolescent psychiatrist commented, ‘It is a reflection of how well trained the staff are that her behaviour has calmed significantly since placement.’

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Good

Staff consistently promote positive behaviour in the home. Physical intervention is rarely used and is seen as being the last option for managing challenging behaviour. Staff effectively de-escalate incidents of challenging behaviour and prevent the need for physical intervention. The registered manager evaluates all incidents effectively, but does not record debriefs completed with staff following incidents. This limits learning opportunities. Sanctions are rarely used. When they are, the sanction is specific to the incident and the effectiveness of the sanction is reviewed. Young people describe how their staff team provide consistent boundaries and, in the words of one young person, ‘They don’t give up, they really care.’ This approach contributes to their feeling of security and promotes emotional resilience.

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Good

Young people are able to identify a trusted adult that they can speak to and understand how to make a complaint. Young people rarely complain because staff are proactive in seeking their views on all aspects of their care.

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Good

The registered manager and staff team promote the well-being and safety of the young person at all times. Their working knowledge of safeguarding, missing from care, radicalisation and child sexual exploitation procedures is enhanced by training and research. This ensures that they are able to meet the young person’s specific needs and to work effectively in partnership with other agencies.

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Good

The registered manager makes sure, through safe recruitment and vetting, that only suitable adults work with young people. Staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding and whistle-blowing policy. As a result, young people are effectively safeguarded. Judgement grade

p.9

Outstanding

The home has an inspirational manager who holds the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for children and young people in residential services. She has been in post since the home was first registered in 2010. She is supported by an experienced deputy who holds the same award. The registered manager creates a culture of high aspiration for the young people and the staff team alike. She has exceptionally good relationships with all the young people. As one young person commented, ‘Even if she’s in the middle of doing something she will put it aside and spend time with you.’

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Outstanding

The staff team is stable and all staff either hold the national vocational qualification level 3 residential award or will complete the qualification within the statutory requirements. The registered manager makes sure that new staff receive a comprehensive induction, so that they are assimilated quickly into the stable staff team. Staff morale is very high. There is effective communication between staff to ensure that care is consistent. In addition to the mandatory training, staff also receive regular specialist training to meet the specific needs of young people. All of the staff have recently undertaken accredited training in mental health awareness. Professionals working with young people who were consulted during this inspection have consistently commented on the staff’s professionalism and caring, committed approach.

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Outstanding

Staff benefit from regular formal and informal supervision. The registered manager promotes reflective practice, and reviews the impact of training on individual practice in individual supervision and team meetings. There is a clear learning culture in place. Appraisals are completed and staff feel well supported in their roles. Staff report a very high level of satisfaction with the management of the home.

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Outstanding

The registered manager uses both internal and external monitoring systems effectively to improve the experiences of young people in the home. She has recently revised her consultation forms for professionals and family members to specifically focus on the impact that the care provided in the home is having on improving young people’s outcomes. She rigorously identifies potential areas of weakness and puts plans in place to address these. She recognises the strengths of the home and praises the staff team when it is deserved. There is a clear development plan in place, which drives continuous improvement. The registered manager understands young people’s plans and is able to measure their progress from their starting points. Plans are reviewed to make sure that work is effective in supporting young people’s progress. The registered manager is proactive and engages with young people in the process. For example, following a

p.10

Outstanding

recent incident where a young person went missing, she identified specific goals for the young person to achieve to promote their safeguarding awareness and enable them to progress their wish for increasing independence.

p.11

Outstanding

The home is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in its statement of purpose. This clearly sets out the help and support on offer to young people, which keeps placing authorities, families and other agencies informed. The young person’s guide provides detailed information in an appropriate way to young people so that they know what to expect when they arrive at the home to commence their placement.

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Outstanding

The quality of professional relationships with families, placing authorities and other agencies is exceptional. The registered manager consistently keeps agencies informed of all relevant information, and professionals consistently praise the quality of, and good levels of, communication. As one youth offending worker stated, ‘The level of communication from the manager and staff is exceptional. I have never had to chase them. They are always on the ball. Their level of commitment is incredible.’ Similarly, staff keep parents and family members of young people very well informed of the young person’s progress and any issues affecting them. In the words of one family member, ‘Communication is a real strength. I’m well informed about progress, any issues which I can support with, changes of plans and anything to do with his well-being.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children’s

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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