Children's Home run by Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd in Dudley

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Staff make a positive impact on young people’s lives. In the words of the local police liaison officer, ‘Staff go beyond what you would expect. They are committed and determined.’ Since the last inspection, the manager has actively addressed the shortfalls identified. Young people are now making good progress, underpinned by high-quality support and consistency from staff. Professionals visiting the home consistently describe staff as warm and welcoming. Many of the young people living here are reluctant to engage with services, but staff are persistent in their approach. As one placing social worker stated, ‘[The staff] are always trying to come up with new, inventive ways to engage young people. They don’t give up.’ Young people are developing positive relationships

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with staff, which help to build emotional maturity and resilience. The manager makes sure that new admissions to the home are carefully planned. Since the last inspection, she has strengthened her admissions process to ensure that the needs of the young people currently resident are considered and that local services are available to meet young people’s presenting needs. As one placing social worker commented, ‘They’ve been very proactive in getting additional specialist support services and identifying an education placement.’ Young people report that they feel involved and that views are valued. There have been two complaints received since the last inspection. The manager, alongside the young person, has appropriately resolved these. Young people are now beginning to make progress in education. Young people who previously have been disengaged with education are now regularly attending their placements. This is significant progress from their starting points. Young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people now have access to a laptop to support their learning. Staff effectively communicate with education colleagues to ensure that there is consistency of approach and that learning opportunities are maximised. Young people show emotional resilience and are coping well with new challenges that promote their personal development. The manager has improved young people’s preparation for adulthood. Staff support young people to complete structured, individualised independence programmes that build and develop their skills and knowledge. Staff are encouraging and persistent. This has resulted in young people being better prepared now for the extra responsibilities that come with living independently. The home is comfortable and well maintained. The manager has responded promptly to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. She has begun to evaluate the quality assurance processes. She has established a development plan for the home. She has a good understanding of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home’s strengths and identified areas for future development. The manager undertakes monthly auditing, which reviews young people’s files to ensure that they are current and contain appropriate information. Regular quality of care reviews are completed, which review the progress achieved and identify areas for future progress. The views of family members, social workers and other professionals, however, are not considered. This means that the manager is unable to effectively assess how the home meets the needs of young people living there. This will be raised as a regulatory shortfall. There remains a stable staff team in place. Most staff are qualified and those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales to obtain their qualification. However, there is no workforce plan. This impacts upon the ability of the manager to plan future staffing sufficiency. This was a recommendation made at the last

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection and will be repeated. Young people say that they feel safe and are confident that staff will respond appropriately to protect them. Since the last inspection, staff have received additional training to reflect the presenting needs of young people living there, for example in tackling substance misuse. This improved awareness is now reflected in more robust risk management strategies and in the individual work undertaken with young people. Staff model and promote acceptable behaviour. Risks are well understood and managed with the support of personalised risk management plans that are consistently updated by staff. Staff identify problems early and step in to prevent escalation. Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions as staff promote positive behaviour. As one social worker observed, ‘Staff set clear boundaries and expectations and, as a result, young people make progress.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection. For some young people, this is a significant improvement from their starting points. There are robust procedures in place should an incident occur. Staff are vigilant to presenting risks and have clear strategies in place to address them. For some young people living here, drug misuse is an area of concern. Staff effectively respond and make referrals to specialist agencies. The local community police officer has also visited the home to raise the young people’s awareness of the wider safeguarding risks linked with substance misuse. Staff undertake individual work with young people on the dangers of drug misuse and associated risks. Partnership working is strong. Social workers and professionals from specialist services commend the commitment of staff. All are consistently positive about the quality and regularity of the information that they receive. As a result, young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people experience an integrated approach to meeting their needs and promoting their welfare. Staff effectively challenge services when they consider that plans do not adequately meet young people’s needs. This partnership working helps young people to overcome difficulties that previously affected their development. The manager makes sure that young people’s relationships with family members are actively supported by staff. They ensure that family members are regularly updated about a young person’s progress. The manager and staff recognise the importance of young people maintaining relationships with family members in a safe and positive manner. Six requirements made at the last inspection have all been met. One requirement has been repeated to ensure that the views of young people, their parents and other professionals are considered, to shape and inform the home’s development or improvement.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have 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

19/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

45: Review of quality of care (1) In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating: (a) the quality of care provided for children (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c)any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(5)) 19/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that there is a workforce plan in place, which can fulfil the requirements of Regulation 16, Schedule 1. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection, 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’.

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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 that 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children 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

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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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