Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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

 Staff and young people have positive relationships with each other.

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

 Young people are engaged in positive educational outcomes and make progress from their starting points.

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

 The newly registered manager is making improvements to the home. There is measurable progress.

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

 Young people make good progress in all areas of their lives. A strength of the staff team is its nurturing support to young people.

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

 Young people are safe and feel safe in the home. Staff manage incidents of challenging behaviour safely and young people are able to speak about their concerns with staff.

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

 There are some areas for improvement. These include ensuring that the manager reviews and evaluates effectively the quality of care provided by the home, and revising and reviewing the statement of purpose and sending this to Ofsted as required.

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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 compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.The registered person must notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(b)) 11/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it, and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 09/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

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 (5)) 09/12/2016

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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 staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Good 09/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/11/2014 Full Good

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Good

Young people live in a home that is well presented, homely and welcoming. Recent redecoration has further improved the look and feel of the home. The views of young people were considered in choosing decor for the home. Furthermore, young people are able to personalise their own bedrooms, and in doing so are able to express their individuality. This supports young people in developing a sense of belonging to the home, which, in turn, helps young people to feel at home and settled.

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Good

Relationships between young people and staff are very positive. The stable and consistent staff team provides young people with familiarity and routine. This supports young people’s progress because they are able to develop trusting relationships with the staff team. A young person commented that, ‘Staff listen to me, they respect me. It’s really nice,’ ‘Staff are lovely. They are really easy to get on with,’ and, ‘Staff spend time with us. It makes us feel special.’

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Good

Young people are also encouraged to develop, and maintain, positive relationships with each other. A range of activities are on offer to support this and young people enjoy spending time with each other, both in the home and the wider community. The staff team ensures that the views of young people inform how the home operates. This ranges from meal choices to choosing activities. Young people feel that their views are listened to and, where applicable, acted upon. A social worker said that, ‘The staff are really proactive.’

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Good

Young people have up-to-date care and placement plans. This ensures that the staff are providing current and agreed care. Regular reviews are conducted and the staff ensure that regular updates are provided to social workers and parents, where appropriate to do so. This ensures that all involved parties are informed of progress and where there are concerns. A social worker commented that, ‘Communication is excellent and weekly reports are always detailed and informative.’

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Good

The health needs of young people are well managed. All health appointments are up to date and young people, should they need to, are able to access specialist services where required. The staff have a good understanding of meeting health needs. Medication is safely and appropriately managed. Young people are supported in discussing their emotional, social and psychological well-being. This is underpinned by regular and detailed key working sessions. Staff draw on the knowledge and expertise of the organisation’s professional therapists. This means that young people are cared for by staff who are supported by clinical input where required. This is reflected in the progress that young people are making with regards to their emotions. A social worker commented that, ‘There has been a significant improvement with [young person’s] behaviour. Support around mental health is superb. It is extremely positive.’ Another social worker commented that a

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Good

young person has done ‘exceptionally well’.

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Good

All young people are actively engaged in education and are making good progress. There are clear plans in place to support young people with their academic progress and young people are encouraged to attend education and to achieve. The staff have built a culture of opportunity in the home where young people are encouraged to make plans for their futures and realise these ambitions. A young person commented that, ‘For the last few years, before I came here, I have been unable to do a lot of things. Here, there is so much opportunity.’

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Good

Young people are safe, and feel safe, in the home. This is because positive relationships with the staff team underpin a strong sense of belonging and attachment to the home. A young person commented, ‘When I first arrived, I used to run away a lot. I don’t now. I feel safe.’ Young people do not go missing and incidents of a serious nature are rare. Where they do occur, the staff team takes swift and decisive action to promote the safety and welfare of young people. Comments from young people include, ‘The staff are very good at keeping me safe,’ and, ‘Being here has made a massive difference to me. I used to self-harm all of the time and also run away a lot.’

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Good

Young people’s risks are appropriately managed and staff are vigilant to any changes in young people’s behaviour. Senior managers from within the organisation, some of whom hold specialist qualifications in therapeutic services, support staff in identifying and responding to young people’s behaviours. Young people’s files are, on the whole, up to date with all relevant safeguarding information. However, not all risk assessments are updated to reflect a reduction in risk over time. This has the potential to mean that the care given to young people is not in line with their current risks or abilities.

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Good

Restraint is used appropriately and only where necessary. All staff are trained in the home’s chosen method of restraint and incidents are regularly reviewed. The registered manager has improved the recording system for incidents since the last inspection. For example, the views of young people are now recorded against specific criteria and questions. This enables young people to share their experiences during an incident in full detail. Consequently, this provides young people with the opportunity to reflect fully on incidents. Complaints from young people are rare. When they do occur, they are sensitively and swiftly resolved. Similarly, the use of sanctions is rare. Where sanctions are given, they are fair, reasonable and understood. Young people are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and how this has an impact on others.

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Good

The home is safely maintained and all required checks are in place and up to date. Regular fire drills ensure that all staff and young people know how to evacuate in the event of fire. Where new staff have joined the home, appropriate checks have been made prior to their employment commencing. This ensures that young people are not exposed to adults who may wish to cause them harm.

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Good

This home was last inspected in March 2016 and was judged to have sustained effectiveness. No requirements or recommendations were made at that time. Since the last inspection, the manager has completed their registration with Ofsted and is currently undertaking their level 5 training.

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Good

The new registered manager has made a positive impact. This is reflected in a settled home where young people make progress. Systems for monitoring and reviewing the home are in place and are making some improvements. However, the registered manager’s own reports lack a detailed evaluation of the home’s progress. This means that the registered manager is not fully reviewing all aspects of the home’s operation. For example, although the views of young people are routinely sought, these views are not considered as part of the manager’s reviews.

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Good

The home’s statement of purpose is up to date, reflects the home’s operation and includes all required details. However, despite being revised in August 2016, Ofsted has not yet been sent a copy as required by regulation. This shortfall has, to date, had no negative impact on the outcomes for young people. The registered manager has a development plan in place to make further improvements in the home. This plan is detailed and regularly reviewed. This is further enhanced through monthly independent visits to the home, which provide further areas for the manager to consider. These areas are actively addressed and, where required, improvements are made.

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Good

Staff training is, on the whole, up to date. A small number of experienced staff have not completed some organisational training in health and safety. There is no demonstrable impact, to date, as a result of these training gaps. All staff, however, are up to date in their core training in safeguarding, behaviour management, medication and first aid. Furthermore, regular supervision ensures that all staff are able to discuss their practice, performance and plans for further improving the home. The registered manager is similarly supported by the organisation’s directors. All staff are clear in their responsibilities and their work is regularly reviewed. This means that young people live in a home that is clearly and efficiently managed.

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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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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