Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children's home: SC410545 1 SC410545 Registered provider: Positive Pathways Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to two children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or moderate learning difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people make good progress in different areas of their lives because of the care they receive from staff. Inspection report children's home: SC410545 2  Staff help children and young people develop a sense of belonging.  Staff ensure that children and young people develop healthy eating habits, and use the outdoors to enjoy varied activities.  Children and young people learn safe ways of dealing with their feelings.  Children and young people are involved in lively, democratic discussions about all aspects of the running of the home.  Staff use their shared knowledge of children and young people to develop behaviour management plans that are well thought through.  Staff are attentive, and are focused on the interests of the children and young people.  The registered manager works closely with partner agencies to ensure that children and young people feel safe in their local community.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager does not make sure that risk assessments explicitly consider children and young people’s vulnerabilities to child sexual exploitation and radicalisation.  The registered manager does not ensure that physical restraint records hold the right information. The registered manager has not recorded a physical change to the front door locking system as a restriction of movement, nor has he considered the impact of this change on fire safety.  Staff do not receive agreed supervision to guide their practice and consider what works for the children and young people.  The registered manager does not always follow safe recruitment procedures.  The registered manager does not fully consider ways to help children and young people learn how to protect themselves from risks as they move towards adulthood.  The registered manager uses monitoring devices without identifying the risks to children and young people.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC410545 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must record the effectiveness and any consequence of the use of the measure and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; (Regulation 35 (3)(vii) (viii)) 31/05/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the privacy of children is appropriately protected and that any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home and that such limitation is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (a)(c)(iii)) 31/05/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that the individual is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(a)) 30/06/2017

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) In particular related to risks related to child sexual exploitation and radicalisation.

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9) In particular to consider the use of the internet safely in preparation for adult life.

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that restraint includes restricting a child’s liberty of movement. For Inspection report children's home: SC410545 4 example, changes to the physical environment of the home (such as using high door handles). Restrictions such as these, and all other restrictions of liberty of movement, should be recorded as restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42)

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, newly appointed staff have supervision in line with induction processes.

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person makes best use of information from independent and internal monitoring. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) In particular, review of the use of physical restraint.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make good progress because staff show them affection and attention. For example, staff regularly pat each child or young person on the back, and staff will spontaneously offer a hug. One young person told the inspector, ‘They do care about me.’ This means that children and young people feel valued and develop self- worth, and are increasingly able to face new opportunities with confidence rather than fear of failure. Children and young people are more willing to attend school and learn new things. One young person has been nominated for a local authority-wide award for his achievement in working with others, since living at the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate achievements and special occasions with children and young people. The registered manager makes sure that children and young people from other children’s homes can attend these special events. One young person’s birthday was celebrated with cards, banners and balloons throughout the house. This means that children and young people develop a sense of belonging. One young person described their experience to the inspector as, ‘This is home.’ Alongside this, staff perform all routine chores like washing up, laundry and cooking in view of the children and young people. This encourages the children and young people to feel part of a family home. One professional told the inspector, ‘The staff have changed our view of residential care. The young person is more settled, he feels a part of something and is more secure.’ This sense of belonging means that children and young people do not go missing for any

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff diligently keep to routines for the day. This helps children and young people to Inspection report children's home: SC410545 5 have good routines for sleeping, eating together at the dinner table and keeping good school attendance. This gives a sense of order to each day, so children and young people know what to expect and this reduces their anxieties. Consequently, children and young people engage well with planned activities, and all children and young people attend school.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff liaise with school on a daily basis. This ensures that staff and teaching staff are aware of any issues and can support the children and young people throughout the day. Staff encourage bedtime stories and support homework as part of the daily routine. Consequently, children and young people increase engagement with education.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly review children and young people’s health needs. Children and young people attend all general health appointments, and staff arrange specialist advice quickly following an admission. The registered manager links closely with a clinical psychologist to secure advice about each child. This helps the manager and staff to prioritise children and young people’s emotional and mental health needs. Consequently, all children and young people have improved their sleeping and eating routines. Children and young people previously self-harmed, but this is no longer evident at home or in school. This is because staff closely monitor children and young people’s emotional well-being.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children and young people have a nutritious and balanced diet, and an active lifestyle. Children and young people are involved in planning menus for the week, as well as choosing rewards carefully. For example, one young person discussed the balance of meat and vegetables in his ‘takeaway’ choice for the week following a house meeting. Staff ensure that children and young people have access to a wide range of activities. For example, children and young people participate in trips to Waterworld, playing in the park and strawberry picking. Consequently, children and young people spend time each day engaging in fun and meaningful activities that help to create positive memories.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children and young people to take increased responsibility for chores around the home, as well as an increasing level of responsibility for choices made throughout the day. For example, when one young person did not want to clean the bathroom after using it, he was told ‘that would mean less time reading stories, if staff have to do it for you.’ Subsequently, children and young people learn to consider consequences and take increasing control of their own lives.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are encouraged to express their opinions and feelings, through key-work sessions, discussions around the dinner table and fortnightly house meetings. The registered manager encourages discussions about menus and activity planning, alongside house rules, achievements and respect for others. For example, the house meeting included discussions on plans for half term and furniture renewal. This means that children and young people develop skills in expressing themselves with confidence.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager works sensitively to establish positive contact with children and young people’s family. Staff discuss anxieties and hopes for contact, and work closely Inspection report children's home: SC410545 6 with local authorities to ensure that safe contact with family members is secured. One parent also told the inspector, ‘Thanks to the staff, I understand what he is worried about, and we will take contact one step at a time.’ This ensures that children and young people feel secure and safe, with all adults working together around them.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children and young people feel safe, cared for and supported. Children and young people receive affection and form trusting relationships with staff. This increases children and young people’s feelings of security.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are aware of clear and detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans for each child and young person. The registered manager has developed these plans in consultation with other professionals including a clinical psychologist, specialist advice and family members. Staff review all relevant plans and keep up to date with children and young peoples’ changing needs. This ensures that the support offered by staff meets the needs of each child and young person, in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are aware of issues related to children and young people who may be subject to child sexual exploitation, missing from care or radicalisation. However, the registered manager has not ensured that specific concerns are explicitly included in each child or young person’s risk assessment. This limits any preventative work from happening.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager understands what constitutes a significant concern and responds appropriately. The registered manager is aware of local safeguarding processes and uses them consistently. This means that when risks emerge staff respond effectively and protect children and young people from harm.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager has not developed transitional arrangements for children and young people to learn ways to keep themselves safe. For example, there is limited internet access allowed in the house for study. This does not help children and young people to use social media safely and make safe, informed decisions that prepare them for adulthood.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager has introduced a monitoring system in the house. This has included consulting placing authorities. However, the registered manager has not considered the implications of this surveillance on children and young people’s privacy, or risk assessed the necessity of such as system.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use de-escalation techniques effectively in most instances to reduce the need for physical restraint. Despite such techniques, incidents occur when children and young people use aggression to express their strong feelings. When physical restraint is used staff responses are proportionate. However, when a physical restraint is necessary the records made by staff are not consistent. This inconsistency includes the use of confusing terminology. The registered manager’s oversight of physical restraints is not Inspection report children's home: SC410545 7 always evident. This limits his effectiveness to oversee staff practice.

p.6

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager has not considered the impact on fire safety for children and young people after making changes to the front door. The impact includes the manager not considering that the changes might result in a restriction of movement for children and young people.

p.7

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have regular refresher training on safeguarding, physical restraint, bullying, child sexual exploitation and e-safety. The registered manager ensures that newly recruited staff are supported through their induction, and that all staff show awareness of safeguarding procedures. Consequently, all staff are able to recognise risk, and work together to protect children and young people from harm.

p.7

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager uses recruitment procedures to help ensure that children and young people are kept safe. Full employment histories, references and selection methods are used alongside the disclosure and barring service to verify the suitability of new staff members. However due diligence is not used when potential concerns emerge about a person’s suitability.

p.7

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The administration of medication procedures is effective to keep children and young people safe.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has managed this home for three years. He has extensive experience and holds the relevant qualification. A newly appointed deputy manager shares supervisory responsibilities. Together they provide strong and effective leadership. There is a consistency in approach between the registered manager and deputy manager, which is reinforced by the detailed behaviour management plans. This ensures that decision-making for children and young people remains consistent.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are enthusiastic and caring, and speak highly of the registered manager. However, the registered manager has not provided supervision to all staff in the agreed timescales. This has left one member of staff, in their probationary period, without supervision for over ten weeks. This indicates that the registered manager does not ensure that staff have their practice regularly appraised.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are experienced and the majority of staff hold the relevant qualification in residential childcare. When staff do not have the relevant qualification, training is commenced to enable them to achieve the qualification. The registered manager ensures that staff access training that reflects children and young people’s needs. For instance, one young person’s nurse delivered training. This was supported by further online training and reading materials, alongside detailed behaviour management guidance. This means that staff have the skills to meet the individual needs of each child or young person.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager reinforces staff learning with clear guidance and prompts in all Inspection report children's home: SC410545 8 records. This encourages staff to link the daily support to research and advice on what works for each child or young person. For example, one member of staff said: ‘After the training, we just changed the way we asked some questions and he responded completely differently.’ Consequently, children and young people report feeling, ‘Staff really care about me, just me.’

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works closely with other professionals. Communication is well- documented, with each agency and family member involved. One parent said: ‘I know the plan now; nobody told me before.’ The registered manager advocates and challenges other workers to ensure that the children and young people’s needs are met.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the staff team has experienced some instability. The registered manager has recruited newly appointed staff, and one vacancy remains.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager plans admissions, including consideration of the needs of all children and young people, in a compatibility risk assessment. Despite this planning, several recent admissions significantly affected the dynamics in the house, and staff struggled to adjust quickly to the needs of those children and young people. This resulted in several children and young people being discharged, and experiencing further instability. The registered manager has considered this period carefully and has a clear development plan to maintain improvements.

p.8

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

p.8

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: SC410545 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Pathways Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1556 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 9HA

p.9

Inspector

Bev Harrison-James, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC410545 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10