Children's home run by Positive Steps (Care Services) Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report children’s home: SC061770 1 SC061770 Registered provider: Positive Steps (Care Services) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation runs this children’s home, which is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have learning disabilities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making good progress because they live at this home. The manager routinely reviews the carefully prepared child-centred care plans, to ensure that they are current and meet the children’s needs. Some of the children have experienced a significant improvement in their relationships with the staff because the staff use these plans to guide their interactions. Children have been helped to verbalise their wishes and choices about their lives. This has reduced the need for specialist speech and language therapy input, as the staff facilitate and encourage communication skills.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the children through one-to-one key-work sessions, which help the children to manage their anxiety as they approach the transition to adult services and the planned move away from the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC061770 2 Children have maintained their education placements. There is good communication between the schools, colleges and the staff. The staff proactively support the development of life skills training as part of pathway planning and independence work. Children are learning to budget, cook and manage their laundry in line with their developmental stages. They gain confidence ahead of any planned move into the community.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

An experienced and qualified manager supports the staff through regular supervision and appraisal. She ensures that the training provided in house supports the staff to meet the children’s needs. Some of the staff have yet to complete the required level 3 diploma. The provider obtains regular updates from the organisation that delivers the diploma training to ensure that staff are up to date with their coursework. Although this is a work in progress, the requirement is not yet met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been no change to the group of children living at the home since the last inspection. Because of this, the children have experienced stability and consistency.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Trained staff have physically intervened on two occasions since the last inspection. Staff and managers have reflected on these incidents to look at possible alternative ways to handle similar situations in the future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints raised about the service since the last inspection. The manager has a good relationship with the independent visitor. The manager uses the regular reports provided by the visitor to review the service and rectify any shortfalls that are highlighted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one notification of a significant incident since the last inspection. A review of the well-written records of the incident identified that the action taken to manage the situation was proportionate. There have been no referrals to the designated officer. The manager has a clear understanding of the role and responsibilities of other agencies in managing concerns or allegations about staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand the risks factors for the children. The staff provide high levels of supervision in line with the children’s needs. This means that children do not go missing from this home. Staff have undertaken training to manage situations of children going missing and are therefore equipped to respond to such an incident should it arise.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children, supported by staff, are attending contact sessions with their families. These sessions have increased in line with each child’s assessed needs. This contact helps the children to maintain important relationships with these family members. A placing social worker commented, ‘The home is good at facilitating the relationships between the child and the family and friends outside the home.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children participate in activities such as going to youth clubs, hand-cycling groups, days out by the sea and a Star Wars convention, which was a particular treat for one child.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they are safe at this home. They said that their key workers are ‘great’ and ‘the best’. Observation of the staff interaction with the children shows a calm, caring Inspection report children’s home: SC061770 3 approach to meeting their needs. Placing social workers have no concerns about the safe-care approach employed at the home. One social worker commented, ‘The children seem to have very good relationships with the staff. The children are encouraged to participate in activities, clubs and events in their community, and these are innovative and interesting.’

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2017 Full Good 11/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’), or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32(4)(5)) 03/01/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC061770 4

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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 differences 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Steps (Care Services) Limited

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Inspector

Michael Mulvaney, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC061770 5 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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