Children's home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 1 SC410535 Registered provider: Positive Pathways Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities. A private provider operates the service.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 February 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people receive well-planned care from a dedicated and motivated staff team.  Social workers and family members all speak positively about the progress that their children are making.  Staff are creative in enabling young people to have a voice and to feel listened to.  Young people have opportunities to take part in activities that they are interested in and that they enjoy.  The young people enjoy spending time caring for the home’s pet cats.  Comprehensive care planning means that staff have an in-depth understanding of the behaviour management techniques required to keep young people safe.  Staff benefit from the support of a psychologist. This has enabled swift work to take place with the young people.  There is a qualified and experienced management team in place.  Staff receive regular supervision and frequent team meetings.  Staff feel supported by the management team and are motivated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/08/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive well-planned care from a dedicated and motivated staff team. The level of staff attention to the care of young people means that nothing goes unnoticed. A social worker commented: The young person has hugely improved since being placed at [name of the home]. There [have] not been any missing or suicidal attempts. There is a fantastic working relationship between the home and the local authority and there is good communication and sharing of information about the young person’s well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy good relationships with staff. They write poems and letters to staff to share their positive thoughts and feelings. Young people commented to the inspector that they have staff members whom they are able to talk to and enjoy spending time with, and that they benefit from this. As a result, young people enjoy trusting relationships with staff that help them to make improvements in their everyday lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are positive in their approach to education and its value for young people’s future. Staff have a never-give-up attitude and they help young people to overcome educational barriers. As a result, young people feel cared for and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some young people struggle to express their views. To help overcome these difficulties, staff try hard to find new ways to help young people to express their views. These include holding regular young people’s meetings, using consultation forms and holding frequent one-to-one sessions. These different methods help young people to have a voice in shaping their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have opportunities to take part in various activities. For example, they enjoy going to the gym, meeting up with friends and going for walks. These opportunities help young people to improve their emotional and social well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good communication with parents and friends’ parents to ensure that young people are safe and are having their needs met. One young person’s family member told the inspector that: Communication is really good. They always ring us and give us updates. [Young person] has made loads of progress. She is a lot more settled, and she really enjoys it there. Safeguarding is very good. The staff work with families and do what is best for children. They know when she is not doing well, they will safeguard her and protect her, and they will turn her round and improve her mind. Everything they do is in the best interests of [young person].

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are being supported to develop their independence skills at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. Young people help to wash up after meals, to use the washing machine and to keep their bedrooms tidy. These opportunities enable young people to take on appropriate levels of responsibility to develop their life skills for the Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 4 future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff make sure that the house is kept in a homely way. The house has recently benefited from having one of the living rooms redecorated and a new carpet fitted. Young people have had the opportunity to decorate and personalise their bedrooms to reflect their interests and hobbies. Young people particularly enjoy the warmth and enjoyment that comes with having four pet cats. The pets and all these features help to create an environment of which young people feel proud and have a sense of belonging.

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

Comprehensive care planning means that staff have an in-depth understanding of the behaviour management techniques required to keep young people safe. For example, all young people have individualised targets and agreed coping mechanisms to use in times of need. Staff regularly evaluate these techniques to ensure that the measures continue to help young people to make progress.

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

Although there have been some occasions when it has been necessary to use physical restraint to keep a young person safe, this has only ever been used as a last resort.

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

Staff are quick to identify any emerging changes to the risks to young people. These are then discussed with other professionals, the young person and their parents. After consultation, new plans are agreed on and put in place. As a result, the action taken by staff means that young people stay safe.

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

All staff are trained in understanding the indicators of child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Some young people can self-harm. Staff are alert to any changes and know how to respond if concerns emerge. Staff benefit from the support of a psychologist. This has enabled swift work to take place with young people and staff.

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

Staff follow the missing from care protocols whenever a young person goes missing from the home. This includes staff making all efforts to locate the young person. Young people are debriefed after they return home. This helps staff to understand the reasons why a young person chooses to go missing from home and to put in place further measures of protection.

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

Managers ensure that the home is well maintained. This includes carrying out regular checks of electrical and gas installations and fire safety. Fire drills take place and help young people to have the knowledge of how to respond in an emergency.

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

Staff are recruited safely. This ensures that anyone employed is safe to work with young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new in post but has worked at the home for 12 years. She holds a level 5 diploma in residential childcare. An experienced and qualified deputy manager Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 5 supports her. Together, they lead a skilful and passionate staff team. Most staff are qualified to a level 3 in residential childcare. Those who are unqualified are still within the regulatory timescale to complete the required qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. She constantly strives to improve staff practice to help to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good oversight of the progress that young people are making. For example, she uses various tools, including a weekly summary, to help her carefully monitor young people’s progress week-by-week.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, attend regular team meetings and have clinical supervision with the psychologist. These opportunities help staff to become better practitioners.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is not afraid to challenge other professionals. For example, she challenged a placing authority when it did not provide all of the relevant information when placing a young person at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has made sure that the statement of purpose clearly demonstrates the aims and objectives of the home. This helps parents and placing authorities to have a clear understanding of the service’s aims and objectives.

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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

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: SC410535 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Pathways Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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