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

Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 1 SC483958 Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for three young people up to the age of 18. The home offers care for young people who have behavioural and/or emotional needs. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been considerable improvements made to the physical condition of the home. The garden has also been developed and is now a safe space for young people to enjoy. These improvements have ensured that young people have a more comfortable and homely environment in which to live. The registered manager has a development plan in place for ongoing improvements. This plan incorporates the wishes and feelings of the young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff deliver care through good one-to-one key-work sessions. However, staff could further develop these sessions to help young people to reflect on their personal Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 2 circumstances and to develop the emotional resilience that they need to move forward with their lives.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s overall experience of living in the home has improved. Staff support young people to develop daily routines that help promote their independence. A young person told the inspector, ‘A few months ago, I would have been in bed but I wasn’t achieving anything. I now get up each morning and have a routine. This helps me to feel better in myself.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous inspection found that risk assessments were not routinely updated. The registered manager has since developed a new template, which has assisted staff to produce detailed risk assessments that describe strategies and actions for staff to follow in order to reduce risks. These enable staff to continually promote young people’s safety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager completes thorough matching assessments when new young people move into the home. Since the last inspection, two young people have left the home. One young person left the home to live in semi-supported accommodation. The registered manager recognised the negative impact that another young person was having on the safety of the other young people and staff and worked effectively with the young person’s placing authority, acknowledging that this placement could no longer meet his needs. The young person has now left the home. This has led to a calmer home and a reduction in safeguarding incidents.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has ensured that the statement of purpose has been updated and is better understood. The registered manager makes sure that staff training programmes are relevant and reflective of young people’s needs. A training matrix has been developed; this assists the registered manager in ensuring that staff are up to date with training. Additional training has been sourced to meet the specific needs of young people. Staff have recently completed training in autistic spectrum disorder to enable them to understand and develop their approach to working with a young person who is currently resident in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has improved records. She routinely audits children’s case files, and gaps are swiftly remedied. The registered manager has developed a system whereby she reviews any changes to documents on a daily basis. Consequently, young people’s files have up-to-date information and there is robust management oversight. Young people benefit from plans that are up to date and accurate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous inspection identified that the staffing rota was ambiguous. The registered manager has developed a new rota. Details of start/finish times are clearly recorded and have resulted in improved planning of staff shifts. The registered manager was previously regularly ‘on shift’ herself, which detracted from her being able to undertake management duties and monitor the service. Because of these changes, young people have benefited from having a registered manager who has the capacity to look at ways to improve their experience.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical restraint is only used to prevent young people from hurting themselves and/or Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 3 others. Staff record incidents of physical restraint in detail. This enables the registered manager to fully assess and evaluate the appropriateness of the use of these measures. This promotes young people’s safety and welfare. However, the registered manager was involved in one incident and was subsequently injured. She undertook the review of this incident, which was not appropriate. The responsible individual and supervisor of the registered manager should have overseen this. Consequently, the scrutiny of this incident is flawed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff give priority to young people’s education. One young person is refusing to attend education; however, the staff have liaised with the school and she is provided with work to do. The registered manager appropriately advocated for one young person. This resulted in the local authority identifying an alternative provision for her. Consequently, young people are getting the specialised support that they require to make progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internet safety has improved. Specialist software to protect young people and monitor their internet use has been installed on computers that are accessed by young people. Staff monitor young people’s use of the internet and provide clear and consistent boundaries for young people in respect of their internet access. Staff explain risk assessments to young people if their internet use has to be restricted. This helps young people to understand the risks that they face.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that the local authority provides an independent return interview for any young person who goes missing. As a result, young people are given the opportunity of sharing information about the missing incident. Staff consider these factors during one-to-one sessions with young people and in meetings with placing authorities and other agencies. This attention to detail helps to protect young people from potential harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff are extremely motivated and enthusiastic. The majority of staff are suitably qualified for their roles, and others are working towards gaining these qualifications. As a team, staff are skilled and knowledgeable and have a number of years of experience of working with young people.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that care meets each child’s needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14 , Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 4 paragraph 3.2)  Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/11/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 19/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 5 Unique reference number: SC483958

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd, 3 Churchill House Queen Street, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire TF1 1SN

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Neil Hedges Kathryn Green

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Inspector

Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC483958 6 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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