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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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The 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. The aim of the home is to provide care in a safe, nurturing, supportive, family-type environment.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is experienced, suitably qualified and has been registered since May 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 November 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 19 February 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2018 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/08/2016 Full Outstanding 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy living in an exceptionally well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment. The property reflects the company’s aim to provide young people with the best possible service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have recently redecorated the house. The changes made reflect the young people’s choices and preferences. Young people are positive about the home environment and are proud to bring their friends to visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide an excellent standard of care to young people. The level of attention to detail is exceptional. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the young people. This means that they can respond to changes in young people’s mood and behaviour quickly and can offer the necessary support without delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff work closely with young people to promote self-confidence and self-worth. Staff are nurturing, and this means that young people feel safe and are achieving their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff have a strong focus on the importance of education and work closely with schools and colleges. As a result, two young people who had previously disengaged from going to school, now attend regularly and are making remarkable progress. For example, young people have achieved outstanding grades in their recent examinations. One teacher told the inspector, ‘It is amazing what she has achieved.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people experience a wide range of activities. Staff often research new opportunities to enrich young people’s emotional and social experiences. For example, staff have arranged for young people to attend their first pantomime.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work hard to promote the physical, emotional and psychological health of each young person. All young people attend routine medical appointments, and some young people engage in therapeutic support. With the help of the company’s psychologist, staff have developed strategies to help them meet individual needs of each young person. This has helped young people to stabilise their emotions and to start to make safer decisions.

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

Managers and staff understand the risks that young people can face and implement highly effective plans to help reduce risk. Young people make good choices about how to spend their free time. As a result, the number of missing from care episodes have significantly reduced.

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

Young people feel safe. They interact well with the staff, and young people can name members of staff who they have a strong relationship with and can trust. Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 4 The manager keeps regular contact with the police. This means that the manager can stay up to date with developments about criminal activity in the area. The manager is vigilant in regard to the location’s risk assessment and takes proactive measures to report any changes or new concerns with the police.

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

Research-based practice has helped staff to understand risks that young people face from sexual exploitation. Staff have also received training to support them to better understand young people who have a history of self-harm. The psychologist also offers clinical support sessions to staff to develop their understanding of young people’s behaviours and presenting difficulties. As a result, young people are helped and protected by staff who are skilled in keeping young people safe.

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

Staff rarely use physical restraint to control young people’s behaviour and, instead, staff focus on positive methods of behaviour management. This is focused on sustaining positive relationships.

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

The organisation’s selection and vetting procedures ensure that young people’s safety is protected by preventing unsuitable adults from working at the home.

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

Health and safety checks of the equipment mean that young people enjoy a safe environment in which to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since May 2017. She is appropriately qualified and is an inspirational leader. A committed and passionate deputy supports the manager, and together they work hard to maintain a highly skilled and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to ensure that the service meets the needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Members of the staff team told the inspector that they are very well supported by managers. They have regular supervision and clinical support meetings that enable them to discuss the care of young people. Staff have a range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. In addition, they undertake a range of courses relevant to the specific needs of the young people, for example, autism spectrum disorder, self-injurious behaviour and attachment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff work very closely with other professionals and families. This close partnership working ensures that young people continue to make progress. Managers and staff maintain young people’s records, by ensuring that everything is well organised, is close at hand and is in a format that is accessible to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Half of the staff have a level 3 diploma in residential childcare. The remaining members of staff are currently in their probationary period. Inspection report children’s home: SC410535 5

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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

Debbie Holder, 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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