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

Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 1 SC483958 Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Limited 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 children up to the age of 18 who have emotional and/or behavioural needs. A private provider operates the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably experienced and has a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Inspection date: 3 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 3 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, 11 requirements were raised. These requirements have been addressed. An experienced and qualified registered manager was appointed in November 2021 and has kept the home’s statement of purpose up to date. Management oversight of the home has improved, resulting in improved outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children currently live in the home. They are safe and feel safe in the home. There is no bullying and children have positive relationships with one another and with the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and one child has been admitted. One child who left the home displayed behaviours which escalated, and he was moved at short notice. However, the staff successfully engaged the other child to support them in a positive move into semi-independence. The child who recently moved into the home had a planned arrival. The manager implemented a thorough matching assessment; this ensured that the child had a successful arrival into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support children to learn and try new things. Both children attend school and are making progress. Staff helped one child who recently left the home to engage in a vocational training course. Staff support children to develop their independence and daily living skills. For example, through appropriate assessment and planning, staff helped a child to become confident in undertaking independent travel. Developing and maintaining friendships and independence are also encouraged by staff. This approach gives children the opportunity to meet friends and integrate into the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support children to maintain those relationships which are important to them. Time with family and friends is encouraged, both in and out of the home. This support enables children to value people who are important in their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live in a clean and welcoming home. Children’s bedrooms are modern, and children are encouraged to personalise them with posters and family photos. The shared living areas are clean and comfortable, and children enjoy spending time with staff in the large games room.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s health is promoted well. Medication arrangements for children are appropriate. Children enjoy a balanced diet and staff prepare good-quality food which the children choose and enjoy. In addition, children take part in a range of Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 3 leisure activities. They make the most of local facilities and those further afield such as theme parks. As a result, children enjoy good physical health and have fun.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help children to express their views and explore their behaviours by having regular planned meetings and day-to-day discussions. Staff support children to contribute to their care plans and make decisions about their day-to-day care. These opportunities enable children to express their views and preferences and to contribute to decisions about their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive training to raise their knowledge and awareness of how best to safeguard children. Staff are committed to training because the manager makes sure that this is a priority. They implement this learning in their day-to-day practice and care of children. Staff have received specialised training in how to respond to incidents of children going missing from home and children who may misuse substances, and to be alert to issues that may indicate children are being exploited. This promotes children’s safety, ensures that risks to children are well considered and that staff have the skills to mitigate those risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have developed strong links with important safeguarding agencies such as the police. Local community police officers meet with the children and discuss their behaviours. This increases children’s awareness and helps them to keep themselves increasingly safe. The registered manager ensures that the location risk assessment is shared with these professionals to understand risks in the local community. This helps to inform staff about how best to help children stay safe when they are enjoying time in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have access to good-quality behaviour management plans. Staff therefore know children’s triggers and they act swiftly to calm children when they are agitated or anxious. Staff regularly update these plans to ensure that they always have the most up-to-date information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has strong oversight of the effectiveness of the care being delivered. Through high-quality internal monitoring systems, the manager identifies and acts on any issues. While the turnover of staff in the home has been high, the manager has contributed to effective recruitment, induction and support of new staff to reduce the impact of this on the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use physical intervention as a last resort to keep children safe. Incidents of restraint are clearly recorded and allow staff and children the opportunity to talk about each incident and learn from it. However, due to staff turnover and the lsck of availability of training due to the pandemic, some staff have not received training in physical intervention. The registered manager has implemented a risk assessment for this and at present incidents are minimal. All staff are due to be trained in the coming months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements made following this inspection. Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all their staff have been adequately trained in the principles of restraint and any restraint techniques appropriate to the needs of the children the home is set up to care for as defined in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.57)

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children's home: SC483958 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Queen Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1EH

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Inspector

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 7 to 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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