Children's home run by Positive Pathways Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 1 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 home provides care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties and/or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post at this home since March 2021.

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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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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, there were three children living at the home.

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The care of children

Since the previous inspection, children have continued to make progress. They are becoming more confident and are beginning to develop their independence skills. However, at times, children are reluctant to attend their education establishment. The manager and staff work closely with the education staff to support children to engage in their education.

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The care of children

Children say they like living at the home. They have positive relationships with staff, with one child describing the staff as a family. Staff know the children well and encourage and support their individual differences and identities. This helps children to feel valued and accepted.

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The care of children

Since the previous inspection, the manager has taken action to improve the home environment. The home has been repainted and recarpeted, and repairs have now taken place. The home is now warm, welcoming and homely.

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The safety of children

Staff know the children well. They have a good understanding of the children’s risks and know how to respond to incidents to increase children’s safety. For example, staff respond sensitively to children who may self-harm. They follow the clear guidance that is in place to support children if such incidents occur. Staff are skilled at talking to children and use humour to successfully de-escalate incidents.

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The safety of children

Staff follow children’s missing-from-care protocols when children leave the home. They follow children and will search for them when they go missing. They also alert the relevant agencies to bring about the child’s safe return home. However, on one occasion, the police returned a child to the home in handcuffs. The police advised that this was for the child’s own safety. Managers did not seek further explanation about why it was felt that the child was at risk, and they did not challenge why the police felt this was necessary. This was a missed opportunity by managers to ensure their understanding of what had happened during the incident to inform the child’s risk management strategies and understand if the police’s response was proportionate.

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The safety of children

Managers respond to and investigate allegations against staff appropriately. Managers take action to ensure that children are safeguarded while investigations take place. However, records relating to investigations do not always provide a coherent picture of the actions taken, the outcomes and the learning. This can Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 3 hinder the managers’ oversight of investigations and the identification of learning to inform future practice.

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The safety of children

Managers’ consideration of whether they are able to meet children’s needs and keep them safe has improved, and there is now a clear recording of the decision-making in relation to this. However, some risks identified during a child’s admission to the home have not been acted on. There is no clear guidance in place to inform staff on how to manage the risk of a child fire-setting. Managers had not gained further information on the circumstances of the child’s risk of fire-setting and how this may present itself. As a result, staff have not been provided with important information on how to identify triggers for this behaviour or how to respond.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager, supported by the responsible individual, has acted to address the majority of the requirements and recommendations since the previous inspection. The registered manager has improved the oversight and monitoring of children’s experiences. Managers and leaders now have a better understanding of children’s progress. They now regularly review children’s files and records of direct work with children. This enables managers and senior leaders to track children’s outcomes and identify where children need further support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager’s reviews of the quality of care lack analysis of other areas of the service’s provision. This hinders their understanding of the service’s strengths and areas for further development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel supported by the registered manager. There is a stable staff team that works well together, which ensures that children receive consistent care. Staff receive regular supervision sessions to reflect on their own practice. Managers use supervision effectively to address shortfalls in practice. As a result, children receive care from staff who are continually improving their practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there is clear guidance to inform staff on how to manage risks identified during a child’s admission to the home. In addition, managers should explore what has occurred during incidents with other professionals who were involved in the incident. This includes consulting with the police to inform the child’s risk management strategies. 15 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they undertake a review that focuses on the quality of care provided by the home. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 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: Park Business Centre, Hastingwood Industrial Park, Wood Lane, Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands B24 9QR

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2557914 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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Inspector

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