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 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/04/2022 Full Good 03/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. The children have formed positive relationships with staff. The inspectors observed staff to be kind and nurturing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in education and are working toward qualifications which are suited to their needs. When children experience difficulties at school, the manager works to create alternative strategies and advocates for children to have additional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills. Staff undertake direct work with children to increase their knowledge in areas such as budgeting and cooking. This helps children to build their self-confidence and prepare for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities that offer them new opportunities. These include rock climbing and snowboarding. In addition, children have been supported to fundraise for local charities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with health services and are supported to attend routine appointments. Staff recognise when children require support to understand their feelings and offer effective support. As a result, children use alternative strategies when feeling anxious, such as going for a walk with staff. This practice ensures that children are receiving suitable support to improve their physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. The manager reviewed the child’s time spent at the home. This allowed them to reflect on the child’s achievements and consider any learning for any new children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and decorated to a good standard. The children have personalised bedrooms and enjoy spending time in the home’s games room which has a much-loved keyboard and gaming equipment. The environment encourages children to feel comfortable and enjoy their surroundings.

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

Staff understand the children’s potential vulnerabilities and risks. Children’s written documents provide clear guidance for staff about how they should respond to known behaviours. Furthermore, the manager has incorporated a tracker into risk assessments to help staff identify trends and patterns in children’s behaviours.

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

Physical interventions are not regularly used in this home. When a physical intervention has taken place, this has been proportionate and necessary. Following Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 4 such incidents, those staff and children involved have been provided with the opportunity to discuss the incident. The documentation linked to these physical interventions is generally of a good quality, however, does not always include the time the intervention started.

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

Incidents of children going missing are rare but when they occur are responded to appropriately by staff. Staff record the steps that have been taken and follow agreed procedures in a timely manner. When children return to the home, staff are thoughtful of children’s needs, and children are provided with the opportunity to share their feelings.

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

Staff use incentives to recognise positive behaviour. Children can earn extra pocket money and have individual reward charts to work towards. Furthermore, children have notebooks in which staff record messages of praise, and these are then a special keepsake. This motivates the children to make positive and informed choices.

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

The home’s external doors have an alarm which is activated when opened. Although the purpose of this alarm is to keep children safe, the manager has not completed an assessment to determine that this is a necessary system to have in place to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitably qualified manager in post who is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Both managers are passionate about their work and drive for positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they like working at the home and feel supported. Staff receive regular supervisions which consider personal learning needs and promote self- reflection. In addition, the manager seeks children’s views on staff practice to help influence any improvements that can be made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff have completed mandatory training. There is a well-organised training programme in place to ensure that staff complete training in line with children’s needs. To complement learning, the manager holds regular team meetings and encourages staff to discuss policies and relevant research. This gives staff the opportunity to learn from each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has well-established working relationships with external professionals. This promotes a joined-up approach to meting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has strong oversight of the care being delivered and has implemented good monitoring processes. Any issues raised are swifty responded to. Inspection report for children's home: SC483958 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, The 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that door alarms are only used as set out in a child’s agreed risk assessments. 12 June 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint enable 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. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: Positive Outcomes Childcare Limited, 16 Queen Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1EH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Laurence O’Dwyer

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Inspectors

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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