Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 1 SC410539 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 with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

No registered manager is currently in place.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 12 and 13 July 2022. Following the inspection, no children lived at the home and the registered manager’s registration was suspended. Monitoring visits were completed on 31 August 2022 and 27 September 2022.

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This monitoring visit

In November 2023, Ofsted imposed a condition on the home’s registration, which meant that the provider had to give Ofsted three months’ notice on its intention to welcome children into the home. The reasons for this were:

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This monitoring visit

 The provider had no manager in place to lead the home.  The provider had no plans to place children in the home for a period of time.  There were insufficient staff to operate the home safely.  Managers planned to renovate the environment and review the failings from the previous inspection before accepting children into this home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider notified Ofsted on 12 February 2023 of its intention to admit children. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the home’s readiness to open.

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This monitoring visit

A new service manager is acting as interim manager and is overseeing the home. The provider has also appointed a permanent registered manager who will start in Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 2 their new role in August 2023. The interim manager will provide support to the newly appointed manager in the initial period.

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This monitoring visit

A new staff team has been safely recruited. Its members are currently redeployed in other children’s homes operated by the provider and they are undertaking training and an induction programme in readiness for this home’s reopening. Four staff hold the relevant qualification for residential childcare and the provider has plans to enrol the other staff on the course.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed the day-to-day structure of the home to match the ethos of the model of care outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. Training around the chosen model will continue through July 2023 to ensure that all staff have the appropriate skills to meet the needs of children admitted to the home in the future. The responsible individual has provided assurances to Ofsted that no children will be admitted to the home before August 2023 and until staff are adequately trained.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual remains in post and will provide oversight and supervision of the interim manager and newly appointed manager. In addition, another service manager has been appointed to provide further oversight of the home and to continually review the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have shown learning from the previous concerns. A full safeguarding review has taken place and improved monitoring systems have been introduced to enable them to review the quality of care children are provided with and the progress they are making. In addition, an external person has been appointed to ensure that staff have various outlets to share any concerns they may have.

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This monitoring visit

There have been significant improvements made to the environment, which is now homely and welcoming for children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, Ofsted lifted the three-month condition. However, it will continue to monitor the home closely. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/07/2022 Full Inadequate 22/02/2022 Full Good 28/11/2019 Full Good 16/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that all staff receive training in the home’s model of care. 1 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 5

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 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

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC410539 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 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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