Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children's home: SC410539 1 SC410539 Registered provider: Positive Pathways Limited Full inspection 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

The manager has been in post since 27 October 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted. She is currently working towards the level 5 qualification in leadership and management for care services.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC410539 2

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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 children's home: SC410539 3

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improvement to be good

Two children live in the home. They have recently moved in and are settling in well.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out. This child lived in the home on their own due to the complexity of their needs in agreement with the child’s placing authority. However, staff were not consistent in implementing the child’s routines and boundaries. As a result, managers made the decision for this child to move as they felt they could no longer keep them safe.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are not always well planned. Managers arranged for one child to move out and another to move in on the same day with no contingency planning. This resulted in both children living together for a short period of time, despite one child’s needs and risks requiring a solo living arrangement. This compromised the safety of the child moving in.

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improvement to be good

The manager’s pre-admissions process requires improvement. They do not always consider well the needs of children already living in the home. Neither do they fully consider the skills and experience of staff. As a result, children sometimes receive care by staff who do not understand their needs.

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improvement to be good

Repairs to the environment are not always completed in a timely manner. At the time of the inspection, there is a system error in the home’s alarm system which is impacting on children’s well-being. The door alarm sensors make a sound when bedroom or external doors open. One child told the inspector that they do not like this noise and that they felt that it had been 'going on for ages'. This detracts from the otherwise homely feel of the home. The manager has reported the error. However, the repair has not yet been completed.

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improvement to be good

Staff form positive relationships with the children. They spend quality time getting to know children’s likes and dislikes. Children enjoy spending time with them. Children who have recently moved in are enjoying a range of new experiences. Staff help children to enjoy activities which may help them reach their aspirations. For example, one child is starting the police cadets.

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improvement to be good

Children receive care from a very diverse team. Staff encourage children to accept and embrace their identity. Staff have helped children to learn, for the first time, how to take care of their hair. This includes how to use specialist products to keep their hair healthy. As a result, children are able to tend to their own personal care needs.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff promote positive behaviour well. They encourage children to identify their own 'motivators'. These are goals to target specific behaviours and reinforce positive behaviours. Managers and staff review ‘motivators’ regularly to Inspection report children's home: SC410539 4 ensure that they are meeting children’s needs. Children receive appropriate awards to celebrate their successes.

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improvement to be good

Overall, most staff respond well to safeguarding concerns. They have a good understanding of the risks to children and the action they need to take to safeguard them. However, there are aspects of safeguarding practice within this home that requires improvement.

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improvement to be good

At times, staff do not follow the steps outlined in children’s risks assessments. They do not always implement the required routines and boundaries for children. For example, staff had not regularly checked a child’s bedroom. On one occasion, when the new manager asked staff to assist with cleaning the child's bedroom, staff discovered items such as a vape and medication which could have compromised the child's safety.

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improvement to be good

It is sometimes unclear why restrictions on children have been in place. One risk assessment stated that a child was unable to go out in the community 'unsupervised'. However, it did not explain why.

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improvement to be good

The quality of work with children is variable. It is not always creative and staff do not consider children’s historical experiences when approaching sensitive issues with them. Staff are not always empathic. Discussions are often reactive rather than educative. Neither is this work tailored to meet children’s learning or behavioural needs. As a result, children do not always engage in discussions and key-work sessions with staff.

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improvement to be good

One child has been able to access the internet through their television. Managers and staff were unaware of this. This led to the child having contact with someone who had a negative impact on them. As a result, there was an escalation in behaviours which caused them distress. When managers and staff became aware they took appropriate action to keep the child safe. Managers have now put in place an effective system in place to monitor the use of the internet.

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improvement to be good

Staff follow children’s self-harm safety plans. These provide staff with guidance to follow should children display self-injurious behaviour. Overall, staff follow these plans to prevent harm. On one occasion, a child refused to attend the hospital for medical attention. Staff did not seek further medical advice from medical professionals. This did not promote the child’s health and welfare.

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improvement to be good

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from the home. They follow clear guidance contained in children’s missing-from-care plans. Staff try to locate children, such as searching for them overnight. They work well with other agencies to ensure that they locate children as quickly as possible. When children return they receive a warm welcome home. Inspection report children's home: SC410539 5

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good

The new manager is enthusiastic and committed to children receiving good care. This is having a positive impact on the home and the quality of care. However, the improvements they have made are not yet embedded across all aspects of the children’s care. Inconsistency remains in relation to how staff respond to children. In particular, in relation to children’s routines and boundaries.

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good

Not all staff have the skills and experience to meet their needs. Staff are not always provided with training pertinent to children’s needs. In particular, training around autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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good

Some children’s records contain language which could be stigmatising. For example, the home has a document called a 'child management plan'. This does not provide children with a record of their time living in the home which is helpful to them.

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good

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas of development. The manager is implementing some good systems to improve consultation with children. This will help children to feel listened to and their values respected.

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good

The home has a stable staff team. Staff spoke positively about the manager and the improvements in the home. The manager has introduced 'staff of the month'. Both staff and children contribute to this. This helps children to feel valued and that their opinions matter.

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good

Staff are supported to improve their practice. They attend regular team meetings. Leaders and managers attend these meetings to provide coaching and guidance to staff. This includes disseminating examples of good practice and lessons learnt. In addition, staff receive regular individual and group supervision. Supervision records are detailed and clear. During these sessions, the manager ensures that there is a teaching element. This helps staff to reflect on and improve their practice. Inspection report children's home: SC410539 6

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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 children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child's views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child's best interests when making decisions about the child's care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child's views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child's privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are considered prior to sensitive discussions taking place. They should consider thoroughly children’s historic experiences and make decisions in children’s best interests.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, leaders and managers should escalate further any delays in repairs being completed in particular when children have expressed their feelings around the impact this is having on them. 14 February 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC410539 7 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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff respond promptly when there are concerns about children’s safety. In particular, that staff follow the guidance which is outlined in children’s risk assessments. 14 February 2024

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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; 14 February 2024 Inspection report children's home: SC410539 8 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff receive adequate training which equips them with the skills to meet the needs of the children they care for. In particular, training in relation to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should be undertaken prior to children moving into the home.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that children’s transitions are well planned. They should consider fully the skills and experience of staff in relation to the needs of children moving into the home. In addition, to the needs of children already living in the home. 14 February 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensuring that information recorded about children is non stigmatising. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4).

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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 children's home: SC410539 9

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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 Inspection report children's home: SC410539 10 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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