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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 1 Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left their post in November 2024. A new manager was appointed without delay and has applied to Ofsted for registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2023 Full Good 21/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. This is a home where laughter and fun can be heard throughout from both children and staff. Staff provide a safe and loving environment which allows children to flourish.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff share close and trusting relationships with children and provide them with excellent care. This leads to children making exceptional and sustained progress in different areas of their lives. Consistent and individualised support provided by staff is further enhanced by an experienced clinical psychologist who trains staff in research-based trauma- informed practice. The quality of these relationships and support enhances children’s life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are overwhelmingly positive about the care that they receive. They said that they are safe, well cared for and happy. One child summed up their views by saying that they love being cared for by staff and did not want anything to change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children to make excellent educational progress. Staff and the managers provide exceptional support in advocating for children and their educational needs. When one child moved to the home, they were not in a suitable education provision. The manager challenged external professionals and advocated for a more suitable provision where the child’s needs would be better met. This was subsequently put in place, and the child is now thriving within this provision and making incredible progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff meet children’s health needs very well. Attendance at both routine and specialist health appointments promotes good physical and emotional health. For one child, staff have worked with the clinical lead and managers to provide support which has led to them having a better emotional relationship with food. This creative work has resulted in the child being happier and healthier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to enable children to spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff supervise family time to ensure that it remains safe and consistent for children. Staff advocate well for children in line with their wishes and feelings and will also challenge external professionals when it is appropriate to do so. One child significantly struggled with their relationships within family time sessions and staff supported both the child and their family in adjusting arrangements. This has resulted in family time now being a much more positive experience for all.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children access a wide range of community activities. Staff listen to the interests of children and strive to identify different opportunities to fulfil these. One child has previously experienced a significant amount of social isolation. Since moving to the home, staff have supported them to engage in various activities which they thoroughly enjoy. This has included them joining a local special needs football team, in which they have been able to make new friends and build on their social skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 4 Children’s wishes and feelings are at the heart of everything staff and managers do. Children are encouraged to share their views at every opportunity, and staff listen and act on these. The manager seeks feedback about their experiences within the home weekly, responds in a child-focused way and makes necessary changes. This demonstrates to children that they are listened to and that their opinions are valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s moves in and out of the home are thoroughly planned. Managers work diligently to gather all necessary information to inform their assessment before children move to the home, and they consider all risks effectively. Managers also work alongside children to support them to move out of the home to ensure that this is done in a way that meets their needs. Excellent planning for children’s moves helps them feel reassured and well supported during these crucial moments in their lives.

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

Children feel safe because of the quality of care they receive from staff. Highly effective and proactive planning identifies potential risks and ensures that staff manage these well. Children are involved in creating their own safety plans and staff ensure that restrictions and safeguarding strategies do not hinder children’s development. Consequently, children develop their confidence and become safer.

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

Staff support and help children to prepare for independence safely. They promote and develop independence skills by assessing risks well and working closely with children and the important people in their lives. Direct work to educate children about dangers and risks is of excellent quality and is supported by close liaison with the therapeutic clinical lead. Managers skilfully balance the risks with opportunities to improve children’s skills, and the quality of this work ensures that children are better prepared when they move on from the home.

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

Staff adopt a therapeutic and restorative approach to managing children’s behaviour. Therapeutic research is clearly understood by staff and underpins their practice. The clinical lead provides training and resources for staff as well as consultations on an ongoing basis to ensure the therapeutic support staff provide to the children remains effective and of a high standard. As a result, children become more emotionally intelligent and develop the ability to reflect on their behaviours. This has led to a reduction in incidents.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been some incidents of children being missing from home. Staff follow clear guidance outlined in children’s plans when these incidents occur. Staff work with local police as needed and are proactive in searching for children and ensuring they return home safely. Children are welcomed home on their return and reflective discussions are held to help them think about what has led to incidents and risks that they may face.

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

There have been some incidents where children have self-harmed, and these incidents have been managed to a high standard. Staff work well with the children and external Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 5 professionals to achieve best outcomes and ensure that children remain safe. This is further supported by the therapeutic intervention by staff and the clinical lead to support the child in identifying triggers and contributing to their own safety plans.

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

When incidents do occur, the oversight by managers is of an excellent standard. Debriefs with children and staff happen promptly and managers provide a detailed reflective evaluation and ensure that any follow-up actions are completed. The clinical lead also has oversight of incidents and provides support to children and staff.

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

Children’s relationships with staff allow them to open up about past trauma and staff provide nurturing responses. One child has made an allegation of past abuse. Managers ensured that all necessary steps were taken in response. The child was provided with high levels of support, including the clinical lead writing them a child friendly letter, which demonstrated a high level of understanding as to what the child had experienced and outlining exactly how staff could support them. As a result, the child has felt valued and listened too at an incredibly difficult time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The previous registered manager left their role in October 2024 for a more senior position in the organisation. The deputy manager stepped into the role without delay and has applied for registration. This change was meticulously planned to minimise any impact on the children, and due to the already pre-existing relationships with the children, there has been no negative impact. The previous manager remains a regular presence in the home in their new role, while allowing the new manager to develop her own leadership style. This careful transition has therefore meant that the high levels of care and support that children receive have not dipped.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are incredibly positive about the support they receive from managers. Supervision sessions are regular and of high quality. They help staff generate ideas and reflect on their own practice. In addition, leaders use an ‘employee of the month’ system to reward staff and keep them motivated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well trained and most are suitably qualified. Those who are yet to gain the relevant qualification are enlisted on it. Training is wide-ranging and specifically identified to meet the children’s individual needs. The clinical lead also disseminates training and research to the team, and staff embed their learning effectively into their practice. As a result, highly skilled and effective staff meet the needs of children exceptionally well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been some staff changes. However, there has been limited impact of these on children. Managers have recruited highly experienced and trained individuals who have received exceptional inductions and training. These new staff have replicated the care the children received seamlessly and have begun to build excellent relationships with them. Children are made aware of any upcoming changes and are supported to manage these changes well. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 6 Managers have excellent working relationships with external agencies and professionals to further support progress for their children. One professional stated, regarding the child they are working with, ‘[The child] is very well supported here by people who care. Managers are consistent and supportive, with excellent communication, and the child feels relief being here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight and monitoring processes are efficient and highly effective. Since the last inspection, managers have developed monitoring tools which review and capture children’s voices and progress effectively. This oversight ensures that managers know the home’s strengths and development areas well and helps them drive improvement in the care that children receive. They quickly and effectively address any identified shortfalls, and this ensures that improvements can be sustained. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 7

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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: 2652918 8

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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

Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2652918 9 regulates and inspects 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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