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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 1 Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare 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 is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in September 2023. An interim manager was supporting the home at the time of inspection. They have been in post since the 30 September 2024. Two other interim managers held the post previously, one who planned to register but withdrew their application in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The interim manager will not be applying for registration, as a new manager has now been identified, but a start date is yet to be confirmed.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection a new responsible individual has oversight of the home. They have been in post since December 2024.

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

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. The inspector has 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, Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 2 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: 2654347 3

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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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Findings from the inspection

The same two children are living in the home as were there at the time of the previous inspection. Children live in a home that is warm, welcoming and well maintained. Staff have developed positive, nurturing relationships with children, and this helps children to feel safe and cared for. Children’s achievements are celebrated by staff, which promotes their confidence and self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

There are barriers to children’s education; one child struggles to attend school, and another does not have an education placement at the moment. The manager has challenged decision-making by education professionals and is advocating for both children and considering creative ways to maximise attendance and secure alternative provision.

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Findings from the inspection

When children are not in education, staff set clear boundaries. Children do not have access to the internet or time in the community during what would be the school day. This enables children to engage in constructive activities and maintain structure and routine for when they do return to education.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual needs are well understood by staff. Staff promote diversity and inclusion, and they are supporting one child to understand more about their cultural heritage. They are doing this through open conversations, practical support and learning alongside the child.

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Findings from the inspection

One child is placed a considerable distance from her home. Family time is promoted, with staff arranging a mutually convenient place for the child to meet regularly with those important to her. The manager is working with the child’s social worker towards unsupervised family time in the child’s hometown to support and nurture enduring relationships with their family as the child grows and becomes more independent.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s written plans and risk assessments have not been kept under review. As a result, these are not reflective of the local authority plan for the child and the current risks to the child. Since the interim manager has been in post, a plan to rectify this has been actioned. The interim manager has implemented an improvement plan to bring children’s records up to date to ensure that information contained in these records is clear, current and helpful to children and staff. Work is ongoing to fully implement this plan.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been no incidents of physical restraint in the home, and missing-from- home episodes are rare. Staff understand how to respond when children go missing from home. Clear protocols are in place and kept under review. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 4 Both children are considered to be vulnerable to exploitation. The manager has taken action to request professionals’ meetings for both children so that she and staff can work collaboratively with others to best support the children. Children receive good-quality direct work from staff to develop their awareness of risky situations and understand how they can keep themselves safe. Staff use technology and software to understand potential risks children may be exposed to through their electronic devices and mobile phones. Additional training to support staff with meeting children’s needs has been requested.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager has made progress towards meeting the requirements from the last inspection. However, they have not yet been met in full, and work is ongoing around children’s risk management plans and monitoring of the quality of care at the home. The new responsible individual is supporting ongoing improvement.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision, and new starters have a clear induction to prepare them for working in the home. The interim manager did not receive supervision during the first two months, but this has been addressed by the new responsible individual. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2024 Full requires improvement to be good 18/03/2024 Full requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 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, 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 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

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

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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)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s plans and risk assessments consider relevant risks for children, are kept up to date and set out the steps staff need to take to keep children safe. 1 March 2025

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 7 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received;

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Requirement Due date

and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 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

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2654347 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 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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