Children's home run by Positive Independence Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 1 Registered provider: Positive Independence 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 is a multi-build setting operated by a private provider. The setting operates across three properties, caring for up to four children who may require support with emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in two of the homes. They were both spoken to.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy trusted and secure relationships with staff. A core team of familiar adults work across all three homes, offering stability and consistency of care. Children enjoy spending time with staff and know who they can talk to and confide in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the homes are welcomed sensitively. Meticulous planning ensures that children’s needs are known and understood before they arrive. Children are invited to meet the team, visit their home and talk to the manager before moving in. Discussions with placing authorities are always prioritised to embed positive partnership working from the very beginning of a placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who leave the provider’s care do so in a planned way. Children are supported to develop their independence skills in preparing for adulthood. Staff offer help and guidance in achieving life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting. Children are supported to access further education or appropriate employment as they approach adulthood and independence. Many children who move on stay in touch with the team, demonstrating the secure relationships built.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school or an alternative provision. Older children are supported to attend college or seek apprenticeship opportunities. Children make progress from their individual starting points. Staff communicate effectively with education professionals to ensure that children have the best possible education while they are in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members and friends are recognised as important people in children’s lives. Staff offer help in making safe arrangements for children and families to spend time with one another. Children’s family members are welcome visitors to their homes. One parent said, ‘I feel so lucky to have him here; they are excellent, nothing is too much trouble for the staff and manager.’

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Child protection processes are clear and robust. The team works in partnership with children’s social workers and maintains good communication with other safeguarding agencies. When concerns are identified, these are communicated to relevant people without delay. The immediate safety of children is always the priority.

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

Risk assessment documents are thorough and descriptive. They outline for staff the risks associated with each child’s care. Behaviour management strategies are identified, giving staff a clear action plan. The team works together to reduce or mitigate risk wherever possible. For some children, this means that they become safer over time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 3 Behaviour management strategies focus on restorative practice. Staff understand trauma-informed practice and that children’s behaviour is a form of communication. The use of physical restraint is proportionate and only a used as a last resort to ensure everyone’s safety. The records of such practice are descriptive and reflective. Managers always discuss the use of physical restraint with children and staff to ensure that it was proportionate and safe. The manager is an accredited restraint instructor and uses this expert knowledge to upskill the workforce.

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

The physical environment in each home is safe. The homes are in communities deemed safe by the provider. Children have access to all areas of their homes. Some organisational plans are developing in terms of property acquisition and, as a result, some internal and external decorative works have been delayed. Leaders have a plan in place to move this forward and it does not impact on children’s safety or welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a confident leader and an excellent role model for staff. The manager is supported by a responsible individual and deputy manager. Together, they have formed a successful leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A core team of staff work across all three homes. Staff follow a comprehensive induction plan, followed by a workforce training plan. This covers a wide range of topics and some that are child specific. Staff have the required residential childcare qualification or are working towards this within the required timeframes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager considers feedback from others. Advice from the independent visitor is always considered. Action is taken without delay to make improvements to care practices where needed. Staff value this approach from managers. As a result, staff retention is excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals give unanimous positive feedback about the children’s homes. They describe a workforce committed to children’s care and welfare. Professionals speak of excellent communication from the provider, feeling as though they always know what is happening for their children. The manager is described as an ambitious and aspirational leader. Placing authorities have repeatedly placed children here, demonstrating the positive working relationships formed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The use of professional supervision and team meetings is effective. Staff and managers use these opportunities for reflective practice and child-specific discussions. On occasion, because the manager operates across three children’s homes, records are not always as accurate as they should be. While the manager can describe the actions taken or followed up, these are not always included in written records. Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered person ensuring that all written records contain all the required information and actions that have been completed or followed up. The system for capturing such information must be fit for purpose. 30 April 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive. This specifically relates to the need for certain homes in the organisation to follow a programme of maintenance in the home and on the grounds. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 5

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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: 2757947 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Independence Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northgate Business Centre, North Gate, Newark NG24 1EZ

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Inspectors

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2757947 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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