Children's Home run by Positive Pathways Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children’s home: 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since March 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All three children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Good 18/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/07/2022 Full Inadequate 22/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC410539 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to understand their health needs. Staff supported one child to speak to a specialist health professional to learn about their health. Another child has been helped by staff to make their own health appointments. This develops children’s confidence in speaking to health professionals and to make informed decisions about their health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is well supported by the managers and staff. Two children have completed their GCSE exams and have been successful in obtaining college places. One child said they are excited about starting college. When children experience barriers to education, staff obtain specialist support that enables children to have access to education and careers advice. This creates daily routines for children and supports their learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop their independence skills. Staff encourage children to be involved in planning and budgeting for their meals, travel and personal care. This helps children to learn about the financial costs of independent living. Staff help children to understand the responsibility of caring for pets. Two children have cats and are supported by staff to attend animal welfare appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their personal interests and to choose their activities. This encourages children to express their individuality and to share their views, wishes and feelings. Children’s achievements are celebrated by staff. For example, children attended their prom celebrations, with staff decorating the car to match their outfits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from good planning when they move into or out of the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and another child has moved to supported accommodation. One child said they had a meeting with the new responsible individual to share their views, wishes and feelings before moving in. This supports children to feel listened to and to be involved in their planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable, with two spacious lounges where children enjoy spending time with each other and with staff. Photos of the children in their prom outfits are proudly displayed. Children have the opportunity to design the decor in their bedrooms. The garden is well maintained, with outdoor seating where children can relax.

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

Staff encourage children to share their views, wishes and feelings. This helps children to develop trusting relationships with staff and to feel listened to. Staff are responsive to children when they share concerns. For example, one child spoke to staff about their friend’s safety, resulting in appropriate steps being taken by staff to ensure the child’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC410539 4 friend was safe. This proactive response by staff reassures children that they are listened to and helps them to feel safer.

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

Children’s support plans and risk assessments identify their needs and provide effective guidance for staff. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes in the children’s needs. Consultation with an in-house psychologist provides guidance for the managers in how to support children.

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

When children go missing, staff understand the steps to take to ensure children are safely returned home. Staff understand the risks to children when they go missing and help children to speak about their experiences. This creates a nurturing environment and helps children to feel safer.

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

Leaders and managers take allegations and complaints seriously. The new responsible individual ensures that children are consulted regarding any complaints and allegations, to understand their views. This keeps children at the centre of all decision-making and reassures children that their views are valued.

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

Staff are trained to use safe physical interventions if required to keep children safe. There has been no use of physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff support children to share their views, wishes and feelings when they are feeling unsettled. This sensitive approach enables children to feel safer and to speak about their feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been no registered manager since March 2025. A new responsible individual is managing the home with the support of the new deputy manager. Staff speak positively about the interim management arrangements but recognise the impact on the children and themselves of there being no permanent manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders accept there is a shortfall in the monitoring and review of the operation of the home, as the previous registered manager did not use the systems consistently. The new responsible individual has recognised that improvement is required in management oversight of incidents and learning for staff. Effective monitoring is in place regarding children’s progress, health and safety in the home and safe administration of medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers accept that one member of staff has not completed the qualification required by regulation within the required timescales. They are aware that staff require additional training in the home’s model of therapeutic care and have plans to address this. Staff have completed their mandatory training and have the skills to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers implement safe recruitment processes effectively. This ensures that suitable adults care for the children. Staff have access to mandatory training, reflective supervision and team meetings to support their professional development. This creates a resilient, committed and skilled staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC410539 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 15 August 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

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)) 12 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC410539 6 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b)) 12 September 2025

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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: SC410539 7

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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

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC410539 8 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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