Children's Home run by Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report children's home: 2633398 1 Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd

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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 operated by a private company and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 25 February 2025

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2633398 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Outstanding 09/05/2023 Full Outstanding 17/05/2022 Full Good 31/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2633398 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Serious failures in safeguarding practice and ineffective management oversight have, at times, compromised children’s safety. As a result, children’s progress, well ‑ being and day ‑ to ‑ day experiences have been negatively affected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Three children have experienced placement endings after a short period of time. One child’s impact risk assessment did not reflect the complexity of their needs, demonstrating a lack of effective planning. Leaders’ failure to adequately assess and understand children’s risks has contributed to increasing feelings of rejection and a deterioration in children’s self ‑ esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children have not been supported to establish positive and consistent day and night routines. This has a detrimental impact on their well ‑ being and their readiness for learning. One child has been without a school placement since moving into the home. Plans to mitigate lost learning are poor and fail to provide any meaningful educational engagement. Another child has regressed significantly, and their school attendance has noticeably declined, resulting in a reduced timetable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Although children are registered with the required health services, staff support is reactive rather than proactive. Staff take children to appointments and seek medical advice during moments of crisis. This ensures children are medically assessed; however, this does not compensate for the wider shortfalls in care planning that should promote children’s emotional well ‑ being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Staff relationships with children are inconsistent. A lack of collaborative working contributes to instability and confusion for children. While some positive interactions were observed during the inspection, one child was unable to name a staff member they felt comfortable approaching for support. This significantly limits the emotional security and availability children experience within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are offered some activities and hobbies, but staff do not consistently implement or sustain activity plans. One child told the inspector that some staff “can’t be bothered” to take them to their chosen clubs. This undermines children’s confidence, affects their sense of worth and limits their opportunities for social inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The home environment is in a poor state of repair and requires significant maintenance. Doors, walls and carpets remain damaged from incidents, creating an environment that feels cold, unwelcoming and a constant reminder of distressing events. Kitchen cupboards have large locks, and some food items are locked away, resulting in the home feeling institutional rather than nurturing. Environmental risks are poorly managed. Leaders have failed to implement necessary safety measures in a timely manner. Managers’ escalations have been ignored, and maintenance requests have not been actioned. Despite significant concerns about children’s safety, door alarms were only Inspection report children's home: 2633398 4 successfully installed during the inspection. This failure increased children’s vulnerability and limited staff awareness of children’s whereabouts during the night.

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

Serious shortfalls in safeguarding practice have failed to protect children. Managers and staff do not demonstrate a clear understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff are not adequately skilled or trained to manage children’s needs or associated risks. Leaders have not ensured that staff receive the essential support, guidance and training required to keep children safe. As a result, children are placed at further risk and their exposure to harm increases.

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

Staffing arrangements are ineffective and do not keep children safe. Inexperienced staff frequently work together, often alongside agency workers. The home is heavily reliant on agency staff, which has resulted in inconsistencies in the care children receive. This instability undermines children’s ability to form trusting relationships and feel secure. Staff have not provided effective support to children engaging in substance misuse. Insufficient safeguarding measures have failed to prevent children from smoking cannabis inside the home. This not only places children at significant health risk but also increases the risk of fire.

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

The absence of door alarms has enabled children to leave the home without staff knowledge. In one incident, the staff office was left open and unoccupied, allowing children to access money which they used to travel out of the area. Staff misplaced their keys on two separate occasions and failed to escalate these incidents. The keys were later found in children’s possession, giving them access to restricted areas of the home containing sharp objects and hazardous substances. This significantly increased the risk of harm.

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

There has been an increase in allegations made against staff. Although the manager has informed the local authority designated officer, children are not provided with adequate information about the outcomes of their concerns. Shortfalls in staff practice highlighted through these allegations are not addressed effectively. This undermines children’s confidence in the complaints process and their sense of being listened to or protected.

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

Plans to support children who engage in self ‑ injurious behaviours are ineffective. Managers and staff have failed to follow risk ‑ management strategies designed to prevent incidents. Records show that some staff responses have been punitive, unsupportive and have escalated situations further, leaving children feeling unsafe. On one occasion, this led to the use of physical restraint, which could have been avoided had staff followed agreed plans.

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

The manager has failed to notify Ofsted of all serious incidents in a timely manner. Sev- eral notifications were incomplete and missing key information. These delays and omis- sions undermine external scrutiny and weaken safeguarding arrangements. Inspection report children's home: 2633398 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is no registered manager in post. The current manager is working their notice period and no longer intends to register with Ofsted. This lack of stable and permanent leadership has contributed to widespread weaknesses in the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager has a child ‑ focused approach and a clear vision to improve outcomes; however, they have not had the capacity to implement effective monitoring systems or address the significant shortfalls identified. Due to the inexperience of the staff team, the manager has spent most of their time directly supporting children rather than fulfilling essential managerial responsibilities. As a result, key oversight functions required to ensure the safe and effective operation of the home have not been completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant turnover of staff. Long ‑ standing staff have left due to concerns about poor staff practice and the challenges within the home. Team morale is low, and staff relationships are strained. Although staff describe feeling supported by the manager, they are unhappy working in the home because of ongoing inconsistencies and difficulties that have not been adequately addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff are positive about the manager’s leadership style, and the manager has ensured that staff receive some supervision. However, their challenge of poor practice is weak. This represents a missed opportunity to develop the skills and competence of the staff team. The lack of effective supervision and professional challenge contributes to the continuation of poor practice and the failure to meet children’s needs appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Feedback from external professionals is mixed. A social worker reported that one child has regressed, and their risks and vulnerabilities have increased since moving into the home. While professionals consistently praised the manager’s communication and personal efforts, this strength does not offset the significant failings in leadership, oversight and safeguarding practice. These leadership shortfalls have placed children at risk of harm and have resulted in poor experiences and outcomes. Inspection report children's home: 2633398 6

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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: 2633398 7

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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 quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring improvement of home conditions and safety. With removal of institutionalised measures such as, food being locked away in cupboards with large visible locking mechanisms. 6 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

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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— 6 February 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2633398 8 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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that managers and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Resulting in an effective response to mitigate children's associated risks.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that —

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring managers and leaders have suitable oversight. With effective quality assurance and monitoring systems in place that identify shortfalls which are rectified in a timely manner. 6 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs; 6 March 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2633398 9 the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or

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Requirement Due date

the child requests a review of the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(e)(i)(ii)(iii)) Behaviour management and discipline

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child.

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Requirement Due date

The following measures may not be used to discipline any child— any form of corporal punishment; any punishment involving the consumption or deprivation of food or drink; any restriction, other than one imposed by a court or in accordance with regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), on— a child's contact with parents, relatives or friends; visits to the child by the child's parents, relatives or friends; a child's communications with any persons listed in regulation 22(1) (contact and access to communications); or a child's access to any internet-based or telephone helpline providing counselling for children;

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Requirement Due date

the use or withholding of medication, or medical or dental treatment; the intentional deprivation of sleep;

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Requirement Due date

imposing a financial penalty, other than a requirement for the payment of a reasonable sum (which may be by instalments) by way of reparation;

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Requirement Due date

withholding any aids or equipment needed by a disabled child;

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving a child imposing any measure against another child; or

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Requirement Due date

any measure involving punishing a group of children for the behaviour of an individual child. 30 January 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2633398 10 (Regulation 19 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)(i) and (j))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff responding and using consequences that are proportionate and not punitive or excessive. Employment of staff

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff have the relevant skills to meet the children's needs. With appropriate challenge of poor practice where necessary. 6 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e)) 30 January 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2633398 11 * These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2633398 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Positive Outcomes Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Agriculture House, Southwater Way, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4NR

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Inspector

Latoya Morgan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2633398 13 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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