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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 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

A private company owns and manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 28 July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection, and they contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 2

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improvement to be good

Three children have lived in the home since it opened. Two children have moved on, and one child was living in the home at the time of the inspection. Staff are committed to caring for children. Where internal moves have taken place, some staff have moved with children to provide continuity of care. This ensures that children are cared for by staff who know them well.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are well supported. They have access to routine healthcare and are encouraged to use specialist services when required. When concerns arise, staff act promptly and seek advice from relevant health professionals. Reflective discussions help children to understand their experiences, build resilience and develop self-awareness, supporting them to make positive life choices.

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improvement to be good

Education is valued, and children make progress. One child joined the home with significant barriers to learning following a lengthy break from education. Since moving in, they have begun to engage with home tutoring. Their continued progress enabled them to return to school in January, and they are now working towards a full timetable. Attendance is consistent, and the child has formed meaningful friendships and is motivated to return to full-time education.

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improvement to be good

Children understand how to make a complaint. One child raised a complaint and was supported throughout the process. The manager completed a detailed investigation and ensured that the child was kept informed of progress and outcomes.

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences of moving into the home have been mixed, and not all children have experienced a positive transition. One child joined the home following an internal move. Staff understood the complexity of the needs of both the child moving in and the child already living in the home. However, impact risk assessments identified several high-risk behaviours for both children that required greater consideration. Opportunities were missed to consult fully with the placing authority, given the vulnerabilities and potential risk factors.

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improvement to be good

Both children were involved in a significant incident on the first day of the child joining the home, which resulted in high-risk behaviours. Notice was served after the second day, resulting in an unplanned move for the child. Due to the risks posed by the relationship between the children, the child is now being supported by the staff team in a home pending registration while alternative arrangements are made.

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improvement to be good

This unplanned move did not adequately prepare the child for their next steps or allow for consultation with those closest to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 3

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improvement to be good

Incidents of physical restraint are well managed. Restraint has been used to prevent self ‑ harm or harm to staff. When holds are used, they are proportionate and brief. Records are detailed and timely, with clear managerial oversight and prompt debriefs for both staff and children.

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improvement to be good

Children have detailed care plans and individualised risk assessments, which are regularly reviewed. However, for one child subject to a deprivation of liberty order, there were shortfalls in implementing the care plan. As a result, the child was able to leave the home on 2 occasions without staff being aware.

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improvement to be good

In a further incident, a member of staff required police assistance to manage the child’s needs. This resulted in the child being locked outside the home in the early hours of the morning. The staff member was unable to meet the child’s needs while lone working, leading to an escalation of behaviours and police involvement.

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improvement to be good

Following these incidents, new plans have been implemented to prevent recurrence. Lessons ‑ learned processes were introduced across the organisation in February, but this is a new procedure, and reflections from previous incidents have not yet taken place.

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improvement to be good

When complaints or allegations arise, leaders ensure that thorough investigations are completed, and information is shared with the relevant agencies. Prompt action is taken to review working arrangements, and both staff and children are supported to understand the process and remain informed.

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

An experienced, child ‑ centred manager leads the home and is supported by a full staff team. The team is still forming, and there have been some staff changes since registration. Staff receive supervision and attend monthly team meetings to ensure they are supported in their roles.

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

Managers actively monitor the quality of care in the home. There is good oversight of incidents, with comments from both the manager and the responsible individual. In ‑ house plans are live documents, and regular audits are undertaken.

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

While monitoring systems are in place, they are not yet consistently effective. Shortfalls were found in the home’s statement of purpose not being reviewed regularly and internal minutes of a child ‑ in ‑ care meeting not being filed while the manager awaits final minutes from the placing authority.

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

Staff complete a 2 ‑ week induction before starting in the home and receive a comprehensive training package and ongoing learning opportunities. All mandatory training has been completed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 4 The home environment is safe and secure. The property is finished to a high standard and provides a comfortable and welcoming space where children feel valued. The manager ensures that maintenance issues are addressed promptly to sustain a high ‑ quality living environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 5

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 15 March 2026

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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

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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 15 March 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 6 (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 15 March 2026

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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: 2836657 7

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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

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2836657 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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