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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 1

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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

The home has no manager. The responsible individual resigned from their position in February 2026. The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual and they led the visit.

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This monitoring visit

On 13 and 14 February 2026, Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the children’s home. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the home. The home was judged inadequate. A compliance notice was issued in relation to regulation 12 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, along with a restriction of accommodation.

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This monitoring visit

On 19 February 2026, Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit to review progress against the compliance notice and to ensure the restriction of accommodation was being adhered to. No other requirements or recommendations were reviewed during this visit. Ofsted found that managers and staff continued to fail to keep children safe.

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This monitoring visit

There are currently no children living at the home. Following the last inspection, both children moved to alternative placements at different times, arranged by their local authorities. One child experienced a planned move supported by staff.

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This monitoring visit

As a short ‑ term measure, the other child was moved to another home within the company because staff at the original home could not manage the associated risks. No formal safety planning was completed, despite the high use of unfamiliar agency staff. Safety planning relied solely on verbal instruction from the one core member of Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 2 staff on duty. This demonstrated weak safeguarding preparation and increased the child’s exposure to significant risk.

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This monitoring visit

Staff failed to demonstrate respect and dignity towards one child. Their belongings were transported in disposable plastic bags, some of which also contained unsanitary items. Although these concerns were substantiated, the leadership ‑ led investigation did not demonstrate meaningful accountability. Leaders and managers did not show sufficient professional curiosity in their oversight of the quality of care.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns identified at the full inspection have not improved. There was a further incident in which staff failed to maintain possession of their keys, and a child retrieved them. This resulted in physical intervention being used, which could have been prevented. Environmental checks remained poor and did not prevent children accessing items used for self ‑ injurious behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff did not respond promptly or effectively to children’s health needs. There was a three ‑ hour delay in seeking medical support when one child swallowed a battery. Staff failed to obtain medical advice and transported the child to a hospital further away because it was closer to their planned route. Staff did not appreciate the severity of the risks posed to the child’s health. When reviewing the incident, managers and leaders did not identify or challenge these concerns. This contributed to the continuation of neglectful care and demonstrates poor oversight of children’s health needs and significant shortfalls in safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have introduced more detailed recording formats for incident reports and supervision. However, these changes have not yet had a meaningful impact. Management oversight remains ineffective, failing to identify practice errors or recognise opportunities for development.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there have been improvements to the home environment. Ofsted has also been notified of one significant incident, and this was reported without delay. Staff completed some meaningful work with a child regarding substance misuse, using research and professional curiosity to support learning about associated risks.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor the home. A compliance notice relating to regulation 12 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 has been reissued. The restriction of accommodation remains in place. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/01/2026 Full Inadequate 25/02/2025 Full Outstanding 09/05/2023 Full Outstanding 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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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—

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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)(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. 25 March 2026

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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)) 25 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 5 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.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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)) 25 March 2026

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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; 25 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 6 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. (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. 25 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 7 *These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 8

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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 for children's home - monitoring visit: 2633398 9 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 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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