Children's Home run by Paramount Children Care LTD in Walsall

Inspection report children's home: 2836143 1 Registered provider: Paramount Children Care 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 is a privately owned home that provides care for up to four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home registered in December 2025. The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. This is their first inspection.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. All of the children were present during the inspection and spoke with the inspector.

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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 outstanding

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2836143 2

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Summary of findings

Children are making good progress in all areas of their lives. Children enjoying living in the home and have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. Children are being effectively safeguarded. The leadership and management in the home is an area of strength.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to ensure that the home is extremely welcoming, warm, and nurturing for children. Children's photos, artwork, books and games fill the communal living areas and reflect children's individual hobbies, interests and achievements. A well-maintained environment, inviting decor and the thoughtful organisation of the physical space demonstrate that the children who live here are important, valued, and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children's needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support children well so that their moves into the home are smooth and successful. Children receive high-quality care that makes them feel valued and secure. Children are positive about living in the home. These positive relationships and experiences have resulted in children developing a sense of security and belonging. For one child, after 6 months living in the home, this is the longest place they have lived, this was celebrated during the inspection with a personalised party, where their achievements and progress were recognised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of children are well managed. All health appointments are up to date and children, should they need to, are able to access specialist services where required. The staff have a good understanding of meeting health needs. Children are supported in discussing their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. This is underpinned by regular keywork sessions. Staff draw on the knowledge and expertise of external professionals and the organisations therapy team. This means that children are cared for by staff who are supported by clinical input where required. This is reflected in the progress that children are making with regards to their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of education. Whilst all children have faced challenges with their education and have had periods of disengaging. The manager and staff are persistent with children in motivating them to want to learn and finding ways to engage them. They work in partnership with schools and the placing authority to find children a suitable provision that reflects their learning needs. They have successfully supported two children to reintegrate into education despite them having a history of poor attendance. Another child has sat and passed their exams, something that professional's thought would be impossible after a very traumatic period in their life. This helps children to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs. Inspection report children's home: 2836143 3 The staff place great emphasis on children making memories and having shared experiences that they can cherish and keep forever. Children like spending time with

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

staff and enjoy living here. As children grow in confidence, they access new social circles and enjoy a range of new activities. Children take part in activities with staff that they enjoy. This provides children with the opportunity to gain new experiences and have fun. Children's likes and interests are nurtured particularly well. For example, 1 child has joined the local boxing club, gym, and police cadets. They also wrote and performed a rap at a concert which was a positive experience for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal care planning processes are structured and at times well recorded. However, these plans do not always consistently detail up to date targets and enable staff to track children's progress and achievements in line with the children's local authority plans. This does not always promote good-quality and consistent care.

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

Children are safe, and feel safe, in the home. This is because positive relationships the team underpin a strong sense of belonging and attachment to the home.

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

Restraint is used appropriately and only where necessary. All staff are trained in the home's chosen method of restraint and incidents are regularly reviewed. Staff physically intervene when children become unsettled and show behaviours which place themselves or others at risk of harm. Staff's wide-ranging behaviour strategies are cohesive and successful in de-escalating situations. Staff have an empathetic approach irrespective of behaviours that may present as a challenge to them. This helps children to develop trust in the staff and their ability to keep them safe. Managers provide scrutiny of all incidents and measures of control to ensure that their use is fair and proportionate.

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

Missing-from-care incidents have reduced for all children living in the home. Relationships between children and the staff are a significant protective factor. When children go missing from care, staff follow the joint protocol effectively. Searches conducted by staff and persistent attempts to make contact show children they are cared about. Proactive collaboration with parents, local authorities and police supports children to return home safely. Missing-from-care incident records are clear, enabling thorough monitoring of these events by the manager.

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

The team's approach to supporting children who self-harm is nurturing and caring. Staff are comfortable talking to the children and gently challenge them to consider the effect of their risk-taking behaviour. Staff talk openly with children and listen to them effectively about their views and feelings on self- harm. Staff help them to work through their emotions and to talk more openly about their worries. Staff and managers work in partnership to support children with their emotional health. Children who self-harm are provided alternative strategies to keep them safe.

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

Managers and staff are clear about their responsibilities to protect children. Staff understand the child protection policy and know how to report a safeguarding concern. Inspection report children's home: 2836143 4 The manager has an effective system in place for recording, reporting, and monitoring safeguarding concerns. Liaison with professionals is effective. Information is shared swiftly with professionals to avoid delay and to ensure that children are protected from harm. The manager takes guidance from these professionals, and they work together to ensure that children are safe. Safeguarding records are comprehensive. They detail the outcome of any concern, as well as further actions that adults need to be aware of.

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

Complaints are well managed. Children know how to complain and feel listened to by the manager and staff. The manager ensures that there is effective oversight and detailed debriefs with all involved. The children are kept well informed through the varied approaches used by staff. As a result, children feel secure and assured in their relationships with the adults who care for them.

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

Staff responses to incidents are innovative. Staff are flexible and always eager to develop their understanding of the children's emerging needs. Although there have been periods of unsettlement, staff remain committed to the children and have shown great resilience and perseverance. Professionals have provided unanimous positive feedback and said that the manager and staff go over and above for the children. The manager's and staff dedication has contributed to the good progress children are making in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run by an aspirational, experienced and suitably qualified manager. She is supported by a knowledgeable and committed deputy. The managers are passionate about creating opportunities that promote children's progress, and they have a clear vision for the children in their care. They are proud of how the members of the staff team have significantly influenced and enhanced children's lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective leadership promotes a strong ethos and culture of high aspiration and positivity. Staff are extremely committed to their work and speak with immense pride and affection about children's achievements. Staff work well together and look for new opportunities for children. Staff love working at the home. One staff member said, 'The management are like the glue that hold us all together, they are always there no matter what. It has been a really challenging period, but we have stuck together and persisted for our children. We always reflect and even on our hardest days we can find a positive and something to laugh about'.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager maintains excellent oversight of the service. She uses exceptional auditing tools, which improves the quality of care. As a result, the manager has a good insight into the home's strengths and areas for development. The manager and staff have huge motivation and enthusiasm. They strive to provide positive outcomes for children and improve the operation of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed and maintains effective systems to track children's needs and behaviours. These highlight emerging themes which inform changes to staff's Inspection report children's home: 2836143 5 responses to children. Staff said that these systems have had a hugely positive impact on their care practice and consistency in meeting children's needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals provide unanimously positive feedback about the team and how they ensure that their children are well cared for. The manager and team have developed secure partner relationships. They work extremely hard to develop and sustain commendable relationships with external professional agencies. Communication is a strength; they ensure that everyone is updated on a regular basis. Working this way allows individuals to feel valued and involved in the children's care. The manager promotes working together to ensure that children are getting the best care and opportunities. This provides the manager with the confidence and credibility to advocate for children and challenge decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff have the training that they need to meet the needs of the children. The manager provides additional training to staff through team meetings and clinical consultation, exploring relevant topics and reflecting on practice. They provide staff with knowledge and give them the confidence to meet the children's needs. Inspection report children's home: 2836143 6

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. Records must be kept up to date and mirror statutory care plans for children. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2836143 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Paramount Children Care LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Para Group House, 6-11 Riley Street, Willenhall WV13 1RH

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2836143 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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