Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Good

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

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people go missing less frequently and therefore become safer following their admission to the home.  The nurturing and caring approach of staff ensures that young people feel a sense of belonging.  Extremely positive and caring staff ensure that young people can discuss their worries and problems. This enables them to make good progress, particularly with aspects of safety in the community.  Young people are very well supported by staff and extremely good relationships are forged. Young people know that staff care about them, which helps to build up their confidence and self-esteem.  There is a low turnover of staff. Consequently, young people are always looked after by staff who know them very well.  Staff really do enjoy being with young people and are motivated by the progress they make. Staff understand and respect each young person and their individuality is well respected and celebrated. This means that young

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The children's home provision is good because:

people improve their self-esteem.  Particular emphasis on independence planning means that young people are well prepared for their adult life.  Care planning is particularly good and is highly individual. There is an ethos of high aspirations for young people.  There are two areas where further improvements should be made. One is in relation to return interviews after periods of missing. Evaluation of the information does not always inform future planning. Also, not all staff are trained in how they can protect young people with regard to e-safety, radicalisation, extremism, drug and alcohol use and restorative justice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate that a child is in anyway at risk of harm. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the home takes into account information provided by independent return home interviews when assessing and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to care for three young people. It is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home’s aim is to provide settled care and support for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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good

Young people’s experiences during their time at the home are positive. As well as learning about how to keep themselves safe, they make very good progress in a number of areas. Where young people have struggled to attend school in the past, their attendance increases and therefore their attainment is better. For some young people this is very positive and significantly increases their life chances. Talents and interests are nurtured and learning styles are well considered. This means that young people learn in a way in which they feel comfortable. All young people are happy with their education. One young person said, ‘it’s good’. Another reported, ‘staff helped me to find online courses’, which they were very pleased about.

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good

Young people receive very good quality care from staff. Staffing levels always ensure that young people can pursue their individual interests. For example, they learn to play musical instruments and enjoy attending local clubs. Staff are ambitious for young people, always encourage them to do their best, and praise and celebrate their progress. Young people have been on holiday with staff and some have experienced holidays abroad the first time, which they have thoroughly enjoyed. Because of the wide range of activities, young people learn about what they like to do, so that they can pursue activities in the future. There is a feeling in the home that there is no limit to aspirations and that young people can develop their confidence and live their life to their full potential.

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good

Where it is appropriate for young people to remain in contact with their families, this is an absolute priority. Young people work towards returning home wherever possible and there are examples of where this has happened. Where this is not appropriate, staff always consider the best interests of the young person. They work to break down barriers so that young people can make as much progress as possible. Where young people have moved out, this is because they have made enough progress to return home which was part of their original plan.

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good

Staff are always very child centred, whatever the work taking place. Young people are as involved as they possibly can be in all decision making. Care planning is fully inclusive of young people’s views. Their views about the running of the home are also taken into account. Young people’s attendance at staff meetings helps to iron out problems and find better ways of working to maximise progress. For example, one young person had suggested some resources to help other young people learn about internet safety, which has worked well. There is an emphasis on independence planning. The staff ensure that considerable effort goes into preparing young people for their life as an adult. Young people learn to shop, cook and manage their own affairs. In addition, they learn to manage their own medication. Other aspects of health are also well considered and young people learn about healthy eating and the impact that

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good

drugs, alcohol and cigarettes might have on their health. Where young people have personal health issues, staff are extremely supportive. They offer advice and make sure that young people receive the correct physical and emotional support for the health condition. Emotional wellbeing has a high profile as well as physical health.

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good

Young people are always valued for who they are, for their attributes and personality. Their self-esteem and confidence significantly increases during their time at the home. It is very evident that young people really do like the staff. The positive, relaxed and nurturing approach is also apparent, with the young people enjoying respect and positivity. Young people are always pleased to see staff when they arrive home from school and this is evident through the smiles and hugs that are exchanged.

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good

Young people feel safe and become increasingly safe during their time at the home. They go missing from the home less frequently. Proactive work with placing authorities and the police ensures that there is an effective multi-agency approach. Police comment about progress with regard to young people missing, saying that, ‘the home passed on useful information’ and that this, ‘led to her being found reasonably easily’. There is always a return interview completed by an independent person and strategy meetings are appropriately held. The management oversight of the return interviews could be improved to ensure that they know what the young person has said. Evaluation and management oversight would help in deciding the next course of action and make sure that the home is working with the most up-to-date information.

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good

High quality risk assessments and care plans set out young people’s complex and changing needs. Staff are familiar with steps that they need to take to ensure young people’s safety, for example, with regard to challenging behaviour. There has been only one physical intervention in the home. This demonstrates the staff’s good communication skills and ability to de-escalate effectively. The nurturing approach, alongside lots of discussion and support, works very effectively in reducing behavioural incidents. Young people learn about what is socially acceptable as they approach adulthood. Conflict management also reduces the risk of young people being criminalised, with a restorative justice approach working well. One staff has been trained in this, and it would be useful for other staff to receive training to ensure that this works as well in the future.

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good

Managers and staff are not risk averse. This ensures that young people can take carefully assessed risks to support their learning and progress. In particular, young people who are approaching adulthood can take proportionate risks. Staff create opportunities for discussion about safety through a wide range of individual and group discussions. Young people are also encouraged to be proactive in sharing their own experiences. They share resources that have helped them to understand the issues with each other.

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good

Positive relationships with staff ensure that there is always someone for young people to talk with. Indeed, they do this regularly and explore their feelings. They speak extremely openly to all staff about very personal topics including alcohol use, sexual health, and other aspects of personal safety. This demonstrates their trust in the adults who support them.

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good

Although staff have an up-to-date awareness of internet safety, not all staff have received formal training in this area. This would be useful in ensuring that, in the future, staff maintain their awareness of new and developing risks. There is no formal training for some staff on drug and alcohol awareness, although young people are supported well in this area. Also, radicalisation and extremism, and how this might impact on young people, have not yet been fully considered by managers and staff in the home. None of these issues have impacted on young people, but there is the potential for staff to not be aware of the most appropriate and up-to-date way to protect young people in the future.

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good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted for a number of years. She is well qualified. Her qualifications include the Diploma level 5 in Management. She is very experienced in running a children’s home of this type. She champions the loving and nurturing approach, so that young people always feel a sense of belonging and that all the adults at the home care about them. One member of staff demonstrated the ethos of the home when she said, ‘we all care about each other very, very deeply’. One young person reflected on the performance of staff and management. She said that she is happy, and stated that, ‘this is a really nice home, it really is’. Care plans are very clear and set out what should be done to make sure young people’s needs are met. They are aspirational and ensure a very thorough approach to all aspects of development. Sections such as ‘enterprising behaviour’ and ‘how to stay out of poverty’ help young people to prepare for leaving care and

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good

The manager is very involved with young people’s care on a day-to-day basis. This allows her to fully understand their difficulties and progress. She develops plans to ensure that the home continues to improve and move forward. She is also very aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Short-term and long-term planning reflects the current work taking place, for example planned changes to the building.

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good

The requirement from the last inspection with regard to the windows being in a poor state of repair has been met. The home is currently undergoing a programme of renovation including new windows throughout, decoration and new flooring, reflecting the organisation’s investment in the home. Young people are pleased about this and know that the organisation invests in their care.

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good

There are always enough staff on duty who know the young people exceptionally well. Staff are committed and enjoy their work. They are motivated by the progress that young people make and genuinely want them to do well in life. Where staff leave, this is generally to do with their personal circumstances rather than wanting to leave. Positive endings take place so that young people understand why staff are moving on.

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good

Staff are well supported in their role and are clear about how they should deliver care and support. Regular supervision provides opportunities to discuss practice. Managers oversee staff performance, both through these sessions and through direct observation. Staff receive a range of training to ensure their competency in meeting individual young people’s needs. Although shortfalls were identified in training arrangements for some staff, this has not impacted on young people to date.

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good

The statement of purpose sets out how the home intends to care for young people. Care is delivered in line with this document. For example, it sets out how young people should develop life skills to enable success. This happens in reality, through the high level of work with individuals regarding independence planning.

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good

Young people’s views are fully respected by the manager who always makes sure that they have a say in what is happening in their own lives. She is not afraid to speak out for young people and has done this to make sure that a young person’s progress was not hindered by their complex family situation. The registered manager ensures that there are good joint working relationships between the home and other professionals such as the police, placing authorities and teaching staff. Young people receive the right support as a result. Good multi-agency working means that professionals work together in the best interests of the young person.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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