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 feel listened to. They have opportunities to negotiate and put their views across regularly.  Young people are encouraged to explore their identity, likes and interests in an atmosphere of nurturing and respect.  Young people benefit from clear structures and boundaries. This enables them to feel secure and benefit from the stability the home environment creates.  Young people’s risk taking behaviour, such as drug use, decreases from the start of their placements. As a result, they are better able to consider the impact of substance use on their health and consider the reasons why they use it. A professional stated: ‘The home have been instrumental in helping my young person change her behaviour.’  Young people are supported to prepare for adulthood and transition to independence. This helps ensure they have the best opportunity for a good start to their adult lives.  Young people are cared for by a stable and committed staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

Professionals consulted during the inspection commented on the ‘stickability’ of staff in relation to making a commitment to care for young people, regardless of the challenges they present.  The management team are committed to continuous development of the staff team and the home. They are aware of the homes strengths and weaknesses and take action to continually improve the functioning of the home to improve experiences for young people.  There are two areas of improvement identified. Managers have not always ensured safeguarding risks are adequately assessed or that staff have the correct training and equipment to deal with self-harm incidents. It is recommended staff knowledge about current safeguarding issues increases to ensure they have the skills to support young people who may be a risk of extremism, female genital mutilation, trafficking and forced marriage.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the protection of children and young people at risk of self-harm behaviour, the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare;

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Requirement Due date

(b) ensure 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; 19/10/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure 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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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to care for 4 young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people make positive progress in an atmosphere of acceptance and nurturing. They benefit from individualised care and develop trusting relationships with staff. They are listened to and are able to influence their own care plans. Their lifestyles become more stable and they are able to reflect on what they want for their future. Although young people reflect that it may not be their choice to live at the home, they are able to build attachments and recognise the benefit living at the home has for them.

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good

Young people’s health, emotional and psychological needs are met. They are registered with local health providers and young people show a better awareness of the impact their lifestyle is having on them, for example, for some there has been a decrease in drug use and consideration of smoking cessation. In addition, young people benefit from active lifestyles, they regularly enjoy sports such as ice skating. They have choice in their meals. A young person stated: ‘I have started eating vegetables now. They’re ok.’

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good

The majority of young people have further education placements or are actively seeking college courses. There are good attendance levels and young people‘s independence is increased by being able to travel to and from college without the support of staff. Staff take an active interest in young people’s achievements, as well at attending parents’ evenings, there is regular communication with course tutors. Staff engage with young people as soon as they walk through the door at the end of the day, enquiring how their day has been, listening to their views and encouraging them to reflect on any positive or negatives. This shows young people their education is valued; helps them reflect and become prepared for the next day’s education.

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good

Young people benefit from engaging in a variety of activities and hobbies. For example, over the school holidays, they went camping, to a holiday park and enjoyed trips to theme parks. Day-to-day young people take part in activities such as youth clubs. Experiences like this help enhance young people’s independence skills, explore their individual identities and provide lots of fun and enjoyment.

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good

Young people receive good support and encouragement as they move towards adulthood and prepare for independent living. They engage in independence tasks such as learning how to budget, cooking and learning how to pay bills. This helps them to develop the practical skills to cope when they move on from the home. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

Professionals consulted during the inspection commented on the progress young people have made since coming to live at the home, especially in relation to being able to keep themselves safe. As young people become settled, they develop trusting relationships with staff and begin to listen to advice and respond to encouragement. Levels of young people going missing from care and engaging in risk-taking behaviour have decreased since the start of placement. A professional stated: ‘It’s a stabilising influence living at the home. It gives my young person space to think about things, as it’s away from negative influences.’

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requires improvement

Young people’s behaviour is generally positive. They respond well to clear boundaries and expectations. Staff are skilled at implementing rules and boundaries as any good parent would, helping young people feel safe and secure in the home. Strong relationships between staff and young people help promote a positive atmosphere meaning incidents of negative behaviour are infrequent.

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requires improvement

At times, behaviour can escalate and staff effectively implement behaviour management plans, which help young people gain control of their behaviour again. As a result, there are low levels of physical intervention or methods of control, such as sanctions. Young people work towards their behaviour goals and try and keep their weekly ‘points’ allowance which enables them to receive a reward. Systems such as this help promote positive behaviour. Although young people occasionally fall out, positive relationships between young people for the majority of the time means bullying is not reported to be an issue by them.

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requires improvement

Managers have not always ensured robust risk assessments are in place to support staff who care for young people who self-harm. This has meant unsafe methods were used to ensure the safety of a young person during incidents of self-harm. There had not been enough preparation or training for staff in order for them to understand how to ensure the young person’s safety. Although the young person was not harmed by the action of staff, she was put at greater risk through a poorly thought out response to a self-harm issue.

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requires improvement

Safeguarding systems, including whistleblowing and missing from care procedures, are well-known by staff. However, staff do not all have an appropriate awareness of issues which may affect young people living in care. For example, extremism, female genital mutilation, trafficking or forced marriage. This means staff may not be able to identify or respond appropriately to young people at risk. Judgement grade

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good

The manager is experienced and is appropriately qualified for the role holding the required level 5 qualification in residential management. The manager is supported by a deputy manager. Together they create a strong management team who aspire to create an ethos of good outcomes for young people and a well- developed, confident staff team. They continually consider ways to improve the functioning of the home using a continuous development plan.

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good

Since the last inspection, there has been a focus on helping staff develop skills such as a greater understanding of attachment. This has benefitted the staff team who say they now have a much better understanding of the impact of young people’s previous history; why young people behave in certain ways and how they can support young people to understand their feelings.

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good

At the last inspection, a recommendation was made about improving care planning practice on the admission of new young people. Systems have been reviewed and the manager ensures all the correct care planning documentation is in place prior to the young person’s admission.

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good

Young people are cared for by a stable staff team. The majority are qualified to the appropriate level in residential care or are undertaking these qualifications. Staff complete mandatory training such as first aid, safeguarding and physical intervention to ensure they have basic skills to care for looked after children. Supervision is regular. Staff state they feel well supported and appreciate this opportunity to review their own practice and consider areas for professional development. A young person said: ‘Staff are kind and polite. They are easy to get on with.’

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good

There is a good level of multi-agency working, for example where young people have frequent input from mental health services, there is constant communication. Professionals involved in the lives of young people report a consistent approach from staff and that communication helps to ensure information is shared appropriately. An independent reviewing officer stated in feedback to the home: ‘Staff commitment to the young people is commendable.’

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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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