Children's home run by Pathways Care Group Limited in Runnymede

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, two requirements and seven recommendations were set. The manager has made improvements in most areas, but some areas have yet to be fully addressed. There have been some management changes, but there are effective arrangements in place for the transition of the service to the new acting manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are safeguarded effectively and positive outcomes are promoted. The care and support that they receive is child-focused and individualised. A parent said, ‘The support in the home is great.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good placement planning and appropriate supervision levels mean that no placement breakdowns have occurred. The children enjoy stable placements. They flourish because they are nurtured by staff who care deeply for them. The staff encourage the children to be fully involved in decisions regarding their future plans and transitions. One social worker said, ‘The staff appear passionate about him and include him in everything. He feels they value and care for him.’ The children reflect on how much they have matured and the difference that the home has made for them. One child, who has now moved into semi-independent living, said, ‘Where I started and where I ended up are so different. I changed a lot. I liked it there a lot.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children develop strong and mutually caring relationships with the staff. There are a number of positive male role models among the staff. One social worker said, ‘He really does like the staff. Even when there are disagreements they [the staff] work through things and he likes the boundaries. He definitely trusts them. They don’t promise things they can’t deliver and they are always honest with him.’ The staff talk warmly about the children and describe the loss that they feel when the children grow up and move on. One member of staff said, ‘That was a lovely reward we got from that girl. She was amazing, the way that she turned it around. I’m so proud of her.’ The children emotionally invest in the home because of these strong relationships, which underpin the success that staff have in effecting positive change. One child said, ‘They [the staff] are all nice and there is always someone to talk to.’ The children all rate the home as good and they say that they

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between the children, however, have not always been positive. Some staff described these conflicts as similar to sibling rivalry, but one member of staff identified behaviour that they felt was sometimes gender-based intimidation and bullying. The staff did respond and challenge the behaviour. However, the actions were not sufficient and were not successful in stopping the behaviour. The child who experienced this behaviour said that it had made them feel very unhappy and had caused them to be less comfortable about spending time in the home in which they had otherwise been very happy. These experiences undermined this child’s previously solid confidence in the staff’s commitment to their well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are strong and effective partnerships with parents, school staff and social workers. One of these key figures refers to ‘massive progress and improvement’ achieved by the children, from their particular starting points, in all aspects of their lives. The close relationships with schools mean that children’s learning and development are well promoted. One child’s teacher said, ‘Staff are proactive and they have the aspirations and drive to help him achieve. They are really on the ball, motivating him. They [the staff] have been able to help him change his mindset regarding education.’ As a result, one child has successfully re-engaged in education and completed their exams. Another child moved from being highly resistant to education to being someone who now has a sense of joy when going to school. This child is progressing well, which allows their intellect and ability to shine through.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Medication arrangements in the home have improved since the last inspection. There are approved protocols in place that enable staff to administer appropriate over-the-counter pain relief and remedies when required. All staff have undertaken suitable first aid training and they are now assessed in respect of their competence to administer medication. These arrangements equip the staff to respond to the children’s day-to-day needs and to emergencies more effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff develop effective, individualised de-escalation methods for particular children. The systems for promoting positive behaviour are successful. The children present as being calmer and their self-reflection and self-regulation skills have improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the staff are trained in the safe application of physical restraint and breakaway techniques. They only use these techniques when they are needed in order to keep the child or others safe. However, the records of restraint do not clearly detail the duration of each restraint. In addition, on two occasions the manager reviewed a restraint in which she was involved. This lack of objective scrutiny undermines the effectiveness of such reviews and the ability for reflection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, fire evacuation procedures have improved. As a result, everyone knows how to act in an emergency. The building is generally well maintained. However, some specific parts of the home need to be repaired. The bathroom looks very worn, which detracts from the otherwise warm and homely environment. The provider has begun work to provide separate suitable accommodation for the staff who sleep on site, but this has not yet been completed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some case recording has improved. The children’s individual risk assessments are now more detailed and are reviewed at regular intervals. The risk assessments provide improved guidance to staff and describe the actions that staff need to take to protect the children. However, the standard of file management and case recording still requires some improvement in order to evidence the care given and the actions taken by staff. Staff could not locate a risk assessment that relates to preventing children from climbing on the roof. Furthermore, staff are unable to evidence how children have repaid some financial sanctions. This lack of information means that a full picture of the care that the children receive is not being provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide a robust response to any incidents of missing from care or concerns about the children’s well-being. All of the children have made significant progress in relation to their personal safety. The risks regarding gang association, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and missing from home have, for some children, moved from extremely high to almost non-existent. The staff provide an environment where the children want to be. As a result, such incidents are rare. It is of concern, however, that the organisation does not provide a mobile telephone for the staff to use. This means that staff are using their personal mobile telephones to make contact with other staff or children while they are conducting their duties outside of the home. The staff are therefore sharing their personal numbers, which is not best practice and potentially undermines the safety of the children and the staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recruitment checks, on occasion, are not sufficiently robust and do not meet the regulatory requirements. Checks on an applicant’s identity cannot always be evidenced as complete, and, on one occasion, no reference had been obtained from the applicant’s previous employer. These shortfalls mean that information which could have an impact on an applicant’s suitability may not be identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose needs to be updated to reflect the current management arrangements. At the last inspection the manager was asked to improve the quality assurance systems in the home. However, the manager’s recent review of the quality of care provided includes inappropriate data and does not evaluate information to ‘tell the story’ of the home and the significant difference it is making. The views of children, their families and partner agencies about the quality of care provided have not been sought. Therefore, although there are aspirations and plans for the service, they are not effectively documented and shared in order to drive improvement. Opportunities to celebrate the home’s many achievements are not utilised effectively. Although a number of requirements and recommendations have either been set at this inspection or remain from the previous inspection, this has not had a significant impact on the outcomes and experiences of the children. The home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

continues to make a positive difference. One child rated the home as 9/10 and said, ‘I really like it here, it’s a really good place. The staff are all really nice.’ A social worker, summing up their thoughts into a sentence, said, ‘The home has made a real difference for him. The support he receives is verging on brilliant.’

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a small number of children’s homes run by a private company. It is registered to care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/06/2016 Full Good 15/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Requires improvement 17/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard in relation to good safeguarding practices, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have access to a company mobile phone so that children can contact them and the staff can contact the children and each other without using their personal phones. 27/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) 27/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(c)(d)) 27/02/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Provide a safe, homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the building is decorated and maintained to high standard throughout. Furthermore, ensure that risk assessments are in place which detail the measures that are in place to prevent a child from climbing on the roof and provide guidance to staff should such an incident occur.  Take every step possible to ensure that individual children are not subject to discrimination, marginalisation or bullying from their peers by virtue of their gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, disability or for any other reason. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.12)

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Recommendations

 Provide staff that sleep in the home overnight with appropriate accommodation and facilities to do so. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.26)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that a suitable overview of any restraint is undertaken by a person who was not involved in the incident.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording and that information regarding the child is recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that records of financial sanctions are available and that they clearly detail the repayments that have been made. In addition, ensure that records of physical intervention detail the duration of any restraint.

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Recommendations

 Undertake a review under regulation 45 that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The review should be underpinned by the quality standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64 paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the system is evaluative and considers the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 children looked after 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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