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

The manager has met three of the four requirements and the one recommendation that were set at the last inspection. The staff provide child-focused care, ensuring that the children’s individual needs are met. As a result, children make individually significant progress from their starting points in their behaviour, social skills, communication, confidence and personal care. One social worker said, ‘They know him so well. They can gauge his moods and all of the ways to get around him.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are committed to promoting and maintaining the children’s health and well-being. They work well in partnership with specialists, such as behavioural advisors, a paediatrician and nutritionists. The staff are swift to act when they have any concerns. One child became physically unwell with a typical short-lived childhood illness which, for this child, also caused a number of seizures within a short period. Staff took the child to hospital and remained with them throughout the child’s stay. The staff fulfilled the role of a caring parent, helping the child to feel safe and nurtured. A social worker said, ‘He [the child] really does get their personal touch.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no significant incidents or placement breakdowns and the children continue to thrive in a stable and nurturing environment. One child has moved on as part of a planned and positive transition into supported adult living. Before providing a placement to a new child, the manager ensures that he is able to meet the child’s individual needs, as well as continuing to meet those of the group. Staff go to great lengths to facilitate a smooth and well-supported transition into the home, easing both the child’s and their parent’s anxieties. One parent said that her son is always happy to see the staff, and that this gives her confidence that her child is happy and safe when he visits. She said, ‘The lengths they [the staff] have gone to. They have matched everything – the colour of his walls, the stickers on them and his bedding – to the bedroom he has at home. The way they have approached the process has really put me at ease and helped him to settle. It has

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

made me feel much more confident about letting him stay.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Listening to the child, redirection and distraction are the most frequent and successful behaviour strategies used by the staff. Suitably trained staff only use physical intervention in situations when the children are likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Staff have embraced the use of positive reinforcement, and there are ‘well done certificates’ displayed for all of the children. Staff describe the children’s joy at earning these. One social worker commented on how the consistent boundaries have helped one child to change their behaviour. The social worker reflected on the individualised approach, saying, ‘It’s a credit to them [the staff] that they are constantly readjusting their techniques and strategies with him [the child] in response to his behaviour.’ Reflecting on the progress over two years and how much more settled and happy the children are, one staff member said, ‘They are two different boys.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and manager work well in partnership with social workers, health professionals and schools to improve the experiences of the children. The staff have facilitated contact arrangements with families, maintaining and enhancing familial relationships. For one child, this means that they have been able to regain contact with siblings and a previous foster carer. For another child, the staff stay with the child and his grandmother, providing support until bedtime.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding is at the core of staff practice, and any matters of potential concern are addressed in partnership with other agencies. Placing authorities and families say that their children feel safe, and that they have absolute confidence in the staff to safeguard the children effectively. The children have developed positive bonds with staff, indicating that they feel safe. Children seek out staff, and they ask for particular staff when they are ill, enjoying snuggling up for a cuddle and reading stories.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children, who have varying levels of autism, are developing relationships with each other and beginning to show awareness of the needs of others, including affection and empathy. One child, on a visit to a previous resident, gave them a big hug of affection, showing that they were delighted to see them and had missed them. Staff reflected that this was something that, a year ago, they would never have anticipated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has implemented improved staff recruitment practices. This means that the children are better protected from unsuitable people gaining employment in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is no evidence to suggest that staffing levels do not meet the needs of the children. However, the records of the staffing arrangements are poor. As highlighted at the previous inspection, staff rotas are not sufficiently clear and it is not possible to identify who was on duty in the home at a given time. The manager has provided cover on some care shifts but this is not recorded. Two shift records do not identify who had been on duty. Although this does not have a direct impact on the care and support that the children receive, it makes it difficult to establish staffing levels and who was on site at any given time. This also has the potential to undermine any safeguarding investigations. Individually, the staff feel well supported by each other and the management team. Staff training arrangements have improved. All eligible staff are undertaking a suitable level 3 qualification and all staff have undertaken first-aid training. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

better equips them to meet the ongoing and changing needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has completed a location review, identifying that this is a suitable area for the home. The children enjoy an environment which is well maintained, homely and suitably adapted and equipped to meet their needs. However, the children’s privacy and dignity is compromised because it is possible to see into the front lounge and a bedroom from a busy footpath and road. This is of particular concern as some children remove their clothes in these areas without being aware of the lack of privacy. Health and safety arrangements are not consistently or sufficiently robust. Electrical plugs are not secured in the sensory room, and the key-pad alarm to the front door requires repair or replacement to provide appropriate security.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Adequate monitoring systems are in place to review the quality of care provided. However, the manager does not incorporate feedback from children, their families and partner professionals to gain a full view of the quality of care. This potentially limits the manager’s understanding of areas for improvement, and undermines the opportunity to celebrate the home’s achievements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two issues of concern raised with the home but neither relate to the care of children. The manager is transparent and responsive in his approach to any issues raised. The manager is committed to driving improvement and ensuring that the service is responsive to each child’s particular needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement remains from the previous inspection and two new recommendations have been set at this inspection. These shortfalls do not detract from the children’s outcomes and experiences, which remain very positive. A social worker said, ‘The home is so accommodating. They go above and beyond.’

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is run by a private company. The home is registered to provide a service for up to four children or young people who have learning difficulties and who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 31/05/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/10/2015 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) 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

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. This includes a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked; in particular, the times of each shift worked. (Regulation 37 (2)(a) Schedule 4 (3)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the children's home is a homely, domestic, nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that all electric plug sockets are secured, and that rooms to the front of the house have appropriate privacy screening. Furthermore, ensure that key-pad entry systems are updated to provide appropriate security.  Undertake a review 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

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Recommendations

on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews 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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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 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

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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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