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

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make very good progress, especially in their education, social skills, and emotional well-being. For some, their contact time with family is increasing. This is because staff support contact arrangements, ensuring that young people remain safe while having an enjoyable time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has significantly improved his attendance at school, resulting in higher attainment levels. Those young people who have left school take part in a range of activities to promote their continued learning and to keep physically fit. Staff support them in applying for jobs and college placements. This meets a recommendation made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Access to a range of activities, such as community football clubs, enables all young people to improve their social skills and build confidence in their ability to relate to others. One young person is looking forward to a holiday with staff. This will afford her the time and opportunity to reflect on her emotional well-being, preparing her for additional therapeutic input on her return. Effective work with the therapist has already encouraged young people to discuss openly with staff any incidents of self- harm, enabling staff to intervene swiftly and effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who move on from the home do so with a range of independence skills, and continue to receive contact and support from staff. This helps young people to settle when they move on. Detailed plans and risk assessments help new young people settle into the home, enabling staff to swiftly grasp their needs and the support they require. In assessing the risk, however, staff should be mindful of the needs of all the young people living here. One young person spoke of the kitchen being locked and having to use plastic cutlery and plates now, commenting that this was not fair for everyone. A recommendation is made to ensure that any protective measures are suitably assessed and individualised, rather than a blanket measure being imposed on all.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of incidents of young people going missing from the home have reduced. Any incidents that do occur are for shorter periods, with young people remaining in contact with staff. Young people become increasingly aware of how to protect themselves through effective key work with staff and good multi-agency working. The manager describes this as being, ‘increasingly safe within unsafe behaviours’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of racist abuse of staff continue to be addressed. Regular reviews of consequences for such behaviour indicates whether these are effective or not. The manager is also sourcing educational resources to improve young people’s understanding of the impact of racist abuse.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of restraint is very rare and only used as a last resort. The one incident since the last inspection has been recorded in good detail, with a thorough debrief with the young person and evaluation of the incident by the manager. This enables young people and staff to learn from such incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two requirements made at the last inspection have been addressed by the manager. Complaints are now written up in detail, providing a clear account of action taken to respond to the complaint, and a follow-up with the complainant to check their views on the action taken. This means that young people feel they are listened to and their views taken into account. The home’s location risk assessment has been updated with information from others, including the police, providing a more comprehensive assessment of the area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager utilises a range of monitoring tools such as reports from the independent visitor, monthly reports on the progress of young people, regular environmental checks, and feedback from others. Regular key work, house meetings, and attendance at staff meetings ensures that the views of young people inform this monitoring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff benefit from a wide range of training, delivered in various formats such as online and team workshops. Staff who undertake training in other capacities, such as through voluntary work, bring their knowledge to share with their colleagues in team meetings. Effective partnership work with a range of professionals provides a holistic approach to the care of young people, and promotes positive outcomes.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/11/2016 Full Good 26/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/09/2015 Full Good 11/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Any decisions to limit a child's access to any area of the home and any modification to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child's welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child's needs, be properly recorded, and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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Recommendations

This is specifically in relation to ensuring that blanket measures are not routinely used for all young people such as locking the kitchen, using plastic plates, and using plastic cutlery.

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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 that 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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