Children's home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Bolton

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

The young person has made excellent progress since the last inspection, particularly concerning her increased confidence and improved self-esteem. Her hours of education with home tutors have been increasing and she engages well. She is actively involved in the decision-making process surrounding a full-time school placement and is excited about being in a school in the near future. Some education classes take place in the local community, helping her to engage with others as well as providing a range of learning opportunities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Her health has improved, as she enjoys a range of homemade, healthy and nutritional meals. She likes to help prepare and cook these meals, increasing her life skills. Activities such as attending dance classes also help her fitness and provide opportunities for making friends. She is also forming positive relationships with young people from other homes nearby, taking part in a range of activities and events. This improves her social interaction skills and increases her confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person plays an active role in decision-making, not just in her own care, but also in the home. For example, currently she is involved in choosing colours and furnishings for decorating the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation was made at the last inspection regarding the quality of incident records and medication records. This has been met. In addition, the quality of risk assessments, care plans, and key-work recording has improved. Daily reports provide an overview of progress towards the young person’s targets. These sometimes report no achievement in education at weekends or outside education hours, when it is clear that the home provides a wealth of learning opportunities outside the formal education environment. A recommendation is made to ensure that these reports accurately reflect all progress in her learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of negative behaviour have significantly reduced as the young person continues to settle in the home and build good relationships with staff, who provide consistent boundaries. A member of staff has developed a new format for reviewing and monitoring incidents. This identifies any possible trends and highlights when there may be a need for a change in strategy. This is shared with the young person so that she can monitor her own progress. Other monitoring is equally effective, including a detailed and regular review of the home by the manager. This provides a raft of evidence identifying improvements and progress made and highlighting areas to develop.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements since the last inspection include establishing a core staff team, with less sharing of staff across the organisation’s homes. Increased training opportunities ensure that staff understand how to care effectively for the young person and keep her safe. Effective work in partnership improves the all-round outcomes for the young person.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to care for one child who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Good 14/12/2015 Interim Not judged 18/11/2015 Interim Not judged 17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendation

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

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Recommendation

 Progress in education can be measured and evidenced in various ways. This relates to staff recording the learning opportunities and progress outside formal education. (The ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.2)

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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 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. Whenever 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 whom 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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