Children's home run by Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC482275 1 SC482275 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is situated in a quiet rural area. It benefits from far-reaching countryside views, and peace and tranquillity.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered to look after up to three children. The home has been refurbished and updated to a high standard, and offers children a nurturing and homely environment in which to live.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home’s registration was suspended earlier this year due to significant and widespread concerns. Despite the restriction being lifted in August 2017, there are no children currently living in this home. A robust improvement plan has been effective in moving this service forward and the ethos and culture of the service has positively changed.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Due to the fact that no children were living at this home at the time of this inspection, no judgement was made at this inspection.

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This inspection

This children’s home has had a turbulent year resulting in a period when the registration was suspended. This was due to widespread and significant practice shortfalls and a concern that children were not safe. No children are currently living in this home despite the suspension being lifted by Ofsted some weeks ago. This is a decision made by the current leadership team to ensure that the right children are placed here in a planned and child-focused way. Inspection report children’s home: SC482275 2 One of the children who left this placement when the suspension was implemented still keeps in touch with staff. There are plans for staff to meet up with them for a milkshake and catch up face to face. Despite the difficult end to this child’s placement, they had clearly built up good relationships with staff and want to continue to have some level of contact.

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This inspection

The organisation has robustly addressed the shortfalls and concerns identified. There is a commitment to investment in good-quality, relevant training to ensure that children who come to live in this house will have a nurturing and welcoming environment and a skilled staff team to look after them. This investment in the staff has resulted in a cohesive and confident team, the members of which are eager for children to come and live at this home.

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This inspection

The newly registered manager and new registered individual have the skills, knowledge and experience to continue to drive this service forward. Both are committed to continuous improvement and delivering good-quality and safe care for children. They lead by example, and have quickly gained the respect of the staff team and partner agencies that they work with.

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This inspection

The systems in place to assess the suitability of children to move to live in this home are good. Leaders and managers take time to consider whether placements are appropriate. They work with partner agencies effectively to ensure that they have as much detail as possible before any decisions are made. They take into consideration the needs of the child and the skills of the staff. Good working relationships have been built with local authority commissioners and regular meetings take place to discuss referrals. One placement has been agreed and transitional planning is underway.

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This inspection

During this period of learning and reflection, the staff have been supported to look at their previous practice and challenge themselves and each other effectively. Staff discussed how the culture and ethos of this service have positively changed and how they have felt included and a part of the journey. They stated that the new leadership team has empowered and included them. As a result, they feel respected and listened to, and feel that they have been provided with the training and support required to help them care for children well.

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This inspection

Staff have spent time updating documentation to make it more child focused and to offer clarity in respect of expectations. Doing this together, as a team, has allowed open debate and discussion about best practice. A number of staff reflected on how the suspension of this service was upsetting, but they were able to recognise the value it has brought them in that they have been able to ‘start fresh’ and ‘take back the control of the home’. One member of staff stated to the inspector that these past few months have been ‘a gift’, and that they cannot wait for the children to arrive. There is a genuine excitement from staff, who are really looking forward to children coming to live in this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children’s home: SC482275 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Good 08/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/07/2015 Full Good

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merchants Place, Bolton BL2 1BX

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Inspector

Inspection report children’s home: SC482275 4 Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482275 5 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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