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

Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 1 SC374405 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions II Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to care for four young people with learning disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 2 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress in many aspects of their lives. Their life chances and opportunities improve.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have trusting relationships with staff. These relationships are embedded through positive and nurturing care.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff understand young people’s histories and behaviours. They work hard to reduce risk-taking behaviours.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home is welcoming and provides a safe and homely environment. Young people are at the centre of the home and their views contribute to the running of the home.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Transitions into and out of the home are managed well. Young people are supported at heightened times of anxiety. Staff remain focused on promoting young people’s welfare throughout these times.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Independence work is a strength at this home. Young people are supported to improve their independence skills. They access a number of opportunities that were not available to them before as they become more independent.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Collaborative working with other agencies and with parents/carers is excellent. Staff work hard to engage with others to promote positive outcomes for young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff work creatively and passionately to involve young people in activities. This is a key strength of the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 3

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Recommendations

 Records of restraints must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59.) This relates to consistency in the recording of information about restraints.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress in many aspects of their lives. Young people have individualised care plans that are understood and implemented by a strong, cohesive staff team. An independent reviewing officer commented on a shared care arrangement that the service provides: ‘The family really value the support offered to their son. This placement has kept him at home.’ A parent also said: ‘He’s a totally different child since coming here.’ For some young people, progress is excellent in relation to education, independence and emotional development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with placing authorities, parents and young people to understand the young people’s starting points. All young people are supported to reduce risk-associated behaviours. Staff provide consistent boundaries and implement clear routines. Staff seek out appropriate advice and support in devising behaviour management plans. A child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) worker stated: ‘Staff are really proactive and keen. They attend regular consultations. The whole team is involved.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have trusting relationships with staff. Staff work hard to build and maintain these relationships. This was evidenced by the work that was put in place for young people when a staff member took extended leave. A video was made and shared with the young people and young people maintained contact with the staff member during the period. Staff were well aware of the attachment issues that young people in their care have. They were focused on maintaining positive and secure attachments for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key working is a strength of the team. Managers discuss key-working strategies with key workers. Best practice is disseminated to the team. Key working is creative and built around young people’s interests. Key-working sessions are well planned, well resourced and well recorded.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making excellent educational progress from their starting points. The Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 4 staff team works collaboratively with education colleagues. Young people’s attendance is excellent and all young people have positive educational experiences. For one young person, it was a challenge to find the appropriate educational resource. However, staff contributed to ensuring that appropriate education was in place. A teacher said: ‘He has been really well supported. Staff work well with school and have his best interests at heart.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a say in the running of the home. The home is centred on the needs and interests of the young people who live there. There are weekly consultation meetings and evidence of regular feedback from young people within their key-working sessions. Staff are skilled in understanding the communication of the young people and are experienced at gaining their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with young people, their parents and relatives to promote regular, good- quality family contact. Staff recognise the importance of family connections and support young people to maintain these positive links wherever appropriate. Young people are able to share their views on their contact arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions are well planned and young people are very well supported during these times. One young person, who required urgent additional specialist support, had to leave the home without detailed planning. This was managed in the best possible way and all decisions were made in the best interests of the young person. Her parent said: ‘Staff got the help when she needed it to keep her safe.’ For another young person, staff are mindful of future transitions and are working hard on independence skills with him.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people are safe in the home and, over time, become increasingly safe as they stabilise and settle into routines.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people do not go missing. However, staff understand the procedures to follow should an incident occur. A variety of risk assessments for individual young people ensure that activities are safe while supporting young people to take appropriate risks. This is well evidenced in the independence work that staff do with young people. Risk assessments are very detailed and cover all aspects of children’s behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Parents and professionals speak highly of the staff’s ability to keep young people safe. Staff work collaboratively in addressing the needs of young people who self-harm and/or display challenging behaviours. An independent reviewing officer said: ‘Staff know what to do to keep them safe.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use positive behaviour management strategies. An empathetic approach underpins strategies to support young people to self-regulate. Challenging behaviours reduce because staff are skilled in using de-escalation and distraction techniques. A CAMHS worker stated: ‘There has been a significant change in the young person since living here.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 5 Staff recruitment practices are safe. Pre-employment checks are robust. Once staff are in post, they are subject to a probationary period when their continued suitability for the post is assessed. The home does not use agency staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff at all levels have a good understanding of the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures. When incidents of concern arise, prompt actions are taken by the manager and senior staff to ensure the safety of young people and staff. Close working relationships are in place with the designated officer. Prompt and thorough internal investigations ensure that all concerns are fully addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and qualified. She provides good leadership and management. The manager and assistant manager are proactive in promoting positive outcomes for young people in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is maintained to a high standard. It is homely and has a warm feel to it. Young people have been involved in influencing the way that the home is decorated and their ideas are acted on. For example, a ‘youth club’ idea has been put into practice in the home’s conservatory. Young people are involved in organising themed events and inviting others to the youth club. This has proved a great success and is supporting the social and emotional development of a number of young people. The main bathroom is in need of some attention and redecoration but is currently fit for purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable and experienced. Team meetings are constructive. Staff support each other well. The staff team is diverse, with an excellent range of skills. One staff member said: ‘It’s great working here. It’s rewarding to be able to make a difference.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have undertaken a range of training, including safeguarding young people, health and safety, Makaton, first aid and fire training, physical intervention training and refreshers and autism.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably qualified or working towards their required qualification within appropriate timescales. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals and feel supported by managers. One staff member said: ‘We have a lot of trust in our team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers understand the importance of good-quality relationships between the home, families and other agencies. They ensure that this is integral to the service that they provide. Managers act as strong advocates for young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 6

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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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions II Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector(s)

Bev Allison: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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