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

Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 1 SC428700 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children‟s home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is committed to providing care to children and young people on a long-term, medium-term and short-term basis, according to their assessed needs. The home provides a holistic, safe, stimulating and supporting family-style environment in which children and young people can live, learn and develop. The registered manager is suitably qualified and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children‟s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children‟s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2017 Full Good 31/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Good 24/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 3

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Recommendations

 When establishing the home, the registered person must ensure that it is suitably located so that children are effectively safeguarded and can access services to meet the needs identified in their relevant plans (see regulations 12(2)(c)). Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home‟s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people live in an environment that is spacious, homely and very family oriented. Despite their complex and at times challenging behaviours, the children and young people experience care from a dedicated and highly skilled staff team that has enabled them to feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Appropriate staffing ratios have ensured that the children and young people are supported in all aspects of their daily lives. Staff invest quality time with the children and young people. The staff recognise that the children and young people are important, and progress and achievements are celebrated, however small they may be. This has seen sustained improvements where the children and young people have grown in confidence and become more self-assured.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff sensitively challenge any conflicts or disagreements between the children and young people. Staff have successfully engaged the children and young people in group mediation and key-work sessions to tackle such issues as bullying and personal boundaries. A member of staff commented: „The young people discussed how they were feeling about the issues that have been happening in the home. All the young people engaged really well, and we have seen a marked improvement in their behaviour towards each other.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities in the home and in the community are tailored towards individual interests. Staff have organised a sports day, themed events and movie nights, and one young person has participated in a sponsored walk for charity. Two young people have enjoyed holidays abroad. This wealth of opportunities has significantly enhanced their quality of life and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The importance of supporting the children and young people in their education is a key strength of the home. Staff encourage the children and young people to take pride in all Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 4 aspects of their learning. Progress and achievements are celebrated, and one young person has surpassed all educational expectations. An education professional commented: (Name of young person) is very determined to make something of her life. She has never lost that passion to learn. She engages well in school and is highly supported by the staff at (name of home).

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

The risks and vulnerabilities of the children and young people are unquestionably well understood. The risk management strategies are individualised and of the highest quality. The strategies underpin the systematic and well-coordinated response to risk- taking behaviours and, ultimately, have helped to reduce risks to the children and young people.

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

The manager and staff are proactive in sourcing specialist knowledge, advice and guidance in their approach to managing the behaviours associated with childhood trauma and early life experiences. This approach to managing behaviour has ensured that professional practice is of the highest quality and that children and young people make steady progress in managing their emotions during their time in placement.

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

The qualities and skills of the manager and staff team, together with the nurturing environment, assist children and young people to make sustainable changes and start to recover from early trauma. It was recognised that one young person‟s risk-taking behaviour was so great that in due course it would put others at risk of actual harm. The manager and staff team facilitated a highly individualised and safe transition from the home.

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

Physical restraints are accurately recorded, and are used on safety grounds when there has been no alternative. The registered manager is a highly skilled trainer in managing actual and physical aggression (MAPA), and has disseminated this learning across her staff team. Equally, the manager has facilitated and used role play with the staff as a component of ligature training. The children and young people are unconditionally supported and given the opportunity to discuss with staff and the manager what has happened during a restraint.

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

The manager and staff have established highly effective relationships with professionals and partner agencies. As a result, young people are supported to take measured risks and build on their independence skills in order to safely transition to adulthood. A social worker was emphatic when she said: „(Name of young person) is doing remarkably well. I‟ve never had any concerns in their care. Staff clearly keep her safeguarded whilst allowing (name of young person) to develop her independence and take managed risks.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has recently become the registered manager, yet has worked at the home for a number of years. She demonstrates ambition and a vision to influence and change the lives of the children and young people in her care. She is suitably qualified, holding a Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 5 level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads a highly experienced and skilled staff team. The staff know the children and young people well, and work as a team within a culture of high aspirations and creative practice. Behaviour management strategies are individualised and worthy of wider dissemination.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, and staff have a wealth of opportunities to enhance their learning through training and practice-related experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children and young people receive personalised care from a well-established and fully staffed team. The majority of staff have looked after the children and young people since they moved in. The manager and staff invest time in the care of children and young people. They respond to their worries and anxieties, and this makes the children and young people feel safe. A professional commented: „All the staff are up to date with information. I can speak to any member of staff and they will be up to speed with where (name of young person) is at. We are all “singing from the same hymn sheet”.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children and young people who move on from the home are not forgotten. The manager and staff continue to preserve relationships with them and, equally, ensure that the children and young people who still live in the home maintain contact, where appropriate, with those who have moved on. This contributes to their continued sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager‟s systems for evaluating and monitoring of the quality of care ensure that the children and young people are receiving an outstanding service. Feedback from professionals and other stakeholders is highly positive, and one professional stated: „I am extremely satisfied with the quality of care and the consistent approach in managing (name of young person‟s) behaviour. Their capacity to reflect on and evaluate what strategies to use and adapt their style and approach is commendable.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

When professionals and agencies fail in their responsibilities for the children and young people, the manager secures an appropriate independent advocate and makes effective challenge at the appropriate level to ensure that services are provided. Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 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 difference 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: SC428700 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC428700 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 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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