Children's home run by Pathways Care Group Limited in Runnymede

Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 1 SC429369 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company. The home supports up to four children who have a range of additional needs and learning disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, social communication issues and associated behavioural and medical needs. The registered manager has been in post since August 2015.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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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: SC429369 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/05/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

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Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

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Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)(6)(a)(b)) 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 21/11/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 31/12/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 4

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Recommendations

 For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is with particular reference to the back garden.  Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home‟s workforce plan. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 43, paragraph 9.12) This is with specific regard to training in safeguarding disabled children.  Ensure that records of allegations that come to an employer‟s attention are full and reflect all actions taken. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including

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Recommendations

the quality standards‟, page 44, paragraph 9.18)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 46, paragraph 9.36) This is with particular regard to scrutiny of incidents involving the registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a good home. Although there are shortfalls in relation to the wider leadership of the home, these have had little effect on the children. However, if these shortfalls persist, there is a clear potential for the quality of care to be compromised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children receive good care from staff who know them well. A parent said, about their child, „He has built up really good relationship with the staff. They have been fabulous really.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good, strong relationships between the staff, the managers, professionals and families. Families feel involved in the care that their children receive. A parent said, „It is lovely. To a mother it is so reassuring. I see how he gets on so well with [the staff] and they with him. It is lovely to see that he has [these relationships].‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make progress because of the support that they receive from the staff. The children are happy, and their communication skills improve. Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 5 The children attend school. The school staff speak positively about the home. A professional said, „A year ago, [the child] presented massive challenges for school. Over time, with support from [the home], we reduced our demands and then built them up again. He is now very happy and has made good progress. He is doing really well.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have a good understanding of children‟s communication needs. The staff are alert to changes in behaviour and what the changes may indicate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children participate in activities that they enjoy. They expand their experiences because of the opportunities to try new activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the service are managed sensitively, and proceed at the child‟s pace. Transitions out of the service are handled with equal care. A professional said, „I have done many transitions over the years and I cannot recall one that has been so well planned and supported by the staff [as this one].‟

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

Parents and family members report that their children are safe at the home. Professionals have no concerns about the children‟s safety. The children‟s behaviour indicates that they feel safe.

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

The manager has undertaken a location risk assessment, which considers the risks and benefits of the location of the home.

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

The children‟s individual risk management plans are reviewed and updated each month. The plans provide staff with the information that they need to manage risks effectively.

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

The manager ensures that individual emergency evacuation plans are in place for all of the children. Fire drills and tests take place. These measures ensure children‟s physical safety.

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

The staff understand how to raise concerns. When concerns arise, these are shared with the appropriate agencies. A designated officer said, „I have no concerns regarding [the home]. [The manager] contacts me appropriately for advice and guidance.‟ However, some records do not contain all relevant information about actions taken. This does not provide clarity or a complete audit trail.

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

On occasions, the staff need to use physical interventions to keep children safe. These interventions are appropriate and usually very brief. The manager monitors the records of these incidents. However, when the manager is involved in the intervention, there is no clear process of oversight or scrutiny. In addition, although staff sign records, the signatures are not always clear enough to indicate who has signed. This has the potential to create difficulties in the event of an allegation or a concern about practice. Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has experienced significant turnover of staff since the last inspection. Outside of the management team, eight out of 11 staff have been appointed since the inspection. The management team recognises that this is a concern and has acted to address staff turnover.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Most staff have experience of working with children or adults who have learning difficulties. However, because of the staff turnover, a significant number of staff do not have a relevant level 3 qualification. Although most staff are enrolled to undertake a relevant qualification, one newly appointed member of staff who should have the qualification does not.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

At the last inspection, it was identified that the manager was not receiving the support that they should have. This shortfall has continued. The manager has had only four supervisions in the 18 months since the last inspection. The manager has had no appraisal. The lack of support for and oversight of the manager are of significant concern.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Despite this lack of support, the manager has a good understanding of the children and their needs, histories and their progress. Case files provide a clear overview of children‟s progress and achievements. Very recently, senior managerial oversight has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has a realistic view of the quality of the service. He is reflective and willing to change his mind on issues. The manager has ensured that some improvement has taken place to the environment. A new kitchen has been installed, and new play and sensory equipment has been bought. However, the garden remains uninviting; families themselves commented on this. Although plans are in place to address this, these have not been enacted in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff have access to a range of training opportunities. They now have access to a laptop to support them to undertake online training at the home. However, most staff have not had training in safeguarding disabled children, despite this being a service that provides care for disabled children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from families and professionals is positive. Families value the service. Professionals are very positive about the quality of support provided to the children.

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 7 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: SC429369 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1EG

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Inspector

Ashley Hinson: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC429369 9 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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