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

Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 1 SC417351 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home, which is run by a private organisation, provides care for up to three children. The organisation’s aim is to ensure that every child who comes to live at the home is safe and free from harm.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 31 October 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 7 December 2018

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/05/2018 Full Good 04/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 3

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improvement to be good

Some children have made significant progress. Despite a number of shortfalls identified at this inspection, some children have benefited from their placements. The staff enable children to feel at ease, to relax and be comfortable. Children have some frank and honest conversations with staff. However, staff do not always act to improve situations. For example, a child spoke with staff about being left alone in his bedroom and not receiving staff attention, and this has not improved.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s placements have ended quickly and there has been insufficient preparation. A child was discharged from the home, straight from police custody, without any prior warning. In this way, some children have not been prepared to move on or given the opportunity to leave the home in a positive way.

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improvement to be good

The condition of the kitchen has deteriorated significantly. Some areas of the home require deep cleaning. Doors on the kitchen units are missing, some doors are hanging off their hinges, wood has chipped away from drawers and cupboards and the oven is dirty. The work surfaces are stained and marked. The carpet in the staff office area is torn, and there is an old bed lying in the garden. Furthermore, the kitchen area is locked each night, preventing children from accessing it freely. Overall, parts of the home are not welcoming and homely. The children smoke in their bedrooms. This is not monitored effectively by staff.

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improvement to be good

One of the children has progressed well from his starting point. The child now attends education and has not been missing from care since his arrival at this home. A social worker for the child said that the child’s health and mental health have significantly improved. During a recent review, the child thanked the staff for making his life better. Children hold the staff in high regard and have formed positive relationships with them. Interaction between staff and children is caring and supportive.

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improvement to be good

Children develop some positive life skills through the basic household tasks that they choose to engage in. They enjoy a variety of physical and creative activities, which promote their confidence and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

A senior member of staff and the responsible individual failed to manage a disclosure of abuse effectively. Because of the way in which this concern was managed, a child was bullied by other children. The subsequent investigation established that the disclosure was unfounded. In response to the shortfall in managing the disclosure, staff concerned undertook additional training in safeguarding. However, leaders have not ensured that Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 4 some actions that were identified as necessary to improve practice have been implemented.

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improvement to be good

Some staff spoken with during the inspection did not have a good understanding of safeguarding practice. They could not confidently describe reporting procedures. Lack of sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures means that staff may not be equipped to protect children.

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improvement to be good

Some of the children’s records, such as risk assessments, behaviour support plans and healthcare plans, lack up-to-date information. One child’s file contained information about another child. Records of sanctions were not completed in full, and three missing- from-care records were yet to be completed. Consequently, strategies and behaviour management plans are not adapted to ensure that the children are suitably supported. The manager has not ensured that debriefing sessions with children and staff have taken place to provide opportunities to explore each incident and determine whether lessons can be learned.

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improvement to be good

Children said that they feel safe living at the home and that they have formed positive relationships with staff. One child has been in this placement longer than any other, which is significant progress for them.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond effectively to some situations, using their knowledge of the children and good relationships to help children make positive choices. Physical interventions are rarely used.

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

Leaders have failed to act quickly to make improvements. They do not monitor, review and evaluate incidents thoroughly. Leaders have not identified learning that would enable them to improve and develop practice.

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

The manager and staff have the needs of children at the centre of their practice. Good practice is evident in some areas, but it is not sustained and therefore not effective. The manager is aware of the shortfalls in updating records, such as care plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments. However, due to children’s needs, staff, including the manager, have to work extra shifts to cover staff shortages. As a result, records have not been updated. A lack of management oversight of practice limits the manager’s ability to identify areas for improvement, particularly at times when staff are under pressure.

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

Although staff voiced concerns about working excessive hours, those consulted spoke of being very supportive of each other. The staff spoke of being part of a strong, committed team and wanting to maintain familiarity with and continuity of care for the children.

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

All the staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training, including Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 5 safeguarding training. However, three staff members have not achieved a relevant level 3 qualification within the required timescales. Staff do not have individual email addresses to use when undertaking online training or by which to send and receive confidential information. Lack of individual email addresses also restricts the manager’s ability to share confidential information with individual staff members.

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

The staff have annual appraisals and receive regular supervision, which provide them with support and guidance.

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

In general, positive relationships exist between the staff, parents and professionals. Professionals spoken with were very complimentary about the service and the support given to them and to the children.

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

The independent visitor makes recommendations following the monthly visits. External monitoring is effective in identifying areas for development.

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

The manager has met two of the four requirements raised at the last inspection. A requirement is restated due to further deterioration in the condition of the kitchen, along with a requirement to ensure that staff achieve a relevant level 3 qualification within the appropriate timescales.

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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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 31/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 6 understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xii)(xiii)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e)) 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 30/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 7 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(d)(h)) The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iii)) 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, review the arrangement of locking the kitchen. 31/05/2019

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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— 10/08/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 8 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 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home;

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Requirement Due date

or in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)(3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to sanctions. 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which— 28/06/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 9 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, provide staff with private business email accounts to enable them to access online training and receive and send confidential information.

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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: SC417351 10

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olubunmi Fabusuyi

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Inspector

Cathy Russell, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC417351 11 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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