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

Inspection report children’s home: SC008810 1 SC008810 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd 04004053

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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 is registered to care for four children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private organisation. The registered manager is currently undertaking the required qualification.

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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: 20 November 2018

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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: SC008810 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2018 Full Good 03/10/2017 Full Good 02/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC008810 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are very happy living at this home. They all gave it top marks and could not think of anything that would improve it. They like the staff, and the staff like the children. Positive and warm relationships are evident. This has been enhanced by the therapeutic model of care that the manager has implemented. One parent commented: ‘This is the happiest my child has been.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Comprehensive placement plans provide staff with clear written guidance to support consistent care practice. The progress that children are making is testament to the emphasis placed on understanding children’s behaviour and how this is affected by their past experiences. A parent said that her child had ‘come on brilliantly’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are now in full-time education. The child who has not been at the home for very long is about to start school and is extremely excited about it. One child who originally had a part-time education placement is now attending school full time and is enjoying it. Another child is doing exceptionally well at school, and her attendance is excellent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health, and any needs are responded to promptly. This includes their emotional well-being needs. Children are starting to build secure and stable attachments that will help them regulate their behaviour and move on with their lives in a more positive way. Staff support children to maintain relationships that are important to them, including contact with family members. This enables children to have a positive sense of their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to take part in regular activities to improve their self-esteem and help them socialise outside of the home. This includes regular swimming and kick- boxing, trips out to the cinema and bowling, and social events at other children’s homes. They are also encouraged to develop their independence skills by keeping their rooms tidy and becoming involved with meal preparation. One child has obtained a Saturday job, which promotes socialising and self-confidence and provides some extra pocket money.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel listened to. They all speak freely to the manager and staff about what they would like. There are regular residents’ meetings, and children also have access to an advocate. Children have chosen the decor in the home’s living areas and in their bedrooms, they choose activities and they influence the menu. They have also asked for a pet, and this is currently being considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Matching has improved considerably. The manager has learned some salutary lessons from a previous experience and has strengthened the home’s practice in considering children referred for a placement. The current three children are very good matches and they get on very well together. Inspection report children’s home: SC008810 4

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

Children feel safe and are safe in this home. Nobody is going missing from the home or engaging in risk-taking behaviour such as drug or alcohol misuse.

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

Managing children’s behaviour in a positive way is the focus in this home. Implementing the therapeutic model of care has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of incidents. Children who have had a history of aggressive and violent behaviour are much calmer. Physical intervention is used rarely, as are sanctions. All incidents are subject to stringent managerial oversight. The manager provides a high level of scrutiny and reflection that is used to inform and improve staff practice.

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

Risk is assessed well. The manager has written very detailed risk assessments that provide staff with strategies to prevent and minimise risk. These assessments are reviewed and updated regularly.

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. They understand whistle-blowing and are clear that children’s safety is paramount. The manager has responded to allegations well. They have been reported to the appropriate safeguarding agencies, the records are clear, and these provide a good chronology of the actions taken and the outcome. This supports accountability and helps children to receive the right support to keep them safe from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is relatively new and recently registered. However, he has made a significant impact in this home. He identified that a more therapeutic method to providing care was needed and he has ensured that all staff have received training in this approach. Although this is a relatively recent innovation, staff are highly engaged with this model of care, and this is reinforced by written information and reminders about the approach to take.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very child focused and is aspirational for all the children to have the best experiences and opportunities possible. He is a strong and effective leader. He is supportive of the staff, but he is also able to challenge them when they have not performed their duties to the standard expected of them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Half of the staff are relatively new to the home, and, therefore, only the other half who have been there longer hold the required qualification. However, as soon as the new staff pass their probationary period, they will be enrolled on the diploma. Staff are also supported by a good induction, regular supervision and relevant training. Team meetings are used effectively to discuss the children, highlight any practice issues and allow staff to share their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is good. Social workers said that there is good communication and information sharing that enable them to work together in a consistent way for the Inspection report children’s home: SC008810 5 benefit of children. However, this does not prevent the manager from giving appropriate challenge where this is needed. Parents are also very positive about the home and the communication. One parent said: ‘This is a really good place. Staff are brilliant and keep me up to date.’

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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: SC008810 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd 04004053

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merchant’s Place, River Road, Bolton, Lancashire BL2 1BX

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Inspector

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC008810 7 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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