Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC051739 1 SC051739 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 children’s home is owned by a large private provider. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is well established, and she has an appropriate management 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: 16 October 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: SC051739 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 29/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC051739 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a very caring and nurturing home where children make good progress and have positive experiences that enhance their lives. Children are happy and settled here. They get on well with each other and with the staff who care for them. One child said: ‘It’s really good here, really chill.’ Children can be themselves. They can have a pet, and they make their bedrooms their own by choosing their decor, including doing their own artwork directly onto the walls. Children feel listened to and valued. Regular, focused key-working sessions as well as informal chats ensure that their voices are heard and their views are acted upon.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children attend school and are making good progress. When there are issues, the manager involves other professionals so that they can work together to reach a positive solution. A teacher commented: ‘We have worked really well together, and the staff have been fully engaged to resolve the situation.’ Staff make every effort to encourage children to engage with their education, and they provide practical and emotional support to enable them to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build positive relationships with the staff and learn to trust them. This has had a very positive impact on their behaviour and their self-worth. Children’s social workers have commented very positively about the changes that they have seen in the children for whom they are responsible. Children start to build emotional resilience, as well as learning practical skills to cope in the outside world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The matching of children has not always been as good as it should be, and this had a negative impact on the existing children in the home. However, the manager took prompt and decisive action and has learnt a lot from that situation, particularly in relation to obtaining information from all professionals prior to agreeing to accept a child. The most recent admission to the home was very well planned and included introductory visits and full information sharing. This child is a good match. When children leave the home, the manager ensures that the new provider has all the relevant information, and she cooperates fully to make it a positive move.

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

Children are not engaging in risk-taking behaviour. However, the manager and staff are well versed in how to manage behaviour such as going missing, self-harm and sexual exploitation, as they have had to do so in the recent past. A representative from the police said: ‘I have had a lot of contact with the home. They go above and beyond to keep children safe. They share information and they ask for advice.’

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

Staff are well trained in all aspects of safeguarding, and they understand their responsibilities to protect children from harm. The manager has good links with local resources and accesses training regularly, with the added benefit of improving networking. Inspection report children’s home: SC051739 4 Behaviour is well managed. No physical intervention has been used for over a year, and consequences for negative behaviour are rarely imposed. The manager is in the process of implementing a ‘praise book’ and a ‘repair together’ approach, which accord with the reflective, restorative and therapeutic ethos of the home.

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

Risk is comprehensively assessed and documented. The manager has recognised that there is too much historical detail in risk assessments, and this is being addressed throughout the company to make the current and relevant information more accessible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong and effective leader. She is child-focused, knowledgeable and passionate about providing the best possible care and support. As part of her ongoing professional development, she is undertaking additional therapeutic training in order to enhance the care practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the requirement and three recommendations made at the last inspection, and is continuing to work on improving the home environment and garden. The manager uses a variety of monitoring systems, including feedback from stakeholders and children, to help her to develop the service. A more visual representation of the progress that children are making is being implemented across the company, and this is a positive development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Over half of the staff members have worked at the home for over five years, and this workforce stability provides good continuity for the children. Staff are well trained and well supported. New staff receive a good induction when they start work at the home. All staff have regular supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice. The manager is keen for staff to expand their knowledge and understanding, and she is always looking for different training opportunities. This enables the staff to improve and develop their skills. The manager is also keen to empower the staff and use their individual skills to benefit their colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a strength. The manager has very good and effective relationships with all the professionals involved with the children, including education providers, social workers, health professionals and the police. One social worker said, ‘I have a very good relationship with the care team’, and another stakeholder commented, ‘Communication is brilliant’. This ensures that the team around the child operates consistently to provide the best support. However, the manager is not afraid to challenge partners when necessary to ensure that children receive their entitlements. Inspection report children’s home: SC051739 5

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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: SC051739 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd

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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:

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC051739 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 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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