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

Assurance visit report: SC429369 1 SC429369

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. The home cares for up to four children aged between eight and 18 who have a range of additional needs and learning disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, social communication issues and associated behavioural and medical needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since May 2019 and has been registered with Ofsted since 23 October 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 29 August 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC429369 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

The manager and staff have responded well to the changing requirements related to COVID-19. Four children have remained living at the home throughout the initial national lockdown period. The manager and staff helped the children adjust to the changes to their routines. They did this by using the communication methods that they know work well for each child.

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The care of children

Staff help children improve their communication skills. One child, who previously struggled with communication, is now able to communicate some of his needs to the staff.

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The care of children

Children enjoy positive relationships with the staff, who provide consistent care and nurture. Professionals spoke positively about the staff’s approach to caring for children. One social worker said that the ‘emotional support is outstanding’.

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The care of children

Staff support the children with their education, including attending school with one child. This is to ensure that there are adults available to meet the child’s medical needs until the school staff are trained. One child is having some home tuition, which they are enjoying. The manager has been involved in regular meetings with education colleagues to implement the support needed to help this child return to school.

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The care of children

Children make progress with learning new skills that help them to be independent. This was the focus for children during the national lockdown, with children undertaking activities such as cooking and learning to tell the time.

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The care of children

Children are supported to maintain relationships. Staff helped children to use video calling when restrictions were in place and arranged socially distanced meetings for children and their families. For one child who has no family contact, the manager arranged for the child to have regular calls with his teacher, with whom the child has a good relationship. The manager has also arranged an advocate for this child to ensure that his voice is independently represented.

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The care of children

The home is clean. There are sensory items on the walls to guide children through the hallway. However, the flooring is worn in many areas. This was raised at the last inspection. The manager has kept Ofsted up to date with the reasons for the delay.

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The safety of children

Staff undertake training that improves their understanding of the children and helps keep them safe. This includes training on autism and diabetes. Assurance visit report: SC429369 3 Due to the restrictions around social distancing, new staff have not accessed physical intervention training and existing staff have not undertaken the refresher training. The manager is mitigating the risks through the deployment of experienced staff on each shift and by providing management instruction to staff, outlining the limited circumstances when restraint can be used. Staff are accessing the theory element of the training and will attend the practical course as soon as social distancing measures allow.

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The safety of children

Behaviour management plans contain clear guidance on de-escalation. The manager involves relevant professionals to explore changes in children’s behaviour. There are few incidents of restraint at the home. In these instances, staff have intervened to stop physical harm to other staff members. The manager maintains good oversight of all incident records. When the manager is involved in a restraint, a senior member of the organisation reviews the record to provide independent scrutiny.

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The safety of children

The fire door to the lounge does not fully close. The independent fire assessment identifies that adjustments are needed to other fire doors at the home to make them safe. The manager provided evidence during the assurance visit that this work was already planned and will be completed within one week of the visit.

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The safety of children

The manager has implemented safe recruitment practice. This includes ensuring that all checks are in place for agency workers prior to them working at the home. This provides the manager with the information that she needs to assess the suitability of staff.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has a good understanding of the children’s complex needs, which means that she can guide staff practice effectively. She takes quick action to address any shortfalls and to improve staff’s competence when issues arise.

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Leaders and managers

Staff feel positive about working at the home. They said that they feel supported by the manager.

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Leaders and managers

The manager responds to children’s views and their observed responses. Responses include purchasing new play equipment and redecorating the sensory room to provide a low stimulus area. The manager has arranged an independent advocate to visit the children at the home twice a month.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has dealt with external complaints effectively. She has shared concerns with relevant authorities when the language used about the children was discriminatory.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor now regularly seeks the views of parents, professionals and children. Unannounced visits to the home resumed after the lockdown period, meaning that the visitor can spend time with the children. This offers a greater level of independent oversight than was in place at the last inspection. Assurance visit report: SC429369 4

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire doors are in full working order. 10/11/2020

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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 replacing the flooring, where needed.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pathways Care Group, Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1EG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olubunmi Fabusuyi

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Inspector

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC429369 5 to 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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