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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC417031 1 SC417031

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Pathways Care Group

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It is registered to care for four children or young people who may have social and emotional difficulties. The manager is suitably qualified and has been registered with Ofsted since 2012.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in response to Ofsted becoming aware of two serious incidents which had occurred in the home. The visit took place both on and off site.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a rise in the number of incidents of children going missing from the home. Sometimes, they go missing overnight. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities, which include looking for children and contacting people who the children know. The manager ensures that other agencies are informed. However, the information-sharing process needs to improve, so that agencies have all of the necessary information to locate the children. This could help find children sooner.

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This monitoring visit

When serious incidents occur which involve children, the manager does not consistently inform Ofsted. This prevents independent scrutiny of the actions taken by staff in the home to ensure children are increasingly safe.

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This monitoring visit

Staff treat children as individuals. They celebrate birthdays with decorations and presents so that children have fun. One child was happy to receive a pet and the responsibility to care for it. This helps children to feel important and increases their sense of self-worth.

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This monitoring visit

When children do not want to attend school, staff give them encouragement and support. Alternative education is available in the home, but this is not effective. Staff liaise with teachers and other professionals, including the educational psychologist, Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC417031 2 to help improve children’s educational outcomes. This helps children to start accessing education and learning again.

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This monitoring visit

Children have individual risk assessments. Staff follow guidance and they understand the risks posed to children. However, some risk assessments are not thorough. They do not include all the signs which staff should look for and the action they should take to help the child.

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This monitoring visit

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has impacted on the frequency of supervision and staff being able to access face-to-face training. The manager has facilitated group meetings to enable staff to learn together and discuss issues. This means that staff can develop their knowledge and the skills they need to care for the children.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are committed to care for the children and develop positive relationships with them. Children can name a staff member who they can talk to when they have worries or need help. This helps children to develop trusting relationships and feel confident that staff will help them.

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This monitoring visit

When children need extra support, the manager and staff will make referrals and advocate for children. The staff follow care plans and the advice from other expert professionals. If issues arise with other services, the manager will challenge other professionals and escalate concerns. This means that staff support children to access services to meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff do not sign and date records consistently. When this information is missing, the manager is unable to check events effectively or track progress accurately. This impacts on the quality of children’s records.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/01/2020 Full Good 26/06/2018 Full Good 14/06/2017 Full Good 24/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC417031 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, the 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 27 December 2020

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Recommendations

 The home’s procedures must take into account the views of appropriate local services and have regard to police and local authority protocols for responding to missing-from-care incidents in the area where the home is located. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 45, paragraph 9.29)  Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 62, paragraph 14.3)  staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing

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Recommendations

authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC417031 4 assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC417031 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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