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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC428700 1 SC428700

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Pathway Care Solutions Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to four children on a short-, medium- or long-term basis, depending on the needs of the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected in July 2019, when a full inspection was carried out. Due to the restrictions in place relating to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this visit was carried out off site. The visit was to investigate potential breaches of regulations in relation to the management of episodes of children going missing from the home, allegations against staff and incidents of self-harm. The visit included a review of documents, and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, staff follow plans that are personal to the child to achieve their safe return. Staff work closely with the police to minimise the length of time that children are away, and to return them. A strength of the home is that, when children return, there is an evaluation of the reasons for the missing episode and appropriate action is taken, which considers the wishes and feelings of the child. This reduces the risk of repetition.

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This monitoring visit

On two occasions, staff have raised concerns about the conduct of colleagues, and internal investigations have taken place as a result. The findings were that there was no risk of or actual harm to children, related to these allegations. Managers are trained to respond to such allegations. They address matters quickly and liaise appropriately with relevant professionals, including the designated officer. The safety and well-being of both staff and children are central to the management response. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC428700 2 Children in the home experience emotional distress, and they sometimes use self- harm as a way of coping with this. Because they have close and trusted relationships with staff, children feel comfortable to seek help from them, either before or immediately after harming themselves. Staff respond by providing emotional and practical help to reassure the children and promote their well-being. Staff do this in a

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This monitoring visit

Specialist mental health workers provide therapy to some children, who are supported by staff to attend sessions. If specialist help is not available, staff find alternatives and work to motivate children to engage with these. Staff have introduced an ‘ask-it basket’, where children post written questions. This means that children can start sensitive discussions without the anxiety of doing this face to face.

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This monitoring visit

The crisis plans and risk assessments are thorough and clearly tell staff how to respond to incidents. Children directly contribute to these plans, which increases the likelihood of them being effective. Staff are confident in describing the content of these plans and ways they can manage behaviours. However, not all staff have completed training around self-harm or ligature risk. This is a shortfall, as a lack of knowledge could limit their ability to identify risk or respond at a time of crisis.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s case records are suitably detailed and evaluative. Management comments are added, which shows that leaders have oversight of what is being written and recorded. However, some documents do not include review dates and are unsigned. This results in a lack of clarity over when and by whom the record was updated.

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This monitoring visit

There was insufficient opportunity to consider all requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. Therefore, one requirement and two recommendations are carried forward.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/07/2019 Full Good 10/07/2018 Full Good 27/06/2017 Full Good 31/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC428700 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected. (Regulation 21 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, when room searches take place, ensure that children are made aware and that, whenever possible, they have given permission for the search. Ensure that children are consulted so that they understand the reason for the room search and why any items are removed. 25 August 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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff receiving training around self-harm and ligature risk. 31 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is suitably located so that children are effectively safeguarded and can access services to meet needs identified in their relevant plans (see regulations 12(2)(c)). Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC428700 4 location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non- statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that the home meets children’s basic day- day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic

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Recommendations

needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records (regulation 36) are 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)

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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: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC428700 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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