Children's Home run by Pathways Care Group Limited in Southend on Sea

Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 1 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and support for up to five children who may have learning disabilities and emotional and behavioural needs. This is one of several children’s homes operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a full inspection on 21 April 2021, Ofsted served two compliance notices in respect of the help and protection of children and the leadership and management of the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2021 Full Inadequate 27/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/04/2019 Full Good 01/11/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 3

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improvement to be good

This inspection identified some shortfalls in help and protection and leadership and management. This means that, despite the positive support that the children receive from the staff, the home has been judged overall as requires improvement to be good.

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improvement to be good

The staff deliver individualised care that meets the children’s particular and complex needs. As a result, the children have made significant progress from their starting points. The children are positive about their experiences of life at this home and the things that they enjoy, such as going to the cinema, bouncing on the trampoline and learning to play the guitar.

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improvement to be good

The staff are committed to the children and want them to do well. The children enjoy a stable, settled home where they feel nurtured and well cared for by the staff. The children have developed strong relationships with the staff, who know them very well.

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improvement to be good

One young person has been supported to move on in a planned way to a local adult home where they will be able to complete their education. Most of the children have suitable education arrangements and the staff support the children to make the most of these. The staff have liaised with the local authority to try to secure suitable education arrangements for a child who more recently moved in. The staff help the children with their learning and development outside of the school day through sensory activities, encouragement to increase their life skills, and support with any work set by school. One child continues to enjoy their home recycling monitor responsibilities and their guitar lessons.

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improvement to be good

When children move in to the home, the staff ensure that they are quickly registered with local primary healthcare services. The staff promote healthy lifestyles through encouraging the children to make healthier food choices and enjoy exercise.

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improvement to be good

The provider has made some changes to the accommodation arrangements at the home. One of the previous communal lounges has been changed to a child’s bedroom. This better meets the needs of this child. However, this reduces the communal space available for other children. The provider is in the process of reorganising the use of some first-floor rooms to provide a smaller second ‘chill-out’ area. This is not currently a matter of concern as the home is providing accommodation to three children. The provider has advised that they wish to apply for a reduction in the number of children they accommodate. The provider has undertaken some redecoration works to improve the building. The children’s books, toys and games are accessible in the lounge and the paddling pool and trampoline in the garden make the home feel welcoming and child friendly. Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 4

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improvement to be good

Ofsted served a compliance notice in respect of the help and protection of children following the last inspection. The provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notice.

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improvement to be good

Risk is now appropriately managed and the children feel safer and happier in their home. However, on occasion, risk assessments do not detail the protective actions that staff take to reduce risk. Furthermore, there are no individualised written protocols for staff to follow should a child go missing from the home. These shortfalls mean that there is a lack of consistent and clear guidance for staff.

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improvement to be good

The children have complex behavioural and communication needs. There are no concerns in respect of how staff attempt to understand the communication expressed by behaviour, or how they respond to behaviour. However, one child’s individual behaviour support plan is not up to date and does not guide staff effectively in the actions that they should take to support the child.

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improvement to be good

Sleep-in staff are the only staff on site at night. However, many of these staff have not had the opportunity to practise, or received suitable guidance in, how they would safely evacuate the home at night in the event of a fire.

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improvement to be good

Senior managers in the organisation have overseen an effective drive to address concerns about a previously developing closed culture. The staff describe receiving improved training, supervision and team meetings, all of which have encouraged regular reflection on whistle-blowing and safeguarding. As a result, the staff are now more confident and clear about the procedures for reporting concerns to senior managers in the organisation or external professionals.

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improvement to be good

The deputy manager has reviewed medication arrangements and improved the safety of these. All staff who administer medication have written competency assessments. Medication audits are carried out regularly and clear written protocols are now in place for giving (PRN) medication as and when required.

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good

Ofsted served a compliance notice in respect of the leadership and management of the home following the last inspection. The provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notice.

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good

The registered manager has been absent from the home since 28 April 2021. In her absence, the day-to-day management of the home has been undertaken by the deputy manager with support from other senior managers in the organisation. Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 5 The partnership working between the managers and staff has helped the provider to begin to address the many shortfalls identified at the last inspection. However, some requirements and recommendations have been restated.

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good

Managers have reviewed the induction and initial training process for new staff to ensure that these suitably equip new staff for their roles. The staff receive a range of suitable training. Updates in areas such as behaviour management, autism awareness and alternative communication are scheduled.

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good

Staffing arrangements have significantly improved and there are sufficient staff on duty. However, at night, there continue to be some occasions when inexperienced staff who have not completed their probationary period are rostered to work together or with an agency member of staff without a substantive or senior staff member on duty. This means that staff may potentially be less able to deal with any complex situations that may occur.

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good

The management of records at the home has improved. Staff are now much more involved in record-keeping and are now familiar with important records. The records held are now clearer and they better evidence the day-to-day care provided. However, there continue to be some records that are undated and unsigned or require updating.

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good

Internal and external monitoring arrangements have improved. The provider has arranged for other managers to support the deputy and staff at the home. This has helped the provider to understand the areas for development as well as the strengths. The staff have welcomed this additional support and drive for improvement. The staff feel better supported and motivated and are more confident in their roles. Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 6

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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

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the children’s individual behaviour support plans are accurate and provide suitable guidance to staff. 19 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff practise night emergency evacuations.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 21 June 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them and ensure that these are clearly documented in the child’s risk management plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that there are clear individualised protocols for staff to follow should a child be missing from care or away from the home without permission. The protocols should guide staff on how to support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. In particular, ensure that a member of staff who has at least six months’

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Recommendations

experience and/or has successfully completed their probation is always on duty. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording and that records management systems are effective. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1256660 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olubunmi Fabusuyi

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Sally-Anne Slade-Watts

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Inspector

Joanna Heller, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256660 9 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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