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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 1 SC391594 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns and manages this children’s home. It provides care for up to three children who have a learning disability. Placements for children can be short, medium or long term.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She has managed the home since June 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2019 Full Outstanding 02/05/2018 Full Good 04/07/2017 Full Outstanding 13/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in all areas of their development. Staff take time to build nurturing relationships with all the children. Staff care for children with dignity and respect. As a result, the atmosphere in the home is relaxed and comfortable. This means that children feel valued and appreciated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use creative ways to consult with the children, taking account of their cognitive understanding and their preferred communication methods. A new feedback form with words and pictures has been introduced to help children to express their views, opinions and wishes with regard to their care and the development of the home. As a result, children make choices and decisions on how they want to be supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the educational needs of the children and celebrate the progress they make. This approach promotes children’s success and broadens opportunities later in life. One child has successfully completed GCSEs and is now attending college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from nutritious and healthy meals. Staff work with other health professionals to ensure that children can access the physical and emotional health services that they need and that their health needs are met. Staff support the children to attend medical appointments. This means that children’s health is reviewed promptly in line with their medical needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a broad range of activities and hobbies, including day trips, dancing activities, arts and crafts and attending community groups. This helps children to make new friendships and improve their social interaction skills. They also benefit from time spent in the well-equipped sensory room. Children remain active and stimulated and this helps to support their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children maintain relationships with their families and friends. These arrangements are child-focused and staff ensure that the visits are safe. This means that children are supported to build close bonds with people that matter to them. As a result, this helps children to develop their identity and positive self- image.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support transitions well. Plans are made for children to visit the home before they move in, and to visit their new placements before they leave. This process is done in a sensitive way and at the child’s pace. Consequently, any anxiety the children may feel is reduced.

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

Staff understand the risks to children’s safety and recognise that these are often linked to children’s vulnerabilities, and their cognitive understanding of their environment and surroundings. Strategies in place to reduce and manage these risks Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 4 often include high levels of supervision for children. However, on a small number of occasions, supervision levels have not provided children with sufficient protection. For example, a child recently suffered a minor injury while in the kitchen due to a lack of staff supervision.

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

Children’s online safety is partly promoted through the use of internet parental controls. However, staff do not have appropriate systems in place to monitor the individual use by each child, and do not identify which sites and images have been viewed on the home’s computers. This leads to children potentially being exposed to inappropriate or emotionally harmful material when accessing the internet.

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

Staff use electronic monitoring equipment to help to keep children safe in line with their individual care plans, and with the consent of their families and social workers. However, there is no written policy to support this. This does not provide reassurance that the equipment is being used purposefully and that it is necessary to safeguard children.

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

Staff know the children well and support them to learn appropriate ways to manage their own emotions. There are occasions when children have been physically restrained to stop them hurting themselves or others. The use of this measure of control is appropriate and always reviewed by the manager to make sure this is necessary and proportionate. Staff also reflect on alternative ways to help children manage their emotions. This has contributed to the continued reduction in the use of restraint.

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

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment procedures. They ensure that all staff are appropriately checked and vetted before they work with the children. This means that children only work with staff who are deemed suitable and safe to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced in child social care and is supported in her role by a team of both experienced and new staff who are child-focused. The registered manager has a vision for the home and is committed to continually improving outcomes for children. The one recommendation made at the previous inspection in respect of the location risk assessment has been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported in their role and receive regular supervision. These sessions are reflective and encourage staff to explore relevant child social care research to inform their practice. This is then discussed in team meetings and means that staff are provided with opportunities to share learning. This approach supports children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good monitoring systems in place. Senior managers support the registered manager in reviewing tasks and identify areas for improvement. This means that senior managers are fully aware of the children’s progress and can provide additional support if needed. The registered manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 5 ensures that key documents and children’s case files are up to date. Furthermore, some forms and documents have been improved to ensure that they are child- friendly. This now helps the children to recognise and celebrate their own progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relationships between the home and other agencies are positive and there is effective partnership with social workers, education and health providers. This is a strength of the home. Communication is effective and feedback from professionals and other stakeholders is used to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that the home’s presentation is welcoming. A new kitchen and some home improvements have been made. However, some areas in one of the bathrooms need attention. Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that effective measures are in place to review and manage children’s internet use. 10 January 2022

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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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 10 January 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home meets children’s basic day-to- day needs and physical necessities. This refers to ensuring that maintenance of the bathroom is undertaken. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that when using CCTV or other monitoring equipment, a written policy is available describing how this measure will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 7 including the quality standards,’ page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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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 for children’s home: SC391594 8

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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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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector (lead) Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC391594 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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