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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 1 SC429369 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

p.1

Inspection date: 11 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was judged good at the last full inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This interim inspection took place due to concerns raised to Ofsted through a safeguarding notification.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation raised at the last inspection has not been reviewed as part of this inspection and is therefore restated. It will be reviewed at the next inspection. Due to the shortfalls identified at this inspection, Ofsted will consider whether to take any action in addition to statutory requirements.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are two children currently living at the home. One child attends school full time and the other child has home tutoring for a short period each day. Although both of the children are relatively settled, one child rarely leaves the home. Activities are limited due to staff shortages and this has been compounded by factors relating to COVID-19. These combined factors have reduced the quality of the children’s daily experiences.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of the environment is poor. The house requires painting and new flooring. There are plans to carry out these works as soon as this is practical. Home improvements have been delayed because they can disrupt children who struggle with changes in their daily routine. The garden is unkempt and untidy and has a number of broken resources. These include a broken garden hammock and a fence panel that has come away from the fence posts and is on the ground. There are a number of hazards in the garden that have not been removed and could be a risk to children’s safety.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff morale is low. The registered manager has given their notice to resign. A high number of staff have left and others are unhappy. The staff feel unsupported and unsafe at a time when there are a lot of staff vacancies. There are staff who have not had regular supervision. Team meetings have not taken place recently. Staff do not receive effective support.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a significant reliance on agency and bank staff. The children require high levels of supervision due to their learning disabilities and health needs. The agreed levels of staffing have not been consistently met. The children need routine-based care from staff whom they know. The changes in staffing and the regular use of agency staff have increased children’s anxieties.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two serious incidents at the home have been compounded by using agency staff who are not trained in physical interventions. On one occasion, a member of staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 3 restricted a child’s freedom of movement for over an hour. The member of staff was unable to contact the on-call manager. During another incident, out of the three staff working at the home, only one was trained in physical intervention. This contributed to a member of staff having to manage a serious incident without being able to call on a trained colleague to assist. There are also staff who lack the confidence and skills to manage incidents safely.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have a range of complex communication needs. However, several of the staff are not trained to use any method of alternative communication. Combined with the high use of agency staff, this increases the likelihood that staff will be unable to understand and meet the children’s needs.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring has failed to identify some of these issues. Independent visits have identified the staff shortages and the depleted staff team. However, the visits have not included consultation with anyone external to the home, such as children’s families or associated professionals, in five of the last six visits. The managerial review also failed to include any consultation with children or professionals. Therefore, monitoring fails to ensure that children’s and professionals’ views are sought and acted on to make improvements.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A newly appointed deputy manager is in charge of the home. The absence of an established manager and the staff’s lack of confidence in using the electronic recording system meant that staff found it difficult to provide the records during the inspection.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual is supporting the deputy manager. There has been a decision not to take any new children. Two children have lived at the home for some time, despite it being registered for four. This demonstrates a sensible approach to the difficulties in recruiting staff. An active recruitment campaign is under way, although the checks for employing new staff are slow. These delays have resulted in one member of new staff leaving before they started in their role.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have good relationships with the remaining permanent staff. Children have formed a strong attachment to these staff and feel confident that they can rely on them. The staff show resilience despite the number of staff vacancies and the competing demands of their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/07/2021 Full Good 29/08/2019 Full Good 10/10/2018 Full Good 09/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all areas of the house and garden are maintained and decorated to a good standard. 29 April 2022

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the hazards in the garden are removed. 8 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 6 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that there are sufficient staff on every shift to meet children’s needs and meet the identified staffing ratios for each child. This should include sufficient staffing to cover when other staff take a break and are required to complete other tasks that take them away from supervision of children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the staff deployed on each shift have appropriate training to meet children’s needs and to manage children’s behaviour safely;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that on-call management arrangements are effective, that all on-call staff are accessible and answer calls from the 8 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 7 home, and that on-call support is provided promptly when needed;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that internal and external monitoring is robust and scrutinises practice, children’s experiences and outcomes and the support that staff receive. Ensure that shortfalls identified in the monitoring are acted on to drive improvements.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation (45) (2)(b)) 27 May 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff debriefs are dated and that it is clear who has completed the debrief with staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 8

p.7

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.8

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: SC429369 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group

p.9

Children’s home details

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

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Olubunmi Fabusuyi

p.9

Inspector

Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC429369 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10