Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 1 SC382994 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

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered, but is in the process of applying for registration.

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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: SC382994 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2021 Full Outstanding 04/06/2019 Full Outstanding 11/06/2018 Full Outstanding 31/05/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff have a great deal of fun. Children discuss the things that interest them, such as the latest football results. Children take part in regular activities and play computer games. They enjoy spending time with staff and talking about the things that are important to them. For example, one child has recently joined a football team and is very proud of this. The manager has supported the children to have a prom night and they have celebrated important events. For example, the boys requested a murder mystery theme night, and this is being arranged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are managing education well. Although most children attend school, two children undertake home learning. Transition plans are in place for one child so that they can attend college. The manager has been creative and welcomed exam invigilators into the home. This has helped children who are anxious, so they can sit their exams in surroundings that feel more comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children need the supervision of staff for their own safety. However, all children are being supported to become more independent. Some children have started to use public transport and to make food for the household. Where one child is planning to leave the home in line with their age, staff are supporting them with any anxieties that they may have in relation to this move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children could be given more opportunity to learn to be safe online and supported with their online activities. For example, one child has not been allowed internet use for four months. This is because their online activity was not deemed appropriate. However, there is no assessment in place to justify why this ban is still necessary. The child does not know what he needs to do to get this privilege back, or what timescales he is working toward.

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

There has been an increase in children making allegations against staff. The manager has increased staffing ratios to protect children and staff from the risk of allegations. Where staff practice has fallen short, the manager has taken effective action to safeguard children. Where children have made false allegations, staff have discussed this with children and why this behaviour is not appropriate.

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

One child has been involved in three separate incidents which relate to staff practice not being as good as it could have been. These incidents were reported in line with the organisation’s policy and procedure and were well managed. However, the incidents have had a negative impact on the child. The child was supported to make a complaint on one of these occasions. The manager took this seriously and this helped the child feel listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 4 There have been times when a child has shown inappropriate behaviour towards other children. The staff have completed incident reports and children’s views have been obtained. However, the children have not received any follow-up support from staff. Where children are struggling, staff could do more to support children to reflect on their feelings and to talk through any problem-solving ideas they may have.

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

Children have completed relevant fire safety training. This equips children to take the right action in the event of an emergency. Additionally, children have participated in a workshop to discuss the risks surrounding child exploitation. This empowers children and helps them become safer.

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

Involved professionals and the children’s families are positive about the manager and staff team. They report that communication with staff is good. Families have at times needed to call staff for support when caring for their children away from the home. Help has always been provided and families have appreciated this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads this home well. Children are well cared for, and the staff say they are valued and well supported by the manager. Children have a good relationship with the manager. They will seek her out for reassurance and ask questions. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in some challenges for staff. However, the team has worked hard to ensure consistency of care for children throughout this difficult time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and are positive about the support provided by the manager. However, actions set for staff during supervision tend to be vague, so it is unclear what staff are being asked to do. Although staff receive regular developmental appraisals, discussions are not reflective of the appraisal period and no actions are set for staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although processes for safer recruitment are in place for staff, there were some gaps. These areas were addressed during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are not yet effective protocols in place to ensure that children’s monies are being spent wisely and in line with children’s best interests. For example, one child’s money was used to pay for staff to attend two concerts with the child. Although this was at the child’s request, agreements need to be clear with those with parental responsibility for the child and the placing local authority how monies are saved and spent to avoid confusion. Additionally, when children receive weekly savings from the manager, the amounts should be kept up to date. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 5

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 1 July 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should consider, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 6 performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person must ensure that children feel safe and are safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be

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Recommendations

protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)  The registered person must have a key role in seeking to develop the home’s effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant persons which may include services, individuals (including parents), agencies, organisations and establishments that work with children in the local community, e.g., police, schools, health and youth offending teams (regulation 5 – engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). These working relationships will also be key to success in delivering the care planning standard (regulation 14). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)

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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: SC382994 7

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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

Andi Lilley-Tams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 8 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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