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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 1 SC008810 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for three children who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private organisation.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/05/2021 Full Good 10/06/2019 Full Good 20/11/2018 Full Good 03/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy, settled and content. Children benefit from staff showing them emotional warmth and genuine affection. The children develop a sense of belonging and have a range of positive experiences. As a result, children are nurtured and feel secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to explore their interests and talents. The Children express their individuality, and they take pride in their successes. Staff are confident in meeting the children’s complex needs while helping children to develop their individual identities. This contributes to the stability of the children’s placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. Staff understand children’s individual healthcare needs. They support children to attend the required appointments. This helps to maintain children’s health and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff motivate children to learn and encourage them to attend education. When the children need to be educated at home, staff support and motivate them to learn and work with identified tutors. This helps children to engage with learning and enhances their overall development and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from external professional agencies is positive. Agencies say that the individualised care and support to children is very good. The manager and staff place a strong focus on bespoke care. Because of this, children’s confidence and self-esteem improve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to express their wishes and feeling. This takes place through regular meetings and weekly activity planners. Children feel listened to and valued. However, feedback from children is not always recorded and they are not regularly offered the opportunity to read their records or plans.

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

Children have trusting relationships with the manager and team. Children know they will be listened to and taken seriously. This reflects the staff’s ability to manage and support children through their anxieties or worries. Consequently, children have the stability they need and this keeps them safe.

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

Children are safe and say that they feel safe. Safeguarding practice continues to be steadfast. Safeguarding training is appropriate for the current needs of the children. However, staff do not have discussions in team meetings about safeguarding issues. Introducing this as a standard agenda item would provide opportunities for staff to discuss and learn about specific and more wider safeguarding issues. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 4 Staff complete the mandatory training required. They also receive bespoke training which is tailored to the needs of the children. This supports the individualised care provided to children. As a result, training is focused on the care, support and the safeguarding needs of children.

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

The recruitment of new staff is managed well and designed to safeguard children. Safer recruitment practices and protocols are followed. This means that prospective new staff are subject to clear vetting processes. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working in the home.

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

Children are safer because their safety plans provide clarity and direction to staff. When there is an incident of concern, the staff and managers reflect on the plans and risks and adjust plans if required. Plans are also subject to regular updating so they accurately reflect children’s risks and vulnerabilities. These plans provide staff with the direction they require to support and protect children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A dedicated manager leads the home. She speaks with passion and is a positive role model for children and staff. This is instrumental in the good standard of care provided in this home. Staff speak passionately about the children and their progress. As a result, staff feel well supported and have a shared sense of togetherness in promoting the progress of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records for children include clear up-to-date information. They show the development of each child and the progress they have made. However, staff do not offer children the chance to review or read their records or plans. The opportunity to do this may help children understand their care experiences better.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are visible and approachable. This helps to create a stable team. Staff receive regular formal supervision and yearly appraisals. However, safeguarding is not routinely discussed in one-to-one supervision meetings. Staff would benefit from opportunities to share concerns and develop their practice in supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some effective management systems are in place. However, internal assurance practice does not always have management oversight. This includes oversight of records and the views of children on the care they receive. This area requires further strengthening.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a diverse and committed staff team. Staff have a genuine sense of commitment and loyalty. They feel valued and share the manager’s passion to improve children’s experiences and outcomes. As a result, staff turnover is very low. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)  As set out in regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC008810 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd 04004053

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008810 7 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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