Children's Home run by Pathways Care Group Limited in Walsall

Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 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

The home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and is registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 6 and 7 December 2021. As a result, a compliance notice was issued in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was conducted on 25 January 2022. The compliance notice was deemed to be met and a new inspection judgement of requires improvement to be good was made. Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2022 Monitoring visit Requires improvement to be good 06/12/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 3

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outstanding

One child lives in the home and has been living there for over a year. At the time of the inspection, they were enjoying a holiday in Scotland with staff. One other child lived in the home for a short time and left in line with their plans.

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outstanding

The home environment is homely and welcoming. Children’s photos are proudly displayed on the walls. They depict happy memories and experiences shared with staff. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and are redecorated between children moving out and new children moving in. This gives children the opportunity to make the space their own and take pride in their home.

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outstanding

Staff know children well and understand how their experiences impact on their behaviours. They care for children therapeutically. This is underpinned by the support of a clinical lead and training in therapeutic approaches and attachment, and specific training tailored to children’s needs, experiences and losses. As a result, children are well supported and have vastly improved their ability to understand and manage their emotions.

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outstanding

Staff talk about children with a sense of pride and are passionate about their futures. The child’s education attendance has dramatically improved. With the unwavering support of staff, they sat exams to enable them to secure an apprenticeship in a trade they are passionate about. The child told the inspector they had made a lot of progress with their education since living at the home. The registered manager has been diligent in challenging professionals when plans have not been correct and could have hindered the child’s progress.

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outstanding

Staff encourage children to explore the wider world. They take the child to a new city each month, including exploring the area and attractions and staying in a hotel. Staff have created picture books and memories of the child’s visits. These help the child to understand his journey and look back on his achievements and the memories he has made.

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outstanding

The overall progress children make is exceptional. One child moved into the home unable to swim and scared of water. Staff have taught them to swim and they now regularly enjoy water sports such as kayaking and coasteering. The life skill of learning to swim has opened up a wealth of new opportunities for the child, which they are enjoying.

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outstanding

With the support of staff, the child has significantly grown in confidence. As a result, they no longer seek to avoid crowded places. Testament to this is that they have taken part in the St Patrick’s Day parade in London with the support of staff. Staff have helped them to complete a CV as they hope to get a part-time job. The clinical Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 4 lead reported that staff have been ‘tenacious’ and that the progress the child has made has been a ‘success story’.

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outstanding

In the absence of professional plans, the manager has devised a thorough independence plan with the child. Staff are working with the child to educate them in independence skills. This has included building furniture, DIY skills, cooking and home maintenance. They have recently passed their compulsory basic training test to enable them to ride a motorcycle. Staff are supporting them to save for a motorcycle in the future. The child recognises this as a huge achievement.

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

Managers and staff understand the risks children face extremely well. They work with children to educate them on their personal risks and the risks they face in the community, including safe relationships and keeping themselves safe online. The work carried out with children is underpinned by the initial assessment by the lead clinician. There is a thorough plan of work aimed at educating, supporting and improving the experiences and lives of children.

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

When children go missing, staff act as a good parent would. They know where children spend their time and who they are with when they are out of the home. As a result, they are able to locate children. They share information with relevant professionals to ensure children are found quickly. Staff and the clinical lead talk with children sensitively on their return and educate them about the risks they face. This is in addition to children having the opportunity to talk with someone independent on their return. Consequently, the number of times the child has been missing from home has dramatically reduced.

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

The child told the inspector they feel safe living in the home. As a result of the nurturing relationships the child has with staff, they are able to share any worries and concerns. When the child has raised concerns, these are taken seriously. The manager makes swift contact with the appropriate professionals, and they work together with the child to help keep them safe.

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

Physical intervention is not used with children. All staff are trained to be able to use it should the need arise. However, because staff know children well and understand their needs and personalities, they are able to support children effectively to prevent their emotions becoming overwhelming. Staff focus on recognising achievements. Positive behaviour is reinforced by reward charts that are reviewed to keep them up to date with the child’s developing needs and interests.

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

Staff understand the importance of children spending time with their families. Family time is consistently supported, irrespective of the distance they have to travel. Staff ensure this time is fun and positive memories are made. Staff supervise family time at the request of parents, to ensure these relationships continue to flourish and all involved feel well supported. Consequently, children continue to have relationships with those people who are important to them. Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked exceptionally hard to improve the quality of care provided to children. She is knowledgeable, qualified and experienced. She leads the staff team with passion and a child-centred approach. This way of working is cascaded throughout the staff team, with them all working together cohesively. Due to this, the children receive consistent and stable care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff benefit from a manager who is inspirational and ensures they have the knowledge, skills and training to support the needs of children. Staff unanimously report they are proud to work in the home and are well supported through good inductions and intense training. One staff member said that, in her 10 years working in the sector, the manager is ‘hands down the best manager I have ever worked for’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures staff have regular practice-based supervision and appraisals of high quality. As a result, there is focus on continual staff development. In turn, this ensures children receive high-quality care from staff who are equipped to meet their needs holistically.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A clinical lead works closely with the manager and staff. The manager uses the clinical lead as a critical friend when considering the needs of potential children moving into the home. This dynamic approach considers all children’s needs collectively and the impact any child may have on others including the stability in the home and additional training staff may require. The clinical lead told the inspector that the registered manager ‘has her finger on the pulse, is well respected and is ferociously child-centred’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent relationships with external agencies. A specialist nurse reported communication to be excellent and said staff communicate with children ‘in a manner that is respectful and caring’. The manager uses the expertise of external agencies to improve the care children receive. Engaging outside agencies helps children to build positive relationships and understand where to seek independent support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff told the inspector that staff morale is good. They recognise the impact that staff morale can have on children. Staff reported that working at the home is ‘a pleasure’ and they feel like it is a ‘home from home’. The child told the inspector that living in the home is good, saying ‘The staff are nice, and I can talk to them.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 6

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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: 2622077 7

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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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Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2622077 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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