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

Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 1 SC374405 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children and young people with learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was on maternity leave at the time of this inspection. The organisation has appointed an acting manager. The acting manager is suitably qualified and has substantial experience.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/07/2021 Full Outstanding 17/12/2019 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Outstanding 06/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 3

p.2

outstanding

The home environment is very well maintained and in keeping with a family home. The staff are always visible and their interaction with children is very warm and nurturing. This helps the children to express their wishes and feelings in a safe, caring and nurturing environment. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their needs and interests. The recent addition of a sensory garden, including a sensory ‘barefoot path’, has been very beneficial for the children. Children also enjoy spending time in the sensory room in the home. As a result, children are helped to make progress in all aspects of their development.

p.3

outstanding

Managers and staff consider children’s views, wishes and feelings. Staff are very creative in their communication with children, who choose their weekly menus and any activities they want to do. The staff ensure that children’s meetings and key- work sessions with children take place regularly. This provides further opportunities for them to share their views, wishes and feelings. Additionally, this helps children to develop their relationships with staff.

p.3

outstanding

Children make exceptional progress from their respective starting points from when they came to live at the home. Children have achieved very positive outcomes in several areas. For example, two children who did not use verbal communication are now using words to express themselves. All children struggled with continence. They are all now able to use the bathroom to meet their personal care needs, at times with some support.

p.3

outstanding

All children are attending school full time and are maintaining excellent attendance. Staff have worked proactively to help one child to reduce their anxiety around travelling to and from school. A member of staff now travels with the child, which makes them feel safe. This represents an excellent outcome for this child. The child has also made progress in relation to their behaviour, with the occurrence of behaviours that challenge now reducing. This is excellent progress.

p.3

outstanding

The staff are motivated and morale is high. Staff work well together. They share the core values and the family ethos of the home. Care practice is always focused on the child. Staff have a wealth of experience in working with children with learning disabilities and non-verbal communication. Staff celebrate children’s achievements, whatever these may be. This supports children to grow in confidence and self-belief, knowing that staff will always be there to support them.

p.3

outstanding

The manager and staff are continually striving for improvement. They constantly try to find new ways to provide children with stimulating and enriching experiences. Staff take many photos of the children. They use these to create photo stories of children’s positive experiences. These memories will be with the children well into the future and epitomises the nurturing care and support given to the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 4

p.3

outstanding

Managers and staff work hard to ensure that children are safe. Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans are in depth. They reflect the risk and vulnerability of each child. Risk assessments and plans are reviewed using a whole- team approach. This means that all staff know each child’s risk and vulnerability and how they should act to ensure each child’s safety.

p.4

outstanding

Staff respond quickly to any potential risk to children or concerns with children’s behaviour. They pick up on very subtle cues from children in changes in behaviour or communication and use de-escalation techniques well. This has resulted in the reduction in the need for physical interventions.

p.4

outstanding

Staff have developed warm and nurturing relationships with children. This enables children to feel safe and secure. Staff provide good emotional support to children. This means that children feel safe enough to express themselves. For example, a child who was using no language at all is now using words to express themself.

p.4

outstanding

Managers and staff track children’s progress on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. The children’s social workers receive comprehensive reports that contain a clear focus on safeguarding. These reports are pictorial and evidence what children have engaged with and achieved and how the staff are helping children to remain safe.

p.4

outstanding

Communication with external professional agencies is exceptional. External professionals are very happy with the care provided. One social worker said, ‘They (staff) are proactive in keeping him (child) safe and dealing with incidents appropriately’. Staff understand the children very well, including their vulnerabilities. Staff are trained in how to keep children safe. The manager explores scenarios with staff during supervision sessions to ensure that staff are continuously developing their knowledge on safeguarding children. This has led to a culture and ethos which places the children’s safety, happiness and development at the heart of everything the staff and managers do.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

In the absence of the registered manager, the home is led by the acting manager, who is confident and experienced. She is passionate about her role. She is supported well by her own manager, her recently appointed deputy manager and the staff team. The manager has established a culture of high aspiration and expectation. She provides a supportive environment for children and staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Despite earlier difficulties with staff retention, this is now resolved. This means that children experience consistency of care and the opportunity to form positive, meaningful relationships with staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 5 Staff receive regular professional supervision that is supportive and child focused. In addition to supervision, staff also receive regular development supervision, which supports staff in their learning and development. This has led to the development of a reflective and thoughtful staff team. Staff remain highly motivated and understand the need for continuous professional development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight is meticulous. The manager monitors each child’s progress and the effectiveness of their care plans. She welcomes feedback from the home’s independent visitor and acts on any recommendations. She ensures that the culture of the home is open, reflective and constantly striving to improve the services it offers to children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are used well to share information about children’s needs and to develop strategies to support children. Team meetings also include the input of the company’s psychotherapist, who supports staff with their well-being so that they can better support children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training is of a high standard. Training is tailored to meet the specific individual needs of children. For example, staff attended training to understand epilepsy and Makaton, as well as a range of important training that helps staff to provide very good care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have strong working relationships with external partner agencies. External professionals are very positive about the care and support provided for children. One professional said, ‘The child’s transformation, since being there (the home), has been phenomenal.’ Professionals speak about the progress that children make and the collaborative work staff engage in. This ensures that staff provide a consistent and proactive response for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is reflective, thoughtful and seeks to improve her management practice. She has a willingness to accept that things may not work, but also a real desire to get it right for the children. As a result, children receive care that meets their current and emerging needs. Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 6

p.5

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 children’s home: SC374405 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Pradip Panchmatia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC374405 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8