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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 1 SC406063 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

This home is owned by a large private provider and is registered to care for up to five children aged between five and 19 years. The home provides care for children with physical and/or learning disabilities, such as global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder and Asperger syndrome. It also specialises in care for children with complex healthcare needs.

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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 outstanding

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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: 11 October 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2021 Full Outstanding 02/12/2019 Full Good 23/08/2018 Full Good 05/09/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 3

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outstanding

Managers and staff provide children with an extremely warm and nurturing home environment. Staff speak about children with enthusiasm, warmth and compassion. They demonstrate unwavering commitment to children. A therapist said, ‘All the team are amazing advocates for the children. They really push for the best for each child.’

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outstanding

Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to have fun, try new things and have positive experiences. Children excel, regardless of their disabilities and health conditions. Staff go to great lengths to create social stories, pictures, positive booklets and photograph albums for the children. These albums and booklets contain collections of photos for children and their families to reflect on and enjoy when they move on. Staff support children to grow in self-esteem and become more confident in their own abilities.

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outstanding

The experiences and progress of children living in this home are exceptional. Most of the children have lived at the home for many years. This level of stability creates a real sense of belonging. This has been significant in enabling children to build secure and meaningful relationships with staff. Children are cared for by staff who understand their needs and who the children have been able to build trusting relationships with.

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outstanding

When children move in to the home, the manager and staff ensure that they are well prepared and have effective plans ready. This enables the staff team to be clear about how to meet each child’s individual needs. Prior to moving in, staff visit the child and begin to build relationships with them and their family. This is because staff understand the significance of such life-changing moves and want the move to be as positive as possible.

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outstanding

The manager and staff prioritise children’s healthcare needs. Staff work proactively with external healthcare professionals. Health plans are detailed and effective. Staff make sure that children experience the highest standards of personalised care possible. This high level of care ensures that children’s health outcomes are maximised.

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outstanding

Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding training is thorough and is planned to meet the children’s complex needs. Keeping children safe is also discussed in one-to-one meetings and team meetings. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of the children’s risks and Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 4 vulnerabilities. When there has been a safeguarding incident, the registered manager has been quick to respond. Following any incidents, managers enable staff to reflect on their practice. Consequently, safeguarding practice is adapted in-line with the changing needs of each child.

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outstanding

Staff are extremely diligent. This ensures that the potential risks to children are understood and reduced. Risk assessments and care plans are extremely thorough. They provide clear and concise information about how children need to be supported. Staff know and understand the underlying causes to more-difficult behaviours that children may exhibit. As a result, staff employ well-considered strategies to manage behaviour. Staff confidently keep children safe, and this confident practice helps to reassure children.

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outstanding

Staff empower children to make choices and decisions about their day-to-day care and future plans. They support children to use a wide range of non-verbal communication methods. This means that children’s wishes and feelings are listened to and considered. Because of this, children are able to have their say and be involved in their plans.

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outstanding

Staff support children to develop their independence. This includes taking age- appropriate and well-managed risks. Staff are confident in helping children to access community facilities and have new experiences, which are unique to the child. For example, one child visited the ‘Land of Lights’ festival in Milton Keynes, another visited Paris for five days. This supports children to explore their interests and take part in fun, stimulating and new activities.

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outstanding

Children’s contact with their families is encouraged, where this is in their best interests. Staff understand the importance of these relationships and go above and beyond to ensure that children see their families. There is excellent communication between the managers, staff, family members and other external professionals. One family member said, [My child] has a better quality of life there than at home but they also have family time at the weekends. I feel that [child’s name] gets the best of both worlds – I don’t worry about anything.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management are highly effective. The manager is inspirational in her leadership of the team. In turn, this style of leadership, and expectations about providing good-quality care, leads to improved outcomes. She leads by example and has created a positive culture in the home. The staff team shares the manager’s vision for this home. This is to ensure that all children have the best possible experiences and to provide excellent child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with good-quality care and support. Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. The team celebrates all successes with children. Staff are committed to ensuring that each child has the best chances and outcomes possible. They advocate for children’s rights and needs. The manager and staff see themselves as a cohesive team around the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 5 Staff receive regular, formal one-to-one meetings of a very high quality. These meetings include self-reflection sessions and individual debrief meetings, following difficult incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Good-quality management oversight ensures that staff are supported to develop and adapt their own practice. Staff also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other. As a result, staff are highly motivated and feel that they have a voice in influencing the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The committed manager strives to promote the development of the staff team. Staff access a range of bespoke training, essential to meeting the individual needs of the children. Research-informed practice underpins the work with children in this home. Consequently, children receive care from a highly skilled, reflective and knowledgeable team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership work with external agencies is extensive. Multidisciplinary work means that the best interests of the children are met. A range of professionals contributed to this inspection and commended the work and commitment of the manager and staff. One professional said, ‘We work really closely together. The home gives me extra support, we support each other, and because of that the child has settled well in education and we have seen the child grow in confidence.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 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: SC406063 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, Greater Manchester BL1 4AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Van Niekerk

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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