Children's home run by Pathways Care Group Limited in Runnymede

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 1 SC461846

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Registered provider: Pathways Care Group

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to six children who have experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in March 2022. The post remains vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home. The last child moved out in July 2022. They were supported to move on in a planned way to live at a nearby home operated by the same organisation. The staff team was redeployed to other homes within the organisation. Senior managers have used the time since July 2022 to review the aims of the home. The organisation has appointed a therapist and education lead to support the new approach to care intended for the home when it resumes offering care to children. The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated to reflect these changes.

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The care of children

Senior managers have established an improvement plan for the decoration of the home and maintenance of the garden. The plan outlines that actions will be completed before any children move in. Some improvements have already been made including the replacement of windows and some doors. A keypad has been installed on a door leading from the lounge to the back garden. The need for this restriction has not been risk assessed and the large metal mechanism detracts from an otherwise homely space. Access to a large balcony on the first floor is also restricted by a locked door due to potential hazards. This restriction has not been regularly reviewed.

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The safety of children

There are no current safeguarding concerns. Allegations about staff since the last inspection were escalated appropriately to the local authority designated officer and notified to Ofsted.

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The safety of children

The location risk assessment is detailed and identifies areas of concern in the community. However, the assessment is not regularly reviewed and contains out-of- date information. This does not enable effective risk management of external risks.

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The safety of children

Senior managers have updated the home’s policy on smoking. This includes educating children about the dangers of smoking and supporting them to access cessation services. Staff are not permitted to smoke near the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A manager is not currently appointed to the home. A manager and staff team have been identified from within the organisation to move across to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Due to the absence of a manager, there remain shortfalls in management oversight of the home. Internal reviews of the service have not taken place. Independent Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 3 person’s visits have not taken place at the required intervals. When visits do take place, there is often a delay in submitting the reports to Ofsted. This reduces senior managers’ and Ofsted’s ability to monitor the operation of the home effectively. These shortfalls were identified at the last inspection and have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Full Inadequate 28/01/2020 Full Good 23/01/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 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 provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

upon request, the local authority for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

the registered provider and, if applicable, the registered manager; and

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual (if one is nominated). (Regulation 44 (1) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 6 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the use of a keypad on the back door in the lounge that restricts access to the back garden. 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the statement of purpose contains up-to-date details of the experience and qualifications of staff, including any staff commissioned to provide education or healthcare. 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 28 April 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home offers a nurturing and homely environment. In particular, ensure that the planned improvements to the decoration of the home and maintenance of the garden are carried out. This Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 7 includes a review of the maintenance required to the first-floor balcony. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 8

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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

Paula Edwards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 9 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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Inspector

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