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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 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

This home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 12 December 2022.

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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: 2613649 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/08/2022 Full Good 13/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection. This is a happy home where children thrive. The staff understand children with complex backgrounds. There is an atmosphere of warmth and compassion. The children are encouraged to try new experiences at the home and out in the community. These help to ensure that children have a happy, positive childhood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children engaging in education. Children make academic progress from the time they move in, and this helps them to achieve. One child is currently being educated at the home. The staff ensure that there is a variety of educational experiences on offer which includes nature lessons and horticulture. The child is enjoying growing herbs, chillies and flowers. This hard work has given the child a real sense of achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand potential triggers for children’s behaviour, and they help children to reduce their anxiety. One child speaks directly to staff, and is able to describe a range of emotions. This helps him to understand the impact of getting angry with his peers and staff. This insight is improving his well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate children’s achievements with them. This is a new experience for some of the children, who are learning to enjoy praise. Staff know that the small successes are as important for the children as the large ones. The staff record achievements for children who contribute to cooking a meal or who avoid getting into an argument. The children are proud to show how their positive contributions are noted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is well decorated, and children have the opportunity to personalise their bedrooms and communal areas. There is a large garden with ample toys, including a trampoline and a paddling pool. However, some areas of the garden need attention, including the grass and removing hedge trimmings and storage bags.

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

The records are generally well written and show that staff have an understanding of the impact of trauma on children’s behaviours. Staff record incidents in detail, which allows for reflective analysis in team meetings. These are supported by the home’s therapist. A review of incidents includes lessons learned that are linked to staff training.

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

Individual and up-to-date risk assessments address the known vulnerabilities for the children. Staff review the risk assessments and feel supported by the effective strategies that are in place to manage risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 4 Staff support children to take appropriate risks for their age and level of understanding. They are teaching children to take some risks for themselves, such as going to a jungle soft-play activity and meeting a friend. Going to the park, where they are able to make new friends. These are activities that most children consider to be everyday experiences. The staff are making these a reality for the children.

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

Children are able to identify a trusted adult. They know that they can talk to staff about any concerns. They know that staff listen to them and take their concerns seriously.

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

The manager follows safer recruitment processes. Children have provided questions for the interviews of new staff. This helps the manager to identify people who have the correct values in addition to their knowledge and skills. Staff are fully considered before they work with children.

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

Restraints are used as a last resort, and are reasonable and proportionate. Therapeutic debriefs are used for the children and the staff. These are reflective in nature, and help children to understand why the restraint was used. On one occasion, a member of staff inappropriately used an environmental restraint by shutting a door in contradiction to the child’s risk assessment. This could have made this incident worse for the child.

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

When children are unsettled, staff respond by using successful distraction techniques. When children become angry, staff will try to move them out of the communal areas so that they can calm away from others. Staff discuss the incident when the child is able to reflect. On one occasion, a member of staff responded to a child who was upset by talking to them about their feelings in an area of the house that did not provide privacy. The child’s needs were not fully considered in this situation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and working towards the relevant level 5 qualification. The manager knows the children well, and she talks about them with enthusiasm and pride. Children enjoy spending time with the manager, and they often seek her out to spend time with her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced deputy manager and responsible individual support the manager. Staff said that they feel well supported by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. The manager reviews and evaluates the quality of care provided for children on a regular basis. The manager uses learning from the independent visitor to inform and develop practice. This helps the manager to continually manage performance, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that children have good experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a detailed induction. The manager meets with staff on a regular basis to check progress and address any concerns. The manager signs staff off as Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 5 competent at the end of probation. One member of staff said, ‘I feel invested in as a person and not just an employee.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive ongoing support and guidance through supervision, appraisal and team meetings. The manager uses these meetings to make certain staff work consistently and understand their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete the organisation’s mandatory training. This helps the staff to meet the needs of children. If staff require specialist training, this is sourced without delay. This makes certain that children’s changing needs can be met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met all of the requirements set at the previous inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 6

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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, The 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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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 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 (a)(c)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 15 September 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the outside area is maintained to create a more welcoming space that encourages children to play outside. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2613649 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: 1st Floor, Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1EG

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Inspectors

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Trudy Potter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2613649 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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