Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 1 SC382994 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by and experienced and registered manager.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Outstanding 04/06/2019 Full Outstanding 11/06/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 3

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outstanding

Staff go above and beyond in their efforts to ensure that children receive excellent and child-focused care. The children have fun as they take part in activities and try new experiences. Disability is no barrier for children because staff find ways for them to participate in any activity and have new experiences. All staff are passionate advocates for children, which helps children to make excellent progress.

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outstanding

The staff are dedicated. Children’s life opportunities increase as soon as they come to the home. For example, children have been abroad for the first time and others have spent time with their family in the community. This is significant progress for children who have previously experienced social isolation and had limited life opportunities.

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outstanding

Children who need help with building trusting relationships say that they are looked after by a consistent group of staff. Managers recognise the importance to children’s progress of them having the same staff in their lives. The manager has been highly effective in maintaining a staff team with minimal changes. The consistency of care and support that the children receive helps them to make exceptionally good progress.

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outstanding

Managers have worked effectively with health professionals to monitor children’s progress in relation to food and nutritional intake. Some children cannot eat solid food. With careful care planning, staff have supported a child to try a new range of meals. They are beginning to gain weight and becoming healthier. This now means that the child has access to a broader meal choice, which is exceptional practice.

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outstanding

Every effort is made to ensure that children are fully engaged in their education. Most children attend school, and this routine is highly important for them. Regardless of barriers to learning, children have sat exams, others are looking towards further learning at college. When children are not attending school, staff help them to learn practical skills that will help them to become more independent in the future.

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outstanding

Staff are exceptional at finding creative ways to communicate with all the children. At this home, there are no barriers to communication. If children do not communicate verbally, staff use effective systems of writing to children. This is currently being developed further to ensure that more-complex and meaningful conversations can happen. This is vitally important to the children. They can now give their opinions on the things that matter most in their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 4

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outstanding

Staff are confident in their safeguarding practice. This is because they know the children well and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. This helps them to keep children safe. Children’s care plans and risk assessments are extremely thorough. Managers check staff’s knowledge of safeguarding during regular supervision sessions. This means that the potential risks to children are understood and reduced. Staff understand the underlying reasons for difficult behaviours that the current children may present.

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outstanding

Staff provide children with support and encouragement to help them manage their own behaviour. Children, some of whom have complex methods of communication, are provided with many opportunities to make their needs known. Being able to communicate their views, wishes and feelings reduces the likelihood of children becoming frustrated and anxious. Managers monitor children’s behaviour to identify patterns and themes. They work with the child and adolescent mental health services for advice and guidance. Staff can now better predict children’s behaviours and any changes to behaviour and so adapt their plans and employ calming strategies.

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outstanding

Children benefit from advocacy. This means that children who have less family support have a trusted adult they can talk to who is independent of the home. For some children, this has helped them to navigate complex and difficult decisions about their education choices as they become older.

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outstanding

Managers respond to complaints and allegations quickly and in line with their safeguarding procedures. All concerns about the safeguarding of children are shared with the local authority designated officer and the children’s social worker. When patterns of complaints or allegations become concerning, managers work with safeguarding professionals to ensure that information is shared effectively.

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outstanding

Managers now ensure that only staff who have been through a robust safer recruitment process get to work with children and young people with significant vulnerabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational. She and the deputy manager lead a motivated, experienced and confident team of staff. They know the children extremely well and with patience, nurture and resilience ensure that all children get the very best opportunities while living at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive excellent support from the manager. Managers provide regular and effective supervision that focuses on what matters most to children. The managers test staff competence, offer support and guidance, and discuss developmental opportunities. Staff are up to date with their mandatory training. When required, more-specialist training is provided to enable staff to meet the children’s individual Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 5 needs. When staff have been through a difficult and challenging period, managers have provided training in resilience and the support they need. The staff are supportive of each other and have good working relationships. This leads to very good communication, which benefits children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team of staff caring for children has remained stable, which provides children with the consistency of care they need. When new staff are employed, they undergo a very thorough induction. This includes varied training opportunities that provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to provide excellent care. They quickly become established in the team. Staff are enthusiastic and greatly enjoy their jobs. They share their own skills and interests with children. This leads to an inclusive home that greatly values children’s views about their home and the care they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager continually drives for improvements for children. Two members of staff have been provided with higher level training to lead the team on developing approaches to a trauma-informed practice model. Although this is still in its infancy, changes have started to be made on approaches to care. For example, staff are having therapeutic conversations with children, and regular focused key-work sessions consider the trauma that children may have experienced and how this informs their direct work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers know the strengths and areas for development in this home. This is because of highly effective auditing and quality assurance processes. Managers act on external monitoring outcomes when any areas for development are identified. The requirement and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 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: SC382994 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 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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