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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 1 SC461846 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited 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 six children who have experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 2

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection, the home has been closed for one year. It reopened in June 2023, with three children and a staff team who moved from another home owned by the organisation. Since the home reopened, two children have moved out and three children have moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress. Children have positive relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them. Staff talk about children with warmth, and can articulate their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress with their education. Each child has a creative timetable to ensure that daily routines are maintained. Timetables combine formal learning in core subjects with informal education led by staff. Local school placements have been identified for children who have previously missed formal education. When children remain out of formal education, learning is provided through an online learning resource. This means that children are provided with positive learning outcomes and structure to their day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of purposeful activities, such as a local choir and a youth club. This gives children the opportunity to meet with other people from the community and encourages positive social interaction. Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests wherever possible. One child has learned to swim and ride a bike, which form part of their weekly activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has struggled with communal living. Staff have responded creatively to this by providing a temporary separate living space for the child, with a clear plan to support their reintegration back into the main house. This temporary arrangement has prevented the child from moving elsewhere and experiencing further disruption.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local health providers and attend appointments when required. Children have health plans and care plans that cover their physical health needs. However, these plans lack detail in regard to children’s emotional health and neurodiversity and how these can affect children’s moods and presentation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and decorated to give warmth and comfort to the communal areas and bedrooms. However, some areas need attention. An activity room needs to be redecorated, there are small holes on the upstairs wall, and there is a filing cabinet on the upstairs landing. This does not contribute to a homely environment.

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

Children use internet-enabled devices in a planned way. This reduces screen time, giving children more time to spend with staff in a meaningful way. Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 4 Consequences are related to incidents and help children to learn how to make better choices. Positive praise is frequently used for each child. This builds children’s self- esteem and demonstrates that staff notice the children’s small achievements.

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

When children go missing from home, staff take appropriate steps to look for them. Children are welcomed home, and return-home interviews are requested. Older children have small amounts of time away from the home without staff. This gives them the opportunity to develop their independence.

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

The manager adheres to safer recruitment practice to ensure that people who are appointed to work at the home are suitable to be employed and do not pose a risk to children.

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

The dynamics between children can change quickly and become volatile. At times, staff intervene and, when necessary, they restrain children. This is rare; however, not all of the staff are trained in the use of restraint. This means that staff do not have the skills and knowledge to work with children to help them with their emotions and keep them safe.

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

Children’s needs are complex and include neurodiversity. However, behaviour support plans do not guide staff in their responses or recognise children’s trauma. This means that staff may not know how to respond to children when they are experiencing an emotional crisis.

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

Staff complete fire drills monthly and after children have moved in. All of the children have personal emergency evacuation plans, which have been explained to them by staff. This means that children are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. However, the fire equipment is not checked weekly to ensure its functionality at all times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is working towards her level 5 qualification. The manager is committed to giving children a positive experience of care. She has high aspirations and wants the best for the children. The manager demonstrates an excellent knowledge and understanding of the children’s needs. Her approach is child focused and nurturing, and is reflected by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported and valued. When one staff member was asked what it was like working at the home, they said ‘it’s lovely’. Feedback from professionals is positive. One social worker said, They [the staff] are open and transparent. They want the best for the child.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that all referrals to the home are suitably assessed for compatibility. However, the matching process has not identified that staff require training in specific areas, such as neurodiversity. This means that staff have not been provided with informed ways to meet children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 5 One child moved from the home in an unplanned way following an incident at the home. This incident has not led to a review, in order to sustain good practice and reduce disruption in children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions and the records of these are detailed. However, supervision sessions do not include time to reflect on practice or to think about children’s needs. This means that staff are not given the opportunity to learn about the reasons for children’s behaviour and improve their responses. Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 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, 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive training in restraint and de-escalation techniques. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff complete training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, pathological demand avoidance, and harmful sexual behaviour. 23 December

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— 23 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 7 receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that health plans and care plans include details of children’s neurodiversity, and ensure that trauma- informed behaviour support plans are in place for each child.

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Requirement Due date

If the regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employment), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that checks of fire equipment take place at regular intervals. 23 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home offers a nurturing and homely environment. In particular, ensure that the garden is well maintained throughout the year, and the activity room and the upstairs landing are decorated to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision is reflective. In particular, ensure that supervision supports staff to reflect on their own practice and the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that they implement a method for reviewing incidents in the home, such as placement breakdowns. In particular, ensure that learning from these reviews is implemented and disseminated to the staff team. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’,

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Recommendations

page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 8

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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: SC461846 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pathways Care Group, Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1EG

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Inspector

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC461846 10 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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