Children's home run by Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 1 SC482275 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural care needs. It is part of a large organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home is registered with Ofsted. At the time of inspection, four children were living in the home.

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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: SC482275 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is inviting and cosy. Communal areas are adapted to meet the needs of children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. The home is well furnished, and the pictures and photographs add to the homely feel.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers work well with other professionals to help children progress. Professionals reported that prioritising children, communication, and joint working are strengths of the team. When necessary, concerns are shared with other professionals. Two parents were positive about the care that their children receive. They said that carers know children well and support relationships between children and their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers encourage children to develop and nurture interests and hobbies. They understand the importance of these for children. Children are encouraged to have a voice. Children’s religious beliefs are supported by carers. One child has access to religious texts and their views have been gained on attending places of worship.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children to move out of the home focuses on their needs. Their views are gained and inform decision making. Carers are working closely with other professionals to support a child who is reluctant to develop their independence skills. Before children move into the home, a wealth of information is gained and considered. However, analysis of the potential impact on other children living in the home is limited.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers generally encourage and support children to do well in education. Additional after-school and out-of-school activities are encouraged and offered. However, support for one child is lacking. This is not promoting best outcomes for them.

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

Children say that they like living in the home and feel safe. Carers have built positive relationships with them. Children talk to carers about their experiences, thoughts and feelings and are responsive to these. This is promoting a nurturing environment.

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

Carers support children to build positive relationships with other children living in the home. Conversations are held which promote the development of essential life skills. Concerns in relation to behaviours are monitored and reviewed to allow carers to provide ongoing support when required.

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

Risks are identified and understood by carers. Planning to manage and reduce risks is thorough. Carers benefit from having comprehensive, up-to-date documents about children and their needs. Carers are provided with training which helps them to understand and meet these needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 4 Incidents are managed well. Carers follow plans and protocols. The use of restraint is appropriate. Children and carers are spoken to after incidents. This allows them to reflect on their actions. Management oversight is reflective, providing direction for carers and promotes good practice.

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

Reports are generally well written and detailed. There is some inconsistency in the way that documents are written. At times, the child’s direct voice is recorded when this is an interpretation of what the child has said.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from an experienced management team, who know carers and the children well. The in-house multi-disciplinary team complements and supports the work of managers and carers. The registered manager is passionate about achieving best outcomes for the children. Managers ensure that they spend time with the children, which supports them in devising clear and child-focused plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers are committed to the children living in the home. They like working in the home and have positive relationships with their colleagues. They speak positively about leaders and managers. They said that they receive the support that they require to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide carers with good-quality supervision and support. Carers benefit from additional clinical supervision, which covers self-care and children’s needs. However, formal supervision sessions do not take place regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular and inclusive. Managers and carers discuss all aspects of the home. They are child focused, with actions being clearly set and reviewed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Concerns in relation to the practice of carers are thoroughly investigated. The safety of children and high practice standards are paramount. The child is considered throughout and, when appropriate, informed of the outcome. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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 children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that robust evaluation and analysis of all available or required information are completed before a decision is made for a child to move in to the home. 15 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 15 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 6 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children are accessing the required levels of education or training, thus promoting relationships and a positive outlook, lifestyle and routine.

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Recommendation

◼ The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision that allows them to reflect on their practice, and that the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions are accurately recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendation

◼ The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, carefully consider the appropriateness of recording the child’s information using first-person narrative when not using the child’s actual words. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC482275 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Samantha Choules

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482275 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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