Children's home run by Pathway Children’s Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 1 Registered provider: Pathway Children’s Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to four children with learning disabilities. It is part of a private organisation that has other registered homes for both children and adults. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 26 July 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A compliance notice was issued with an end date of 7 July 2024 in relation to Regulation 13. This was deemed as met at a monitoring inspection on 11 July 2024. Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2024 Full Inadequate 30/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 3

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improvement to be good

Children are being cared for by a staff team whose members lack experience in residential childcare. Since the last inspection, they have received a range of training to support the children living in the home and the care and support have improved. However, the training is not being fully used or embedded into practice. This means that children are not yet receiving good-quality care.

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improvement to be good

Children who use communication aids are not being consistently supported to use these. Staff have had training in how to use the aids, but have requested more training, which has not happened. This has led to one child not being understood when he is signing to staff.

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improvement to be good

Information regarding a new child moving into the home has not been shared with staff prior to the child’s transition visits. This means that staff are not aware of this child’s needs. Additionally, the pre-placement information is unclear and inconsistent in providing guidance to staff so they can support the child’s needs. The plan for one child shows a lack of understanding by the manager and wider organisation about professionals who work with the child, including speech and language therapists and child and adolescent mental health services.

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improvement to be good

Children who are not in education have planned activities for the week. The written plans are not in a child-friendly format, and staff do not encourage children to engage in enough activities throughout the day. A child who is seeking to learn more independence and life skills is not being reminded of the tasks they can undertake to develop these skills.

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improvement to be good

There are strong links with education providers and the virtual school. The management team actively challenged professionals to find suitable education for a child. A tutor is going to be in place for one child from the start of the new school year.

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improvement to be good

Children are making some progress in the home. For example, one child can now recognise his medication time using a picture and a clock, and another is regularly attending a youth club. Both children are comfortable and confident in their home; this is a significant improvement since the last inspection. A social worker commented that parents are pleased with how their child manages their time in the family home and he is much calmer while there.

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improvement to be good

Children’s physical health needs are mostly well met. However, there is no evidence that specialist equipment for children’s safety when travelling by the car has been agreed by an occupational therapist. Children are encouraged to follow healthy lifestyles. All food is freshly made in the home and reflects the children’s religious and cultural needs. Medication is suitably stored and administered. Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 4

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improvement to be good

The new manager has moved from within the organisation but a full range of safer recruitment and pre-employment checks have not been completed. Furthermore, he was unaware that this was required.

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improvement to be good

The home is safe, although there are some maintenance issues. These include a continued issue with one child’s bathroom not being watertight, a damp patch in a child’s bedroom, plastic covering on windows that prevents them being opened in an unused bedroom and the garden being overgrown with large weeds.

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improvement to be good

Records of the one incident since the last monitoring inspection in July 2024 do not clearly detail the actions taken by staff to support the child. Additionally, the recommended one-to-one session with the child following the incident has not taken place. This means there is no evidence that the child has been supported in how to manage their feelings when unhappy. The reports do now include the debriefs with children and have clear management oversight.

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improvement to be good

Staff are beginning to understand what the children’s behaviours are communicating, which has led to the significant reduction in incidents and physical interventions. The positive behaviour support leads in the organisation have been supporting staff through meetings in the home, although records on these are not readily available on the computerised system that staff access.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of how to respond to child protection concerns and understand each child’s individual risks, including how to report concerns outside of the organisation. Children are helped to understand the risks of being online and how to keep their information safe. This has led to one child having greater independence while using the internet.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The new manager in the home does not have sufficient experience of working with children. This includes a lack of knowledge about regulations and associated guidance. Training is being provided to the manager in these areas from an external provider but currently he is unable to demonstrate how the home should function and support the staff to develop their practice. A recently appointed responsible individual has an extensive history of working in children’s homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have received a significant amount of training since the last inspection. Practice is improving, but much of the training is not yet embedded in practice. Staff have not had the time to reflect and consolidate their learning. The workforce development plan is weak and the actions to ensure staff have retained what they have learned is not evidenced, such as using team meetings and supervision to do this. This means that Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 5 children are not receiving the support they need, particularly in relation to their communication needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders do not adequately monitor the home. Children’s plans and weekly planners are not in a child-friendly format. At times, leaders and staff lack aspiration for the children to help them reach their full potential. Records are inconsistent and are not stored in a central online system. This means staff do not have access to the information they need to ensure that children are being cared for as agreed in care palns. This also leads to poor-quality recordings of children’s individual sessions, meaning there is little evidence of how well the children have understood the topics covered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is a new independent visitor who has completed their first visit to the home and the managers found this to be thorough. The report is not yet available to establish the quality of challenge and insight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The evidence of change in the home presented at the recent monitoring visit has not transferred into staff practice in the home. Staff practice is yet to be adapted or embedded into practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 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 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 premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home and garden are well maintained. 30 September 2024

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; 30 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 7 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff work with external agencies, such as an occupational therapist.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that information is stored consistently so staff can access it.

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Requirement Due date

Increase staff training and support their development to put learning into practice.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children-

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Requirement Due date

receive well-planned care from the home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of admission and transition processes.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14 (1) (2)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that moves for children into the home are well planned and all relevant partner agencies have been consulted. Additionally, ensure that staff have access to plans prior to meeting children. 30 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children— 30 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 8 the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children; and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the person in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i), a person has the appropriate experience and qualification if the person has—

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Requirement Due date

within the last 5 years, worked for at least 2 years in a position relevant to the residential care of children. (Regulation 28 (1) (a)(b)(i) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager has the skills and knowledge to manage a children’s home, including a working knowledge of the children’s homes regulations and associated guidance.

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Requirement Due date

That full recruitment checks have been completed..

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the training required to meet children’s needs, including how to communicate with the children. 30 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Afon House, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1TL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tendai Funganjera

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2687885 10 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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