Children's home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 1 SC406063 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions 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

This home is owned by a private provider. The home is registered to care for up to eight children aged between five and 18 years. The home provides care for children with physical and learning disabilities, such as global developmental delay and autism. It also specialises in care for children with complex healthcare needs.

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Information about this children’s home

Seven children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2023

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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: SC406063 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Good 03/01/2023 Full Outstanding 11/10/2021 Full Outstanding 02/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled at this home. A family environment has been created and the children are cared for by dedicated staff. Interactions between the staff and children are very good and the staff are caring and supportive towards the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans are detailed and provide staff with direction on providing children with good care and support. They are comprehensive, owing to the children’s needs and disabilities. They include important details regarding the child’s health, education, routines, and time spent with family. When required, children are provided with specialist equipment and adaptations to maximise their daily participation in education and activities. Staff are trained in the use of this equipment, for example, a ceiling track hoist. This ensures that staff can provide the children with personal care that meets their needs and keeps them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s medication is administered and dispensed by staff who have undertaken the relevant training. A health professional checks staff competency in this task as a further layer of security. The manager has taken effective action to improve systems and additional training following medication errors. There are additional protocols to guide staff with emergency treatment for more complex health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to express their wishes and feelings. They are encouraged to make choices about their lives. Staff are adept at understanding each child’s way of communicating. Some children will use words, whereas others use signs and symbols, pictures, and objects of reference. Choice boards and complaints signs are creatively used with symbols. As a result, children are involved wherever possible with their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help children to develop independence and self-care skills. This is individual to each child and specific to their needs. It includes children with more complex needs. All achievements and progress are celebrated regardless of the level. Older children may manage aspects of their care, such as their health needs. The manager and staff are aspirational for each child and want the children to have very good healthcare.

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

Children’s plans include personal behaviour support planning for the child. This helps staff to provide good care and support, tailored to children’s behavioural needs. There are also individual risk assessments that identify known behaviour, risks and children’s vulnerabilities. Staff provide advice as to how to address and minimise these risks and behaviours that are more difficult to manage. Staff know the children well and work with a child on a one-to-one basis to ensure that they are always helped and protected. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 4 The manager ensures that new staff go through a robust safer recruitment process. This means that all the staff are safe to work with children with significant disabilities and vulnerabilities. This includes staff employed via recruitment agencies.

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

Staff manage more concerning behaviours exhibited by children well. They are trained to de-escalate more worrying behaviour and training includes safe physical intervention if this is required. Records of incidents are concise and reflective. They describe the build- up to an incident, what took place and what happened afterwards. Children and staff are debriefed after incidents. The manager provides a good overview. Therefore, staff learn how to manage behaviours and approach things differently where required.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. If a child does leave the grounds they are immediately followed by staff and supported to return safely. However, there are clear processes in place in case a child should go missing from the home. This includes identification forms for the police and a prepared ‘grab bag’ for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The ownership of the home has recently changed. The manager and staff have made sure there was no disruption for children. There are further plans in place for how the house and cottage are used. The staff and management are very positive about the changes. The way changes have been dealt with has ensured that the impact on children has been minimal.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well supported by an established deputy manager. They work well together to lead the team. They have ambition to develop the home further and improve outcomes for children. The manager is also supported by an experienced area manager and regional residential director. As a result, the manager feels she has the support required for her role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that the one requirement and one recommendation made at the last inspection have been fully met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff at all levels are supervised in line with the provider’s policy. The manager, deputy manager and senior staff are trained to supervise. The meetings are both supportive and reflective. The staff see these as a positive learning process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive a comprehensive induction. This is supported by a good range of mandatory and additional training. Training is linked directly to the individual needs of children. Therefore, staff are equipped to provide specific care and protection to disabled children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses comprehensive quality assurance and monitoring processes. This starts with the manager observing the care practice of staff and spending time with staff and children. There are case tracking and home audits completed by the manager. Incident reports and other documents have management oversight for learning. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 5

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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: SC406063 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 7 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

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Inspectors

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