Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2593651 1 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Group Limited

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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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently three children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2593651 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 24/08/2022 Full Good 23/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2593651 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager makes child-centred decisions when children move into the home. This means that when children move into or out of the home, the moves are well planned. One child settled in quickly and started to build positive relationships with staff. However, one child has struggled with the move and chooses to self-isolate in their bedroom. Furthermore, they have been persistent in restricting their communication with staff. Staff understand the barriers to building relationships with some children and they respond consistently and at a pace that children feel comfortable with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children are in good physical health. They are supported to attend health appointments and they enjoy a healthy lifestyle. One child’s health needs are not being fully met; there are concerns about the child’s diet and they are choosing not to access health appointments. Despite staff efforts to help the child, they have not wanted to accept this support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional and mental health needs are understood. Those children with an identified need for support are accessing therapy. Staff work collaboratively with health professionals to provide children with the right support for their physical and mental health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress in education is mixed. One child has been helped to return to education and they are making good progress. Staff advocate for children to receive the right support in school. When children are not attending school, staff provide them with opportunities for informal learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted with regularly about the care that they receive. Staff talk to children about a range of topics specific to each child’s individual needs. They ask children how they are feeling, and they help them to understand any difficult emotions that they may be experiencing.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not always follow the home’s policy and procedures relating to transporting children in the home’s vehicle. This has led to situations where children have been placed in potentially dangerous situations. Staff have not always supervised children in line with children’s individual risk assessments and plans. This has led to two incidents where children’s and a member of staff’s safety has been compromised.

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improvement to be good

Children do not often go missing from the home. There are detailed plans in place, which provide staff with clear steps to follow. Staff understand their responsibilities Inspection report for children’s home: 2593651 4 when children go missing. However, there has been one incident when a child was missing for a short time when they left the home at night unnoticed by staff.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Children’s risk assessments are detailed. They provide staff with clear guidance and are kept under review by the manager. Furthermore, there are safeguards in place to ensure that children are kept safer when they are online.

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improvement to be good

When children struggle to manage their emotions and behaviour, staff respond sensitively. Staff rarely need to hold children because staff use their relationships with the children to support them when they become upset. Staff do not often use consequences but when they have been used the approach used is restorative.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She is ambitious and has a clear vision for the development of the home and staff team. The manager has a child- centred approach and role models positive practice to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. The monitoring systems are effective and include checking the quality of care provided to children as well as looking at staff development. When allegations are made, these are taken seriously, investigated and information is shared with safeguarding professionals. Furthermore, when shortfalls in staff practice and conduct have been identified, the manager takes action to investigate the concerns. Currently there are multiple internal investigations relating to staff practice and conduct that are not yet concluded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staffing sufficiency and stability in the staff team is improved. This means that children are now receiving continuous and consistent care from adults who know them well. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager and report that staff morale is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that is reflective and allows them the opportunity to discuss the children’s plans. Team meetings take place regularly and they provide the opportunity for staff development such as refreshing safeguarding knowledge. Staff training is up to date and is kept under review by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has confidently challenged others when children’s needs are not being met. There is effective multi-agency working and professionals involved with the children hold the manager and staff in high regard. One professional said, ‘Staff are resilient. Despite the challenges, they have not given up. [Name of child] has made progress, this is because of the relationships they have with staff.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2593651 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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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)(v)(vi) (b)) 06 January 2025

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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: 2593651 6

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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: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2593651 7 and inspects 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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