Children's Home run by Pathway Children’s Services Ltd in Hampshire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 1 Registered provider: Pathway Children’s Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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Inspection date: 14 January 2025

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2024

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Inspection date: 14 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 14 January 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children benefit from well-planned and supportive care in the home. The staff are developing their skills and feel well supported to help children develop socially and emotionally. The deputy manager is growing into the role, and the team is cohesive and providing consistency for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are skilled in communicating with children, using a variety of communication tools. Children’s views are central to planning in the home, including their views on meals, activities and the home environment. Their views are sought in relation to any statutory reviews, and strong advocacy and joint working with other professionals means children are heard.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is passionate about ensuring children can be as independent as possible. Individualised programmes mean staff help children learn skills for daily life. The younger children learn how to make simple meals and how to wash and dress themselves, while those approaching adulthood are helped to increase their independent use of public transport, learn budgeting skills and how to keep their personal space clean and safe. The manager advocates for children particularly well when they are moving on to adult services, identifying and sharing their current risks while highlighting their skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s safety is paramount. Systems in the home mean that disclosures and allegations are well managed. Joint working with the local authority designated officer and social workers results in clear responses to concerns raised by children, including those who use this as a coping mechanism.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are skilled in supporting children when they are distressed or upset. Clear routines and plans for the day mean that children are helped to navigate the times when they most struggle, such as going to or coming in from school. Children are directed effectively to try other preferred activities if they are upset or worried. Physical intervention is rarely used. Clear oversight of incidents by the management team means that children’s plans are constantly updated to reflect their changing needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The environment has been improved and communal spaces, such as the ‘jungle area’, are decorated in a more child-friendly way. The sensory rooms and playrooms have been revamped, providing additional space for children to play, socialise and relax. The garden has also been tidied and there is funding in place to make significant improvements, including sensory areas and vegetable patches. However, damage in the home is still not repaired quickly or to an acceptable standard and the paintwork shows marks and stains easily. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 3 Two new staff have been recruited and suitable checks were carried out before they started working with children. However, it could not be judged if reasonable checks were taken to verify their previous employment working with children or vulnerable adults as they did not have information beyond their most recent employment history.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff continue to receive training and guidance from the management team to improve their skills and knowledge. The manager has developed a clear structure for training over the next year, focusing on upskilling staff on the children’s specific needs and safeguarding and their role in ensuring regulations are met. However, one member of staff is yet to start their level 3 or equivalent qualification due to delays in enrolling them by the wider organisation. This means they will be under undue pressure to complete the qualification within timescales.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has an excellent understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. She has worked towards meeting the requirements set at the full inspection. Some matters that required improvements are beyond her control and, as a result, three requirements were restated following this inspection. These relate to the quality of the environment, the appointment of a suitably skilled responsible individual and ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to verify the reasons why staff have left previous employment working with children or vulnerable adults.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 4

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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 repairs are completed to a suitable standard and that the home is suitably decorated.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 14 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 14 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 14 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 5 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that reasonable steps are taken to verify the reasons why staff left previous employment working with children or vulnerable adults.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)) 14 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 6

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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: Quadrant House, Floor 6, Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tendai Funganjera

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2696825 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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