Children's home run by Pathways Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 1 Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties. At the time of the visit, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023. The registered manager was absent during this visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this visit that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered, where appropriate, alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Two of the four children contributed to this visit. One child raised concerns about their well-being and safety. Another child, who was not present at the time of the visit, has previously reported concerns that they no longer feel safe at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The home has been extremely unsettled. There has been a recent increase in safety concerns and high-risk incidents for children. Staff have been unable to de-escalate incidents successfully without police intervention.

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This monitoring visit

Several incidents between children have occurred. Staff respond to conflicts to ensure that children’s immediate safety is maintained. However, reparation and restorative work is limited and ineffective. There is a failure to address the impact Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 2 that children’s actions have had on each other. As a result, opportunities to resolve differences and improve relationships have not been possible. This has contributed to children feeling unsafe.

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This monitoring visit

Two children recently moved into the home in quick succession. The depth and quality of the planning arrangements for these two children were poor. Leaders and managers have not ensured that all available information about the risks for both children was suitably assessed to support effective decision-making on their moves into the home. Leaders and managers have not shown enough professional curiosity to explore gaps in information that was provided by a placing authority for one child. Consequently, these children have not settled well into the home and unmanageable group dynamics between children have followed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to identify and address staff training gaps. Not all the staff have the necessary skills and experience to meet the individual needs of children and provide safe and effective care.

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This monitoring visit

Staff use consequences with children as part of a wider approach to behaviour management. However, the recording and monitoring of these measures are ineffective. Several consequences involve financial reparations over a long time. Children’s views are not always gained or considered, and there is a lack of independent oversight on the effectiveness of these measures when the manager has imposed them. Therefore, the intended safeguards of ensuring fairness, consistency and proportionality are not fully realised for children.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s risk management plans are detailed and updated regularly. However, leaders and managers have failed to ensure that the guidance set out in children’s risk management plans is effective in responding to the risks of children having electronic cigarettes. The risks are therefore increasing for children in this area.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to monitor and review incidents when children seek to go missing from the home. Potential learning in relation to staff practice has not been identified or addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has responded to allegations against staff appropriately. Protective measures and external oversight are in place while investigations are being undertaken.

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This monitoring visit

Three requirements from the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Good 03/04/2023 Full Good 05/05/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 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 with the given timescales.

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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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must source and ensure that staff attend training in positive behaviour support in accordance with the home’s model of support. Leaders and managers must also ensure that staff attend training in responding to risks of suicide ideation, risks of criminal exploitation and risks of substance misuse for children; 28 February 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 5 leaders and managers must thoroughly review and ensure that staff follow guidance and risk-reduction strategies in relation to supporting appropriate boundaries for children in possession of electronic cigarettes;

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must review the approach of imposing consequences on children. Leaders and managers must ensure that strong levels of scrutiny are in place to provide assurance that these measures are justified and effective; and

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must thoroughly review records in relation to incidents of children going missing to ensure that any issues relating to staff’s practice can be identified and followed up with the staff concerned.

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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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iv)) 28 February 2025

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must ensure that all relevant information about children is monitored, assessed and reviewed before they move into the home; and

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Requirement Due date

leaders and managers must implement an effective system to understand the combined risks of children living together. 14 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject of a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the identified plans to revamp and level the garden continue at an appropriate pace. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the home following concerns raised to Ofsted.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pathways Care Group, Minton Place, Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1EG

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Inspector

Mark Anderton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1241897 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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