Children's Home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 1 SC382994 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions 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 operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Outstanding 16/05/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Outstanding 04/06/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Three children were living at the home at the time of inspection. Two of the children were spoken to. Two children have moved on from the home. These were both planned moves as children entered adulthood. One child has moved to the home. Clear planning that considered the best interests of the child took place around this move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is warm and welcoming from when you first arrive. The children are settled and comfortable in the home. They have routines that they clearly know and follow. Staff provide exceptional care in line with children’s wishes and needs. A parent described the care being offered as ‘amazing’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make extensive progress. The manager monitors children’s progress in regular progress reports. One child has made progress with brushing their teeth, as they were not doing this prior to moving to the home. Another child has made significant progress in completing personal hygiene tasks more independently. Staff work with him to give him options of what personal hygiene tasks he could do each day. This has developed and the child will now shower or change their clothes without prompts from staff. This has helped them to develop both their personal care and independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand children’s communication needs. Specific training in a communication method was delivered to staff to support them in working with a child when they moved to the home. The child chooses not to use a formal communication method, but staff understand the child’s cues. This means that they can gain the child’s wishes and requests through their own ways of communicating. The positive relationships with the consistent staff team mean that the child’s views are known and followed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Two children attend school and are making progress within education. Both schools spoke about excellent progress for the children and effective communication with staff. Staff take an interest in children’s school days when they return home. One child is not in education while waiting to begin an adult setting. Staff encourage this child to complete some independence work at their own pace. This ensures that, in the interim, they have opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children’s health needs. One child chooses to spend most of their time in their bedroom. Staff attempt to encourage them to spend time out of their room but also respect the child’s wishes. Due to the child not leaving the home, staff arrange for health professionals to visit them. The child has seen a doctor, dietician and optician at the home. Staff advocate for health professionals to visit the child where possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children’s interests. Children take part in a range of activities, including cooking, arts and crafts and day trips out on the bus. Children are routinely asked for their views about what activities they would like to do. A sensory room has been adapted in line with the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 4 Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their own tastes. This helps the children to feel valued in their surroundings.

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

The staff rarely use restraint. When needed, this is proportionate and used to keep children and staff safe. De-escalation skills are used to prevent restraint from being required. These de-escalation skills are clearly identified in children’s plans and are used by staff during incidents. The model of care used at the home is fully embedded by all staff and can be seen when incidents occur. This provides consistency in the care that children receive.

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

Incidents for children are reducing. The manager has comprehensive review systems in place where they monitor any patterns or trends of incidents. This review enables the manager to identify any potential triggers or timings. Monthly learning from these reviews is used to improve practice to try to reduce future incidents. Staff use key- working sessions effectively to discuss children’s behaviours with them. Staff support children to develop new strategies to manage their emotions and behaviours safely.

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

Staff work closely with external professionals to discuss children’s behaviour and progress. Staff tailor their approaches to children to provide individualised support. One teacher said, ‘Staff are receptive about trying new strategies if any are discussed in meetings.’ This shows that staff are creative and adaptable in their approaches.

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

Allegations against staff are investigated promptly. Referrals to the local authority designated officer (LADO) are made appropriately. Conversations take place with children following allegations. Staff members are supported when they have been subject to a LADO referral. Where there have been concerns about the relationship between children and staff members, conversations have been held to help them rebuild the relationship.

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

Staff are trained to carry out their roles in relation to meeting the children’s individual needs. All staff complete training that enhances their skills and practice. Staff are either qualified or working towards the relevant childcare qualification. Staff are committed to ongoing professional development and feel confident in being able to ask for additional training. This shows that staff provide the best support possible.

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

Safer recruitment processes are followed for new members of staff. Temporary staff are not used. This enables children to build relationships with staff who consistently work at the home. There is an induction process for new staff, which helps them to learn their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is experienced and committed to supporting children and the staff team. There is a new deputy manager in post who is supporting the manager. They are both highly aspirational for the children and celebrate their successes. The managers know the children well and are visible in the home. One staff member described the manager Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 5 as being ‘very dedicated’. Staff are also ambitious for the children and proud of their achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The ownership of the provider has recently changed. This has led to some changes in processes and systems. Despite these changes, there has been no impact on the care that children receive. This is testament that the children have remained the priority of the managers and staff despite changes taking place. This also shows that staff are versatile in their support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is clear management oversight. Managers provide detailed analysis after all incidents and identify if there are any lessons learned or potential triggers to the incidents. The manager has systems in place to review whether the actions identified have been completed. The manager uses these effective systems to ensure that children’s requests are being actioned where possible and that learning is being implemented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision sessions and team meetings take place regularly. Safeguarding scenarios are used in supervision sessions to ensure that staff have the correct knowledge. Upskilling sessions are completed in team meetings. These are activities where the staff develop and refresh their knowledge and skills. This shows that there is a culture of constant development for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals talk positively about the support offered by managers and staff. One social worker said about staff that ‘they are person centred and don’t give up’. For one child, the professionals noted positive improvements in the child’s presentation at school and when they see their family as well as at the home. The social worker said that there is ‘not just progress in the home but it’s having a ripple to other areas’. This shows that staff are supporting children to make progress in all areas, which is having a wider ranging impact. There is excellent communication between staff and external professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 6

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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: SC382994 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions 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

Leanne Lyon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC382994 8 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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