Children's home run by Pathways Care Group Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 1 Registered provider: Pathways Care 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

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children with social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023. The registered manager left in June 2025. An interim manager was appointed in January 2025 and will apply to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A monitoring visit was carried out on the 21 January 2025 following specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted. A notice restricting accommodation and a compliance notice were served regarding the leadership and management of the home. Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 4 March 2025. At this visit, the compliance notice was met and the notice restricting accommodation was lifted. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 2

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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: 1241897 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of inspection, three children were living at the home. One child moved into the home during the inspection. One child was staying away from the home. Two children were spoken to by the inspector.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, six children have moved in, and six children have moved out. Although the children’s moves to the home have been planned, these were not all managed well. The moves out have not all been in a planned way. One child was told they were moving due to the care plan being changed by the local authority. The multi- agency plan to move them from the home was not well coordinated or sensitive to the child’s needs. This resulted in a significant incident for the child. This incident was witnessed by the other children in the home, causing distress.

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improvement to be good

The home is not welcoming, because several areas need attention. The internal doors do not have closing handles. The provider is addressing this. The heavy-duty hinges on the doors as well as the signage throughout the home provide a clinical and institutional feel. This does not lend itself well to a nurturing home for children. The managers gave assurances that improvements are planned.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff understand the value of education. One child is in full-time education. Managers are advocating for one child to access a suitable education plan. One child has refused to engage in education and has sourced employment independently.

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improvement to be good

Independence skills are encouraged for children in an age-appropriate way. Children are supported to carry out a variety of tasks, such as cooking, shopping and budgeting.

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improvement to be good

Hobbies and interests that children enjoy are encouraged. One child said they enjoy going to the driving range and using their scooter at a local skate park. This increases children’s sense of self-worth.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff encourage and support time with family. The children all have consistent time with loved ones, which maintains important relationships. This offers children stability and consistency.

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improvement to be good

One child’s care plan was not followed by staff. This left the child vulnerable to harm. Concerns regarding the practice of these staff members have led to formal actions by managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 4 One child regularly goes missing from the home for prolonged periods of time. The managers have worked collaboratively with other agencies to understand the reasons for these incidents. Managers have advocated for the child to be moved to a home more aligned to meet their needs. In the meantime, managers and staff offer daily phone support to the child who continues to be away from the home. The contextual risk for the child remains. Another child was frequently going missing from the home. The manager understood the child’s need to build relationships with peers. The child has been supported to have friends to the home. As a result, the number of missing-from- care events for this child has reduced.

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improvement to be good

Staff have important discussions with children to help them understand risks, including online safety and relationships. Staff use key-worker sessions to encourage children to make safer life choices.

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improvement to be good

Staff received training in safeguarding matters. They know how to escalate safeguarding concerns, including to external agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager was away from the home for a prolonged period. Her long-term absence from the home was not shared with Ofsted in the required way. This does not support Ofsted to have good oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The deputy manager stepped into the manager’s post and has been appointed as manager. She is suitably qualified and will apply to Ofsted to be registered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The children have experienced some staff changes over this inspection period. Some staff have left, and there have been changes in shift patterns, which has impacted on staff morale. New staff have been recruited and are currently undergoing their induction programme. The multiple changes have increased instability and inconsistency at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers do not ensure that Ofsted is notified of all significant events that occur in the home. This compromises external oversight of safeguarding practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have reviewed the risks in the local area. Due to the identified local risks, they have adapted the home’s statement of purpose to offer care for younger children. Staff have been provided training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to adapt and provide the appropriate and necessary care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The managers communicate well with other professionals. One social worker said that they work collaboratively with other professionals and are always consider the best interests of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 5

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 25 Sept 2025

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 25 Sept 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; and

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 25 Sept 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 6 The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

a person ceases to carry on or manage the home. (Regulation 49 (a)(b)) 25 Sept 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, the registered person should prevent doors from slamming shut and ensure refurbishment plans 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 inspector has 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: 1241897 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Care Group Limited

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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

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1241897 8 regulates 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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