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

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

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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 offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 and 14 May 2025. Shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management of the home, which affected the quality of care provided to the children living there. As a result, the provider submitted an action plan to Ofsted outlining the steps they intended to take to improve the quality of care.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the provider’s progress and actions taken to make necessary improvements. Leaders and managers have failed to take sufficient steps to address the shortfalls identified at the full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is currently taking emergency leave, and the staff are being supported by the responsible individual, a peripatetic manager and a deputy manager. At the time of the last inspection, three children were living at the home. Two children remain at the home, with one having moved out.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, one of the children is more settled and goes missing from care less frequently. The home experiences fewer incidents of damage.

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This monitoring visit

One child’s progress has regressed. They have been missing on two occasions in quick succession of each other, both of which were for a significant length of time. Sufficient staff supervision could have prevented these incidents. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 2 The manager and staff have received additional training, but there is currently no clear way of monitoring what training remains outstanding for staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive monthly supervision sessions. However, there is no way to tell which staff members have received supervision because the quality of these sessions is not monitored.

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This monitoring visit

The safeguarding lead, who visits the home weekly, offers well-being support to the staff. Staff report feeling better supported and listened to.

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This monitoring visit

Risk assessments are updated by the manager, but these have not been shared with staff. The deputy manager and the responsible individual were unaware that the level of supervision for one child had changed while they were outside. Checks on the rota show that there is not always sufficient staff to manage this level of supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Children who have a history of self-harming behaviours have been able to access implements that could be dangerous, such as nails and knives. One child has been observed to unscrew a socket from the wall, allowing them to play with the exposed wires without staff intervening.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s health appointments are being allowed to drift, with one child failing to attend a recent hospital appointment.

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This monitoring visit

There continues to be a lack of day-to-day management oversight and insufficient reporting of serious incidents to Ofsted. This does not allow independent scrutiny of incidents by the regulator to ensure that children are safely cared for.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, a compliance notice has been issued under Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/05/2025 Full Inadequate 21/10/2024 Full Good 08/08/2023 Full Good 24/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 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 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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 24 August 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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 24 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 5 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 the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child's health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the 24 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 6 purpose of meeting the child's health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child's well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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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: 2593651 7

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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

Angela Ross, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593651 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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