Children's home run by Pathway Care Solutions Ltd in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 1 SC406063 Registered provider: Pathway Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to care for up to eight children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection. These children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2024 Full Good 12/12/2023 Full Good 03/01/2023 Full Outstanding 11/10/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy living at this home. A warm and homely environment has been created for children to enjoy. This is despite the necessary medical equipment needed to meet the children’s complex health needs. Children’s rooms are personalised to reflect their interests and with photos of the children spending time with their families. There are close relationships between children and staff. Children enjoy spending time with staff. One family member said, ‘The level of care that has been provided is very good and [the child] is always happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear and detailed personal care plans for the children that support staff in providing the children with the care they need. The plans cover all aspects of the child’s life and are unique to each child. Plans include children’s individual goals and desired outcomes. Targets are reviewed and evaluated regularly by the manager and staff. The progress children make is recognised and celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school full-time. They enjoy school and return to the home happy. Staff also help children learn in the home. This includes spending one-to-one time reading to children. This also develops the bonds between the children and staff. Activities and trips often have an element of learning as well as fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. This includes mental health and more complex physical health needs. Additional training is provided for staff to manage these needs. Individual health care plans clearly explain the support needed. There has been a good response to the need to tighten medication procedures. This has been effective, and there is good management oversight in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know each child’s way of communicating. This is for speaking and non-speaking children. Staff recognise what noises and gestures mean for a child. They use signs, symbols and simple phrases. This helps children to understand their care, make choices and express themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend regular one-to-one time with children. These key-work sessions are well recorded. They address issues that are significant to each child. This helps children to feel supported and listened to. Also, monthly house meetings gather children’s wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to learn independence skills. This is appropriate to their individual needs and abilities. They include aspects of personal care. An older child now enjoys independent time in the local town. They have learned to buy their own food and become a very good cook. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 4

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

Staff understand risks to children. This includes the additional vulnerabilities of children with disabilities. Children’s individual behaviour risk management plans are comprehensive. They identify historic concerns as well as current risks and vulnerabilities for the children. Staff understand these plans well, and they also understand what might trigger more difficult behaviour and how to respond.

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

Incidents of more difficult behaviour are managed well by staff. Staff are trained in de- escalation and positive behaviour management. This has led to no incidents, in the past year, of staff having to hold children. The recording of incidents is very clear and detailed. The manager monitors all incidents and records reflective oversight. Staff are helped to learn from incidents with debriefs with a manager.

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

There have been no incidences of children going missing from the home. However, there are clear procedures for staff to follow if this should happen. Children have an individual plan that addresses this potential risk. Risks associated with the location of the home are also well assessed by the manager, with clear processes to address any concerns that might arise.

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

Staff support children well with regards to their mental health. This includes harmful behaviours and thoughts. Health professionals are involved when additional support is required. There are well-planned key-work sessions that support the child’s well-being.

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

The manager ensures that any complaints and allegations are responded to well. Safeguarding professionals are appropriately involved as required. Children and others are informed of outcomes. Children are helped to know how to show staff if they are not feeling safe or happy. This is aided by clear, simplified complaints signs. There is also a very creative information booklet. Children’s complaints are followed up with a letter to the child from the manager and deputies.

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

The home has not been the right environment to meet the complex needs of some children. This is acknowledged by the manager, who is reflective regarding this. She has made some difficult decisions to keep children safe. These are in the interests of the child whose needs can’t be met and other children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and deputy managers know the children very well. They speak warmly of each child and are ambitious for them. They can identify the progress the children have made and are proud of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive a thorough induction to the home, including training with regards to caring for children with disabilities. Time is spent observing experienced carers. Regular supervisions address staff well-being and practice. Staff feel that these are effective and supportive meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 5 The manager holds regular team meetings. These cover the organisation of the home and progress of children. There is a staff ‘shout-out’ for positive comments about work colleagues. Specialists within the clinical team lead additional team sessions. These cover important topics such as approaches to care and self-injurious behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the strengths of the team and areas still to develop. This is supported by good workforce and home development plans. The staffing situation has improved during the year. Vacancies have been filled, and agency use has decreased. This provides a more stable team of carers for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a comprehensive range of monitoring and quality assurance tools. There is very good oversight of all incidents. Management comments and lessons learned are added to reports. There is a thorough monthly manager’s audit completed. The manager spends regular time observing staff practice and being with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels very well supported by the responsible individual. This includes regular supervision and visits to the home. She also values the support of registered managers in the regional cluster. Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 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: SC406063 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: Keys Group, Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC406063 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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Inspector

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