Children's home run by Pathway Specialist Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 1 Registered provider: Pathway Specialist Care Limited

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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 children’s home provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in June 2025. The registered manager has recently moved to a new role within the company. The new manager is yet to register with Ofsted.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have made good progress from their starting points, considering the short time that they have been living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have positive moves into the home. These have been child led, and managers have worked closely with each child’s professional network to ensure that the children receive the most appropriate support to settle in well. At times, there has been insufficient consideration of the risks that children moving into the home may present to other children already living there, and the impact on the dynamics in the home. However, staff have supported the children as they have adapted to living together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children said they have positive relationships with the staff and that they can identify staff they trust. Children feel able to make requests for support and they know how to make complaints. They feel that their views are heard and responded to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are engaging in education. This has been tailored to their individual needs. One child, who previously would not engage, is now attending school daily. Another is making positive progress towards obtaining a social care qualification and an apprenticeship in stable management.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to enjoy activities in the community. Staff support the children to join local clubs. One child is now attending police cadets each week and is beginning to build a more positive view of the police service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children’s family time. As a result of support from staff, children feel that their relationships with their families are improving. Children are beginning to establish constructive relationships outside of the home and are having positive experiences with friends. Staff are helping to build on these experiences by increasing the children’s independent time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are learning new skills. They are being supported to learn to cook, clean and meet their self-care needs. There is a good focus by staff on helping children to develop the skills they need to prepare for future moves and independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

External professionals speak positively about the care and support that the children receive from the staff, which has led to them all making good progress in a short period of time. They report that staff respond well to safeguarding concerns and that the children are safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 3

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

Children feel safe at the home. Staff understand the individual needs of the children and are skilled in supporting them. There has been a reduction in incidents of children self- harming. Managers have implemented plans that help the children to feel psychologically safe. They have developed protocols with some external agencies that have led to a positive reduction in call-outs to these services. Staff know how to obtain emergency support to respond to incidents of self-harm if required.

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

There are few incidents of physical restraint in the home. Children are now receiving the support that they need to manage their emotions, and this has led to a reduction in violence and aggression. When restraint is required, it is a reasonable and proportionate response to the behaviours displayed and the associated risks for children and staff. Managers take time to explore incidents with children and staff to promote learning and to reduce risk.

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

Door alarms are used throughout the day and at night and their use is not individualised. This detracts from the homeliness of the environment and the children say they can find them irritating.

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

Children’s risk assessments include relevant history and consider the appropriate risks. There are clear strategies to respond to immediate risk and managers closely liaise with professional services to consider how children’s risks can be reduced. However, guidance and assessment from external professionals are not being woven into children’s planning. As a result, there is no consistent guidance for staff to help them to explore with children how they can keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable leadership and management team. There are plans for a change to the registered manager in the home. Staff and children have been well prepared for this change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are reflective and have shown great insight into the challenges of building a new staff team and new home. They have clear plans for how they intend to develop the home and they know the steps that they need to take to achieve these. Some areas of the home have not received sufficient oversight with regard to cleanliness and upkeep. However, managers have plans for refurbishment as part of their overall development strategy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued. They feel that they have the support and training that they need from managers to meet the needs of the children. They have opportunities for development and have been enrolled on relevant training courses. There are suitable processes in place to manage safer recruitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are visible to children and staff. They are present in the home and children have spent time with the managers and the responsible individual. Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 4 Managers have high aspirations for the children. They have created a staff team that is committed to giving children stability, high levels of care and opportunities to flourish. Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any modifications to the environment of the home are made only where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. This relates to the door sensors used on children’s bedrooms and external doors. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that guidance and assessment from professional services are included in the children’s planning and risk assessments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: 2842688 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathway Specialist Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 424 Margate Road, Westwood, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6SJ

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Inspectors

Gemma Bullen, Social Care Inspector Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2842688 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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