Pathfinder Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 1 Pathfinder Care Services Ltd Registered provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

The service is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides accommodation for up to 9 looked-after children and care leavers in 2 group-living homes.

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provider

At the time of this inspection, the service was providing supported accommodation for 5 children.

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provider

The service has a registered service manager and a nominated individual. Both have held these roles since the service registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Inspection dates: 12 to 15 January 2026

The inspection was announced on 12 January 2026 and started that day. The inspector was on site on 14 and 15 January 2026.

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Outcome

Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. Where improvements are needed, leaders and managers take timely and effective action. The next inspection will be within approximately three years.

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Summary of findings

The children are well supported by a skilled staff team.

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Summary of findings

Staff, managers and leaders carry out meaningful work to help children develop independent living skills and healthy relationships.

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Summary of findings

Children feel at home. They speak highly about the homes they live in and the quality of support that they receive from staff.

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Summary of findings

One property is less homely because some surveillance is intrusive to children’s privacy. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 2 Ofsted is not notified of all significant events. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children enjoy living in their homes and feel supported by staff. Staff prioritise building positive relationships with children. One child said, ‘It is good; I like it here. Staff are nice.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in welcoming and well-maintained homes. They speak positively about their living environments, and they have opportunities to personalise their spaces. This helps them feel a sense of ownership and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff are ambitious for children. Most children are in education, training or employment. Where individual children are not engaging, the staff continue to encourage them to seek employment or education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to develop and maintain positive relationships with their families and the people who are important to them. One child said they go to their parent to learn more about their cultural culinary practices. Maintaining positive relationships with family members helps to ensure that children have a support system when they move to full independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children in developing independent living skills based on their individual needs. The staff’s support has helped the children to learn to cook, clean, tidy up after themselves, budget and make plans for the future. Children progress through a programme of activities that help them with the transition towards independence. One child said, ‘Initially, they helped me a lot when I first moved here, but now I am more independent. I can do a lot of things by myself.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children settle in well where they are living. A social worker said:

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Overall experiences and progress of children

‘Staff have managed some challenging situations and had the resilience to stick with one young person, which has promoted stability. Our young people tell us that they like living there and feel supported.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children

The premises are located close to a range of local amenities, including a gym, cinema and park. Children access social and recreational opportunities that support the development of their identity and encourage engagement in the local community. According to a professional’s feedback, staff have assisted a child in participating in various activities tailored to his interests. For example, he has attended an Ancient Egypt exhibition, which has further encouraged the child’s engagement in learning.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children say they feel safe and protected where they live. They can access reliable support from staff who know them well, including outside of usual office hours and in an emergency. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 4 Children can identify staff who they trust and can speak to if they have any concerns. They say that staff, leaders and managers listen to them, take their concerns seriously and respond appropriately to any issues they raise. This ensures that children’s voices are heard, developing their confidence in those around them to address matters.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff receive training that helps them provide safe and effective support to children. Training has helped staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and meet their needs. They work closely with partner agencies to help keep children safe and to ensure that they have access to all the services and support that they need. One professional described staff as ‘very responsive’. As a result, staff can provide children with sensitive support when they most need it.

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How well children are helped and protected

The provider follows safer recruitment practices. All necessary pre-employment checks are carried out before staff begin working with children. This includes identity verification, enhanced police checks, references and employment histories. Recruitment records are well maintained, and only suitable individuals are employed to work with children.

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How well children are helped and protected

When a serious incident occurs, managers and staff respond appropriately to ensure that children are safe. The actions they take include working closely and sharing information with other agencies, such as the police and social care professionals. However, managers do not inform Ofsted of all significant events. On some occasions, Ofsted has not been notified when police have been called to manage incidents at the premises. This hinders Ofsted’s oversight of the actions taken by the provider to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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How well children are helped and protected

Incidents of children going missing have reduced. Staff put effort into building relationships with children. They encourage the children to talk to them about the plans they might have, and so children are more open and transparent about their whereabouts. The staff can address any emerging vulnerabilities directly with the children, which empowers the children’s decision-making and promotes their awareness of the impact of risk-taking and how to stay safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The nominated individual and registered service manager work closely together on all aspects of the service. This coordinated approach means that staff feel fully supported. Feedback from staff about their leaders is positive. One member of staff said, ‘I am well supported through guidance, regular communication and training, which helps maintain a consistent approach across the service.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers and leaders seek feedback from children through house meetings, one-to- one discussions and quarterly feedback forms. They listen to children about their experiences of living in their homes and provide many ongoing opportunities for discussion about their experiences of support. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 5 Managers have effective oversight of services, are visible and visit regularly. Leaders and managers provide the on-call service where staff can access support and guidance at any time. This ensures that staff have access to the right support at the right time and the managers are up to date with what is current for individual children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers oversee the children’s individual support plans and ensure that they are comprehensive, up to date and address their needs. One professional said, ‘My experience of the placement has been consistently positive; staff have remained professional, child centred and resilient.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Feedback from other professionals is mainly positive. Many professionals highlight the effective communication with staff and the good support children receive in their homes. One social worker said, ‘Communication from the provider has been consistently strong. They respond promptly to professional requests and work collaboratively with social care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The accommodation is safe, welcoming, and, to a certain extent, homely for children. The provider uses surveillance cameras to monitor what is happening inside the communal areas of each property. At one property, one camera is positioned to capture the entrance to the communal bathroom and the entrance to a child’s bedroom. This is more intrusive than necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers provide staff with regular supervision. This offers opportunities for staff to reflect on their work with children and identify what is working well. It also offers opportunities for staff to discuss their wellbeing and development. This safeguards children and minimises the risk of harm for individual children. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 6

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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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and the ‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The accommodation standard is that children experience a comfortable and secure living environment.

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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

offer a comfortable, positive and nurturing environment, while respecting children’s need for privacy;

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Requirement Due date

only use devices for monitoring or surveillance in communal areas and then only if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to each child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vii)(c)(i)(iv)) 28 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify the CIECSS and any relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child and the registered person considers that incident to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the supported accommodation undertaking or a person working for it;

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); 15 January 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 7 there is an incident involving the use of a measure of restraint of a child;

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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 27(3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)(f))

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children 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 Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 38 Bromhall Road, Dagenham RM8 2BJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Olubunmi Bakare

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Supported accommodation provider details

Email address: pathfindercareservices@gmail.com

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Inspector

Ann Adesoye, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Pathfinder Care Services Ltd 9 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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