Path 4 You

Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 1 Path 4 You Registered provider: Path4You Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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provider

This supported accommodation service can accommodate up to 30 children, 9 shared or group-living premises that are limited to accommodating looked-after children and care leavers.

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provider

At the time of the inspection, 9 children aged 16 and 17 were being accommodated.

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provider

The service manager, who is also the nominated individual, registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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provider

Inspection dates: The inspection was announced on 23 March 2026 and started that day. The inspectors were on site from 25 to 26 March 2026.

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Outcome

Inconsistent quality of service delivery adversely affects some children’s experiences, and this may limit their progress. Leaders and managers must make improvements. The next inspection will be within approximately 18 months.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers do not have strong oversight of the service. This does not ensure that staff practice is monitored effectively and that children receive consistent support.

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Summary of findings

Children’s experiences and progress in their accommodation are inconsistent. While some children speak positively about their support and progress, others express dissatisfaction.

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Summary of findings

Children’s accommodation is maintained to a good standard. Overall, children speak positively about their accommodation. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children’s experiences and progress are inconsistent. Some children say that they have support from staff and are happy in their homes. Staff support children to settle in. Children have a level of independence and learn to budget, cook and maintain their homes. For other children, staff struggle to engage them in any meaningful support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff provide support to some children in areas such as emotional wellbeing and safety. Social workers are positive about the support that staff give to children. They say that children are in a safe and supportive environment. However, social workers also think that staff should engage with children better to help them develop their independence further.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff encourage children to access education, employment or training. They help children write CVs and applications for college and jobs. They support children to access work experience opportunities. However, not all children are in education, employment or training. Staff have not been able to support some children effectively to engage with education, and this limits their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Staff support children to register with health services, including dentists, doctors and opticians. Staff manage medication for some children. This is not always proportionate to their needs. One child said that before moving in they had managed their own medication. This reduces children’s sense of independence and control over their own health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children

Children live in accommodation that is of a good standard. The homes are well furnished and decorated. They have a homely feel. Children can individualise their rooms. However, one child reported concerns about the condition of the home when they moved in. This included damage in their bedroom. They also felt restricted in their access to shared areas such as the kitchen and lounge. These issues affect children’s sense of comfort and belonging.

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How well children are helped and protected

Staff do not always support children to take age-appropriate risks. Staff lock sharp knives away and children must request access. Children do not have keys to their front door. Staff withhold some children’s money. Staff monitored a child’s social media accounts and used a location-sharing app. These practices undermine children’s privacy, independence and trust. They do not support them to prepare for independent living in the future.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers do not ensure that all children’s plans are relevant and up to date. Staff do not always identify the risks that children face and the actions needed to support them. For example, one risk assessment does not show that staff manage a child’s medication. This means that staff may not have the most accurate information to keep children safe. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 3 Staff understand the procedure to follow when children go missing from home. They check on children’s wellbeing by phone and contact family and friends. They inform the police and the local authority. However, staff did not contact the police about one child until the next morning. This places children at increased risk of harm.

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How well children are helped and protected

Children who go missing from home do not always get an independent return home interview. Leaders and managers do not challenge the children’s placing authority about this. This is a missed opportunity to help children to reduce incidents.

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How well children are helped and protected

Leaders and managers ensure that they follow safer recruitment processes. They recruit staff with relevant experience. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. However, the workforce plan does not include details about the performance management process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not maintain oversight of the service. They do not identify inconsistencies in children’s plans. One child’s support plan was not up to date. Other children’s risk assessments are not reflective of their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have strengthened their referral process. However, they still accept some children who are not ready for semi-independent living. As a result, the care staff provide does not always meet those children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers do not report serious incidents to Ofsted. This includes incidents where there is police involvement and safeguarding concerns for children. This limits the oversight of the regulator. Without clear reporting, there is no assurance that children are being kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers complete quality of support reviews. They identify the service’s strengths and areas for development. They do not always ask for the views of children, staff or other stakeholders. This makes it difficult to improve the service in a meaningful way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered person is also the nominated individual and director. They ensure that there is independent oversight in place to deal with complaints. This is not outlined in the service’s policies and procedures. This may affect the management of concerns in a fair and transparent way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff are positive about the support they receive from leaders and managers. They have regular supervision with managers and attend team meetings and say they find these helpful. They feel it gives them an opportunity to share practice on how best to support children. Supervision for the registered manager was due to start in the month following this inspection. Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking that puts children first and prioritises their wellbeing and development.

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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 supported accommodation undertaking in a way that is consistent with the ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the undertaking’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work effectively as a team, where appropriate, to meet the needs of children.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that arrangements are in place to manage referrals of children to the supported accommodation undertaking and admissions of children to premises used as supported accommodation, including, where relevant, emergency referrals and admissions. (Regulation 4 (1) (2)(a)(b)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s independence is promoted, and that supported accommodation is suitable for children at point of referral. 10 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The protection standard is that children are enabled to feel safe and that their needs are met.

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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

are protected from harm; 10 May 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 5 are enabled to keep themselves safe;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar and act in accordance with child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with children to help them understand how to keep safe, by offering guidance and support on how to minimise any potential risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies, and share information where relevant to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the relevant roles and responsibilities assigned to them by the registered person in relation to protecting children. (Regulation 5 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(f)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s plans reflect their needs accurately, are kept up to date and include clear strategies for supporting each child to manage vulnerabilities and make progress. They must also ensure that responses to children missing from home are in accordance with policy and procedure.

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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

is instigated, or 10 May 2026 Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 6 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any other individuals or organisations who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

is made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 27 (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f) (4)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to manage their own medication responsibly, when possible. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 36)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan details how they will manage and address poor performance. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 48)  The registered person should ensure that there is a transparent process for handling complaints that involve them and that independent oversight is in place. (‘Guide to the Supported Accommodation Regulations, including Quality Standards’, page 61) Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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: Path 4 You 8

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered provider address: 61 St Dunstans Close, Worcester WR5 2AJ

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Supported accommodation provider details

Registered service manager: Kerry Harris

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Inspectors

Amanda Cooper, Social Care Inspector Amie Pearson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for supported accommodation provider: Path 4 You 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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