Statement of Purpose

Pathfinders Care Services (PCS) is a supported housing semi-independent housing provider for children and young people.  We have experienced and qualified Support Worker and Social Workers who provide high level of care and support for children and young people between the ages of 16 and 18 or 21.  We believe in investing in young people and supporting them to develop their full life potentials.  We work in partnership with Local Authorities and professionals (Police, Health, Schools and Colleges etc.) to safeguard and promote the interest and wellbeing of children and young people in line with the Working Together to Safeguard Children and Young People Guidelines (2016).

At Pathfinders, we work in partnership and our staff have regular consultations with therapeutic workers for example; Community Adolescent and Mental Health (CAMHS) practitioners to inform our care planning for children and young people with mental health needs.  We have specialist Support Worker who work with children and young people with mental health issues and learning difficulties.  We also have trained staff and Social Workers who are able to work with and support young people affiliated with gangs. Our experienced Support and Social Workers are also trained to complete robust risk assessments, safeguarding and support plans for children and young people who are at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

Pathfinders operates on the principle that children and young people can achieve when they are provided with the right level of support and intervention.  We believe in engaging young people in productive activities and providing them with the right environment to thrive.  We do this by engaging young people in keyworking sessions (budging sessions, cooking sessions etc, incorporating young people’s views, wishes and feelings in our care planning; as well as supporting young people to build their resilience and self esteem.

Pathfinders have developed it’s services and we have expertise in providing:

•    Accommodation and care for young people with learning and mental health disabilities, young people who are affiliated with gangs, young people who are at risk CSE, children with challenging behaviour, young people who are beyond parental control, young people who have Special Educational Needs and have an Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP).  We at Pathfinder, we provide child centred care and support services to children and young people in our care.   All our accommodation and placements have up to date HMO certifications.  

Our Head Office is the central hub for our operations with up to standard computer facilities and infrastructure to support our operations.  We adhere to safeguarding principles and we ensure that young people information and records are kept secured under lock and key and only shared with relevant agencies on need to know basis and only in the interest of safeguarding children and young people in our care.  We deliver excellent professional support and Social Work services to young people.  We believe in training our staff to provide excellent support to young people.  

We are a forward-thinking organisation and we are innovative in our approach to working with Local Authorities, involved agencies as well as with young people and their families.  Our operations and practices are underpinned by social care policies and procedures i.e Missing Persons Protocol, Every Child Matters Agenda (ECM), London Child Protection Procedures; Social Work theories i.e Empowerment, Advocacy, Empowerment; Child Care legislations i.e. The Children Act 1989, The Human Right Act 1998, The Housing Act 2004, Immigration Act 2016, Data Protection Act 2018, General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) – 2018, The Leaving Care Act 2000 and the Children and Young People Act 2017 etc.