Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC473877 Inspector Chris Golbourn Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Pilgrims Corner Limited Registered person address Suite 5 The Links HERNE BAY Kent CT6 7GQ

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Registered manager

POST VACANT - Acting Manager - Stacey Claire Kathleen Skardon Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 12 Inspection date 19/11/2014

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Registered manager

Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

The home currently provides good quality care within a safe and nurturing environment to vulnerable young people with complex social and emotional needs. Young people are responding positively to the care and attention they are receiving and are making clear progress in many aspects of their lives. This is reflected in their educational attendance, a reduction in incidents of children going missing, a reduction in instances of challenging behaviour and an increasing willingness to discuss with staff the specific difficulties they face.

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Overall effectiveness

The home operates in the best interests of the young people. Young people are involved in all aspects of daily living and can exercise choice over such things as the food they eat and the type of activities they engage in. The young people spoke in positive terms about their experiences within the home and commented on the support and guidance they were receiving from staff and how this had enabled them to adopt more positive behaviour. Staff reinforce the young people's positive behaviour and their success is recognised and celebrated.

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of the home since registration. At the current time it is without a Registered Manager. There is an acting manager in post who has 5 years’ experience as a deputy manager. Despite recent changes in the management of the home and the structure of its leadership, the home is being well managed and the 3 of 12 care of the young people is personalised and focused.

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Overall effectiveness

The well-motivated staff team have aspirations for the young people in their care. Staff have expectations that young people will lead a full and active life during their placement. Effective teamwork ensures the young people receive consistent care. The young people follow a personalised education and social development training programme throughout the week and their attendance is excellent. The integrated school and home education and support programme incorporates opportunities to acquire key independent living skills that will help them when they move on to independent living and adulthood. Effective systems ensure that the young people’s progress is monitored on an on-going basis. The staff team continue to respond appropriately to the changing circumstances and growing self-confidence of the young people in their care. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children's home providing care for a maximum of two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The company also own three other children's homes. The manager is also responsible for managing one of the organisation's other children's homes.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) prepare and implement a written policy which - (a) is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse or neglect; and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect (Regulation 16(1)(a) and (b) 05/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed, (a) receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27(4)(a) 05/01/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 regularly monitor all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the homes policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends; take action to address any issues raised by this monitoring (NMS 21.2) 5 of 12  ensure contingency plans are in place in the event of a shortfall in staffing levels (NMS 17.3)  ensure all staff, volunteers and the registered person, are properly managed, supported and understand to whom they are accountable (NMS 19.2)  ensure the children's home only provides admission to children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet (NMS 11.2) 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people show an increasing ability to represent themselves, which reflects the positive impact of their confidence in the acting manager and the staff. The feeling of security gained by the young people in these trusting relationships is clearly evidenced by the young people being able to accept the opportunities on offer.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

One young person said that they score the home nine out of ten in everything. It was further stated by another young person that ‘staff are friendly and have a good sense of humour, but that they can also talk with me if I am worried’.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make the most of their contact arrangements, normalising as far as is individually possible their relationships with family and friends and their progress in these areas is positive. This has led to them having improved social opportunities, making a positive contribution towards their personal development. This will be essential to them as they gain further independence and the likelihood of achieving the permanency arrangements they desire.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people, from their individual education starting points, do well. Improved attendance records and a personalised timetable have helped them refine their options and focus on areas that interest them. Through this approach the young people improve their independence skills markedly albeit with some natural reservations arising from their ages and circumstances.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Health needs of the young people in the home are prioritised. If they miss appointments, these are quickly re made. Staff in the home champion the health needs of the young people with health services, and will challenge on behalf of the young person if this is required to improve outcomes or have needs met. Overall this is supported by good healthy diets and appropriate fitness activities for each young person according to their abilities and needs.

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Quality of care good

The young people have positive relationships with the staff. Staff have high aspirations for young people and provide personalised care that promotes positive outcomes and supports young people to work towards realising their aspirations.

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Quality of care good

Staff have a good understanding of the individual needs of young people. Staff monitor the progress young people make and develop tailored support programmes to meet young people’s individual needs. 7 of 12 Statutory placement plans in place for young people ensure that internal plans are compatible with the aims and objectives of placing authorities. Young people contribute to their care plans through their key working sessions and meetings with staff. Young people participate in one-to-one sessions with staff that reflect their behaviours and experiences. Consultation with young people is central to the care planning processes in the home. As a result young people understand their plans and how they can be achieved.

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Quality of care good

Boundaries in the home are clear and consistently applied by staff. This personalised care allows young people to recognise their progress and take responsibility for their actions. This is further supported by in-house therapy services if required. As a result, young people experience improved emotional health and well-being. This promotes their confidence and feelings of self-worth. Young people attend the organisation's independent school. This integrated approach provides young people with a positive educational experience.

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Quality of care good

The starting point for most young people is that previous education engagement has been minimal. As part of their placement, young people are re-introduced to a formal education environment and attendance is good. Young people are provided with a personalised timetable that reflects their skills and abilities. Staff within the home work on a rotational basis in the school. This means that young people are actively supported in a consistent way and encouraged to achieve their learning potential.

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Quality of care good

Staff also work in close and effective partnership with teaching staff with a handover system at the beginning and end of each day to ensure that any barriers to education are addressed. Both care and teaching staff jointly celebrate young people’s achievements with them. As a result, young people make progress in education in relation to their individual start points.

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Quality of care good

Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own physical health and are supported by staff to maintain a healthy life-style. For example, staff and young people devise weekly healthy eating menus that reflect a balanced diet. Young people are also actively involved in the shopping and preparation of food. Medications are accounted for and administered appropriately. When young people require additional health support staff accompany them to appointments and advocate for them.

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Quality of care good

Activity plans for young people focus on physical exercise as well as more social leisure activities. This means that young people understand the need to balance their social activities to maintain their good health. There are regular young people’s meetings held with staff to discuss the development of the home and plan activities. The views and wishes of the young people are clearly recorded. When it is not possible to act on these, staff explain the reasons for this. Young people benefit from easy access to community resources to pursue individual leisure interests and hobbies. 8 of 12 The complaints procedures and forms for young people are explained and made available to them upon admission. The forms are easy for young people to access. Consequently, young people have a clear understanding of how to raise any issues and how these will be addressed. A complaint by a young person to the manager about staff lone working and staffing levels was resolved quickly and to the full

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Quality of care good

satisfaction of the young person. There is also a recording system for complaints by neighbours and other community members. None have been received to date.

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Quality of care good

The home is maintained to a good standard and is suitably located within a residential community. The home’s communal areas are very well decorated, furnished and maintained. Young people’s bedrooms are homely and have been individualised by the young people themselves. This helps young people to feel comfortable and relaxed in their surroundings.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people have been influenced by external culture and associations which has led to a rise risk taking behaviour. Young people who come to live at the home are extremely vulnerable and have very complex needs. Historically, due to the needs of a previous resident in the home, young people have been at risk of child sexual exploitation and other forms of exploitation and at risk of going missing. Individual risk assessments associated with this type of behaviour are satisfactory and, as far as possible, help to safeguard young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff in managing this heightened risk taking behaviour work hard to ensure young people remain safe and make timely referrals to police and the young people’s local authority social workers and birth parents. Staff physically track young people when they are absent without permission or missing and try to persuade young people not to take part in further risk taking behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The home overall has rigorous systems, policies and procedures in place for staff to follow if young people go missing or are absent without permission. The safeguarding/child protection policy does not mention or deal with children at risk of child sexual exploitation; neither does it have clear links to the children going missing policy. Despite the lack of cohesive policy guidance, staff work in partnership with local statutory agencies, particularly the police, to ensure there is a free flow of information and that young people are kept safe and remain safe. Young people say that they feel safe in the home and know that the staff work hard to maintain this.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Records show the rate of young people going missing has fluctuated from low to high and back again. This has been as a result of young people with complex needs and risk taking behaviours being admitted at different times. Incidents are well recorded in logs with clear details of the event and the responses and actions made by staff at the time. 9 of 12 There are a number of incidents recorded where the assistance of police has been sought to support staff with behaviour management in the home. Young people have been arrested for assaulting staff and serious damage to property. The complex needs of the young people has been a major factor in these incidents.The staff work in partnership with police and health services following such incidents, following them up with risk management meetings and further development of care plans to meet the young person's changing needs.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff encourage good behaviour by the use of praise and rewards. This approach helps young people to develop more self-control and learn more constructive ways of dealing with negative behaviour or stressful situations. Staff analyse which rewards and incentives work better than others in encouraging young people to modify their behaviour. This flexibility enables young people to fully understand the implications of their behaviours and how they can also access rewards for positive change. This means that the most effective methods are adopted by all staff, having a positive impact on behaviour management of young people most of the time.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Staff use restraint, or holding young people, only as a last resort and when necessary. The records of restraint are clear and concise, with an appropriate medical and emotional debrief for young people and staff alike. Individual risk assessments and care plans reflect the personalised approach for each young person. This enables young people to reflect on their behaviour and the impact which it has on themselves and others. ( ADMINISTRATOR: Retetition)

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Direct contact young people have with friends, relatives and family members via the home’s telephone and during face to face visits is satisfactory but not always directly supervised. Staff manage young people's use of the internet and social media through the reward of additional time for the safe and responsible use of mobile telephones and social media.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Records show that the health and safety requirements are met. Fire risk assessments are complete. Checks of equipment are regularly are carried out with regular fire alarm tests which are not always announced in advance. This ensures that young people and staff are aware of procedures and kept safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

There are clear recruitment policies and procedures in place which have been followed. Written references received by the home in relation to prospective employees are checked verbally for their authenticity and any gaps in employment are discussed at the interview stage. These systems help to safeguard the welfare of young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

All staff in the home have been trained in child protection and safeguarding matters, this is now being further extended to specifically cover the risks of child sexual exploitation. 10 of 12

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Leadership and management good

The service benefits from good leadership. Recent changes made are strengthening leadership and management arrangements.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager position has been vacant since June 2014. Between June and October this was covered by the previous Registered Manager being promoted within the organisation but retaining this responsibility. An acting manager has been appointed and is currently going through the process of application for registration with Ofsted. The home operates within an organisation which has a model of succession planning and provides staff with career opportunities.

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Leadership and management good

The acting manager has extensive experience and relevant qualifications. External professionals consider the acting manager to be 'excellent'. She is a fundamental part of the ongoing development of an effective staff team and improvements to the service. A service development plan implemented by the responsible individual is being closely monitored. Staff benefit from good quality supervision which recognises and supports their development needs. The effects of this can be seen in the personalised care plans and the individualised care given to the young people.

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Leadership and management good

The home has an updated statement of purpose which is available to members of staff and interested stakeholders via the organisation's web site. The information provided is clear and meets regulatory requirements. This means that members of staff are clear as to the aims and aspirations of the service and that stakeholders are clear as to what the service provides.

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Leadership and management good

Team meetings are an important feature in the home and are well organised. Staff routinely read any new documents and the minutes of meetings. This is an important contribution toward consistency of care. Staff training is ongoing as is that of the manager. Training for staff is linked to improvements identified in the development plan. The number of staff who are qualified is high and further identified training needs are being addressed methodically. All staff are trained in core areas and the issues that pertain to individual young people.

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Leadership and management good

The responsible individual and the acting manager monitor the service well and both are fully aware of its strengths and frailties. Shortfalls are addressed promptly and clearly, including those raised in complaints. This has been the first full inspection of the home and all key areas in relation to the care of the young people have been implemented and continue to be effective. An example of this can be seen in the attention given to the use of alarms inside the house so that the rights of young people are respected.

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Leadership and management good

Placement planning has also been improved so it is more realistic and further work is under way on this process. Staff have been made familiar with the issues that are investigated during inspections. Following the reorganisation of the management structure, internal quality assurance exercises have led to very positive responses 11 of 12 from other people.

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Leadership and management good

Formal monitoring and development planning is used in an evaluative way, with subsequent action planning to implement positive change following recommendations made. The capacity for continuing improvement is high. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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