Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC473891 Inspector Chris Golbourn Type of inspection Interim 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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Responsible individual Sarah Norman Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 25/11/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 04/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

The last full inspection took place in November 2014.This inspection made two statutory requirements and four recommendations. These requirements and recommendations have been addressed. Since that time the young people in home have remained the same. This has meant continuity and stability for the young people.

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This inspection

The home has sustained effectiveness since the last inspection. Young people enjoy living at the home. They take part in activities and have access to a range of different experiences. For example, young people go to the cinema, the park and visit the skate park, and undertake work experience in the community. Young people enjoy themselves. This promotes young people’s self-esteem and confidence.

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This inspection

The home through the organisations independent school supports young people educationally. From their individual starting points young people make good progress, particularly in school attendance and engagement in learning. There are strong and effective links between the home and young people’s school. All events and any incidents are communicated effectively between professionals at the start and end of the school day. The home ensures that contact with friends and family where appropriate for the young people is an integral part of their experience at the home. This ensures continuity of care.

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This inspection

There have been some incidents of anti-social behaviour particularly over a two month period since Christmas possibly in response to staff leaving. When presented with challenging behaviour, the acting manager and staff provide consistent responses to deal with the incidents. The staff team manage incidents well, where possible without police involvement and are able to avoid criminalising young people unless police pursue a prosecution of their own. Any safeguarding concerns are dealt with appropriately and reported to external agencies. Consequently, young people 3 of 6 feel safe and know that the staff will sort things out. Young people say they have been trying hard to improve their behaviour. As a result the number of incidents involving physical intervention or sanction has reduced.

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This inspection

There is sound recording of young people’s experiences within the home. The home implements individual risk management plans. Young people have goals to work towards and their progress is monitored through team meetings and recordings within the young people’s files.

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This inspection

Young people learn how to develop self-care skills, manage finances and prepare food. This promotes young people’s emotional wellbeing and provides them with opportunities to develop their self-confidence. Young people learn independence skills in line with their care and pathway plans. This underpins effective management of transitions for young people. Consultation with young people and their families is good. There are individual sessions with young people where they can discuss their feelings about their time at the home.

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This inspection

The organisation in general and the home in particular are proactive in responding to any complaints or concerns raised either by young people or neighbours and the local community. Thorough investigations take place and the management team is committed to learning from those experiences. The management of the home takes all appropriate disciplinary steps when necessary to safeguard young people and to safeguard staff.

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This inspection

Staff receive ongoing training through regular team meetings and workshops. Further training is also put in place by the organisation through accredited external providers, this is particularly in relation to positive physical intervention and safeguarding.

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This inspection

Physical interventions are infrequent and only used as a last resort and when absolutely necessary. Physical intervention recordings are robust. The physical restraint of young people is consistently detailed and is in line with the training staff receive. As such young people's welfare and safety is not compromised.

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This inspection

The home has reviewed its safeguarding policies and procedures, which now reflect the important links of risks to young people through going missing or absent without permission and child sexual exploitation. This encourages the safety and wellbeing of young people.

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This inspection

The majority of staff receive up to date necessary training, which is of good quality. The majority of staff are trained up to NVQ Level 3. Agency staff are not used. When staff shortages arise, staff from within the organisation are used as a contingency. This means that there is a consistency of approach from staff who know the young people. As a result there is little impact on the emotional wellbeing of young people. 4 of 6 There is a Statement of Purpose in place which has been updated since the last inspection and copies electronically lodged with Ofsted. The home cares for young people in line with this. When circumstances change for young people and the management recognise that that they are not able to continue to meet a young person's needs, they respond in planned way, with the placing local authority, meeting and discussing concerns with the young person's best interest at the forefront of their discussion.

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This inspection

The Responsible individual and the acting manager are very aware of the areas for development within the home, and these are included in the homes development planning. The home is warm, welcoming and friendly. A young person said' they have taken good care of me here even though I can be difficult at times, and are interested in what I do now, and my future, and what happens next for me'. This commentary is an honest testament to the work the home does.

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This inspection

One new statutory requirement is made as a result of this inspection, this is in relation to the appointment of a Registered Manager. This does not have an impact on the quality of care young people are currently receiving or on the progress they are making. Following interviews for the managers post an experienced manager has been offered and accepted the role. In the interim period until they start work, the responsible individual is managing the home. 5 of 6

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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 behavioural difficulties. The home is one of four within the organisation. The acting manager is also responsible for managing one of the organisation’s other 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

7 (2001) 7.—(1) The registered provider shall appoint an individual to manage the children’s home if—(a) there is no registered manager in respect of the children’s home; (2) Where the registered provider appoints a person to manage the children’s home, he shall forthwith give notice to HMCI of—(a) the name of the person so appointed; and(b) the date on which the appointment is to take effect. 31/03/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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