Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, eight requirements and seven recommendations were made all of which have been met.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection visit, the home has reviewed the monitoring systems, which support young people’s placements. Effective practices now ensure that at the time of placement key documentation for young people is gathered and evaluated before the placement is made. This strengthens the homes quality assurance practices, by ensuring that staff have the ‘full picture’ during the matching and placement of young people.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand young people’s vulnerabilities through meticulous risk assessment and risk management, they take the appropriate steps to minimise, reduce or even remove risks. The homes referral systems have been updated to ensure that historic behaviours and risks are fully considered and evaluated within the matching process, before the offer of a placement is made. This enables young people and staff to have meaningful discussions around risk taking and agree strategies that they can use to work together to address these. This engages young people in the process, increases their self-confidence and allows them to take greater responsibility for their behaviour.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical interventions are uncommon and de-escalation techniques are successful resulting in the home being harmonious and calm. Physical intervention practices and recording systems have been reviewed and updated following the last inspection. Any incidents of physical intervention are recorded separately in a dedicated journal with all key elements of the intervention recorded. Record keeping in this area is thorough and concise demonstrating that physical intervention is only used to safeguard young people’s welfare.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff members form and sustain effective relationships with young people built on respect and co-operation. Care and services are provided appropriate to the diverse needs of the young people and in accordance with the homes published statement of purpose. Since the last inspection, the statement of purpose has been reviewed. Staff have used supervision, team meetings and one-to-one discussions in this review. Young people have been consulted and contributed through key working and their group meetings. Young people’s time in the wider community, access to social media and activities have all been influenced through this consultation.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have used these opportunities to make closer links and consider how the aims of the statement of purpose are reflected in their practice. As a result, the staff induction programme now includes more observation, greater reflection on young people’s outcomes and opportunities for new staff to evaluate their own performance. Emergency placements are now more clearly defined ensuring that pre-placement planning and preparation meets a strict criteria before emergency placement is undertaken.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with young people guiding and supporting them to learn to look after their health, make good lifestyle choices and understand the importance of good diet and exercise. Health is also well maintained and promoted through prompt registration and attendance at core health services, such as the GP, dentist and optician.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help young people choose hobbies and activities that promote their health and encourage them to engage in the wider community. Health records however are not always clearly presented and minor recording errors have introduced some weaknesses.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Induction and probation periods provide new staff with an initiation into the home and the opportunity to develop core skills and experience. However, some documents that are used for monitoring this process are not clear in determining whether staff are being actively inducted through training or on a probation period. This distinction is important because there are different expectations placed on the level of competency and achievement in relation to the staff member’s status. The registered manager has therefore been asked to ensure that these documents make clear and explicit both induction and probation periods detailing the competence and achievements that need to be met in each.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help young people develop skills and knowledge to support them into adulthood. Learning these skills has enabled them to shop, cook, plan meals and manage self-care. They learn about the wider community, how to look for employment, enrol in further education and find housing. Young people have grown in confidence and are more able to make informed choices for their futures. One young person is completing an assessment prior to an anticipated move into his own property.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with other professionals within the community, such as police, health services and placing authorities. These effective relationships provide advocacy for young people and enable them to understand and access the services that they need. The home has been particularly proactive in working with health services enabling one young person to successfully access, and benefit from, services that are in very high demand. The tenacity and perseverance of staff has been instrumental in obtaining these valuable services.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of the fire system has been conducted with an audible warning device replacing the practice of locking the front door from the inside. This door now allows exit from within ensuring both safety in the event of a fire and maintaining security.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager understands the importance of effective recruitment procedures and practices. Following the last inspection, he has ensured that essential documentation is readily accessible in each staff members file. This provides an audit trail intended to demonstrate safe recruitment and checks that are completed.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, recording is not always clear and minor errors are present, introducing weaknesses into the recruitment process. While it is acknowledged that these minor errors have had no discernible impact on young people, thorough recruitment systems and practices are more likely to prevent unsuitable people from working in the home.

p.4

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is managed and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and behavioural needs.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

Ensure that recruitment and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This is with particular reference to staff induction. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.6

Recommendations

Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. This is in particular reference to maintaining health files accurately. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.7

Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

p.8

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.8