Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 1 SC473891

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Pilgrims Corner Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. Its statement of purpose states that it provides ongoing intensive individual attention, stability and support to children who have experienced disrupted development and multiple placement moves. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

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This monitoring visit

This inspection was conducted remotely by reviewing documentary evidence submitted by the responsible individual in response to the steps specified in the compliance notices issued on 20 April 2020. In addition, a telephone interview was conducted with the responsible individual, home manager, staff and children on 28 May 2020. These arrangements were in place to follow guidance issued by Public Health England, in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 18 February 2020. This raised significant concerns about the safety and well-being of children at the home. On 27 February 2020, four compliance notices were issued under The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations (2015). These included:

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This monitoring visit

 Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)  Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)  Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)  Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

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This monitoring visit

On 7 April 2020, a monitoring visit took place under current COVID-19 restrictions. After a detailed review of evidence provided, telephone calls with the provider and a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 2 case review on 14 April 2020, it was judged that the compliance notices were not met. The decision was made to reissue the compliance notices with a deadline of 25 May 2020.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

12 (1)(2)(a)(i) Ensure that all known risks for children are clearly recorded in risk assessments and/or risk management plans and that there is clear assessment of risk and the measures in place to reduce risk.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

The organisation’s new risk assessment format is a significant improvement on previous versions. There are more recorded discussions with staff on risk assessments and risk management during team meetings and individual supervision sessions. During staff interviews, the levels of knowledge and understanding of current risk assessments for children show improvement. All risks outlined in children’s placement plans are addressed. Wording is clear and identified actions for staff to help reduce risk are much more explicit.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

12 (1)(2)(a)(i) Ensure that the recording of risk and the risk-reduction measures is fully congruent with the information recorded in the children’s relevant plans.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

Risk assessments now include much clearer reference to specific diagnoses. There is now a dedicated diagnoses risk assessment, which clarifies the meaning of the diagnostic terms. Risk assessments also describe the impact that the diagnosis has for each child in terms of their communication and behaviours. Training has been enhanced for all staff in order to help them to gain a deeper understanding of children’s needs.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

12 (1)(2)(a)(i) Ensure that all staff are fully aware of, and act in accordance with, the assessments of risk and the measures in place to reduce risks to children.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

Progress has been made in the use of supervision to support staff to reflect on their learning. Supervisions are also being used to examine staff skills and competencies, case examples are discussed, and scenarios are regularly used by the manager to assess staff knowledge. Risk assessments and incidents are being used in staff meetings to reflect on practice and to review strategies. Sign-off sheets are in place to evidence that all staff have reviewed and signed updates to risk assessment records.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

12 (1)(2)(a)(i) Ensure that all assessments of risk and the measures in place to reduce risk are reviewed by the registered person and there is a record of such reviews. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 3 Managers’ oversight of staff practice and the quality of care provided to children has significantly improved. Management review systems, which at the last monitoring visit were a work in progress, have been more successfully implemented. All risk assessments and behaviour management plans now have the responsible individual’s signature attached. Regular weekly and monthly managers’ checks are taking place. The responsible individual also conducts regular audits, which are used to monitor progress against the home’s service development plan.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)

Use of young person community meetings and key work sessions to review risk management strategies with children is also a significant improvement on the last inspection. They are now regularly consulted and more closely involved in decisions about their care.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi) Ensure that all staff are provided with full support, guidance and training to enhance their ability to work with children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

Staff have now completed advanced training in autism spectrum disorder. Evaluation forms from the training event were extremely positive, and the training has increased staff confidence in working with children with autism spectrum disorder. As a result, incidents have reduced to negligible levels. In fact, no notifiable incidents have occurred since the last monitoring visit. One child reflected very positively on her experiences at the home and said that she feels settled and happy there.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi) Ensure that all staff understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

Enhanced supervision practice and improved quality of team meetings are supporting the provider to keep a better overview of staff competence in relation to safeguarding practice. All staff have in-date safeguarding training to the required level for their role. The current interim manager is booked to take part in designated safeguarding lead training.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi) Ensure that all staff can demonstrate that they can or, if necessary, have taken effective actions whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

At this monitoring visit, there were no actual examples to review, as no incidents of this nature have occurred in recent weeks. However, staff meetings’ minutes and supervisions records show that staff are being regularly tested and their competence reviewed in relation to safeguarding practice. Staff interviewed on this visit showed a good understanding of the risk factors and safety measures for specific children in the home. They also demonstrated a good understanding of their broader Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 4 safeguarding responsibilities. Staff have good knowledge of the external agencies that support them in the protection of children, and incident reporting processes are well embedded into practice.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi) Ensure that the registered person reviews the competence of all staff with reference to the steps in this compliance notice and can evidence such competence.

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Compliance notice - 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)

While there are mechanisms in place to review competence of staff, there are a lot of documents that fulfil the same function. This leads to a degree of overlap in the information contained in these documents. The organisation could do more to enhance the current appraisal system in order to give it a more developmental function for staff. Any shortfall here is mitigated by the enhanced supervisions, which have a keen focus on learning and development.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii) Ensure that the registered person reviews ways in which children are supported to make complaints and have their concerns treated with due seriousness. This review should be made available to inspectors and evidence how practice has been improved as a result of the review.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

The complaints system in now improved and embedded in care practice. Children are using the new system enthusiastically. The provider gave some good examples of the impacts of these changes to date. One child we spoke to said she felt listened to by staff and that her views were taken seriously.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii) Ensure that senior managers maintain an effective oversight of all matters in the home. They should be able to demonstrate a dynamic approach to problem-solving that reacts quickly to challenges at the home.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

The responsible individual was able to demonstrate enhanced oversight of all matters at the home. Improved auditing by senior leaders enhances service development planning and makes it easier for them to monitor outcomes. Recent improvements in practice demonstrate the managers’ commitment and ability to improve.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii) Ensure that senior managers demonstrate how they have utilised the latest research-based practice to improve the quality of care for children.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(g)(i)(ii)

The provider was able to show good evidence of the use of relevant research to inform practice. Staff were able to give examples of ways in which they have accessed and implemented research. The manager gave a good example of how he Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 5 has used up-to-date research on autism spectrum disorder to vet trainers and training programmes, thus ensuring that they have high-quality training for staff.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)

13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c) Complete a full and detailed review of the experience, qualifications and skills of staff and how these meet the needs of each child.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)

13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c) Make the review of staff experience, qualifications and skills available to inspectors and ensure that there is a clear plan that addresses the needs of staff (when applicable) and the needs of the team as a whole (if applicable).

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)

Staff all have a learning development plan and are subject to a skills and competencies process. Learning from these has enabled the provider to draw up a timetable for staff training to ensure that everyone is equipped with the knowledge required to fulfil their roles. The organisation’s upcoming training plan is comprehensive and relevant. Staff reflect positively on the recent enhancements to training at the home.

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Compliance notice - 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)

At a subsequent case review held on 2 June 2020, it was judged that all steps in the four compliance notices were met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/11/2019 Full Good 30/01/2019 Full Good 25/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 6

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pilgrims Corner Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 5, The Links, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7GQ

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Inspector

Peter Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC473891 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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