Children's Home run by Pilgrim Extra Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 1 Registered provider: Pilgrim Extra Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the only children’s home owned and managed by this private provider. It registered with Ofsted in April 2020. The home is registered to provide care for up to four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since March 2021. The day-to-day management of the home is being undertaken by the responsible individual due to there being nobody acting in the role of the manager.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

p.1

Inspection date: 30 December 2021

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 30 December 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection was triggered by concerns that the home does not have sufficient staff to operate the home and keep children safe. An email from the responsible individual over the Christmas period alerted the regulator and placing authority to what was described by the responsible individual as a ‘staffing crisis’. In response to this situation, the responsible individual served immediate notice on the children’s placements at the home and requested that alternative placements be sought.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was found to be chronically short staffed, with several staff resigning with immediate effect during December 2021. This included the interim manager and a senior manager. This left the home without adequate management arrangements in place.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a lack of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Care is being provided by a small team of agency care staff, along with the responsible individual and the one remaining permanent member of staff. An agency member of staff is providing waking night support. The lack of consistent, qualified staff is impacting on the quality of care provided. Decisions being made are not always made with children’s best interests as a priority, and some decisions around how care is delivered places children at risk.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Agency workers do not receive an induction into the home. There is no evidence that agency staff have read children’s plans, risk assessments, behaviour support plans or the policies designed to protect children. This means that staff working with the children are not always aware of the children’s needs and risks.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Rotas, daily logs and handovers do not clearly identify who is working in the home. This prevents clear oversight of who is working with, and supervising, the children. Children have been left unsupervised with people who are not employed to work at the home. One child was left unsupervised in a bedroom with an external contractor and shared personal information with them before staff intervened. People are working in the home who are not part of the staff team.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment practice is poor. The responsible individual has not undertaken all relevant checks on staff’s suitability to work with children. For example, one staff profile does not match the information provided by the agency, an agency worker’s Disclosure and Barring Service certificate is out of date, and references and employment history are not checked sufficiently. This means that potentially unsafe adults have been allowed to work in the home, which places children at risk of harm. Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 3 Staff have not received regular supervision. The responsible individual does not have access to staff supervision records and, given that staff have left, the responsible individual could not confirm whether supervision has taken place and whether any actions have been followed up.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a lack of consistent management oversight and monitoring throughout the home, and several shortfalls were identified. These included auditing of children’s files and staff files. Written documentation does not consistently reflect the narrative given by the responsible individual.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s risk assessments do not accurately reflect all known risks to the children, in particular the risk of harm to each other. At the point of the second child’s admission to the home, the process of matching and risk assessment did not consider all known risks and behaviours. Staff are not trained, nor do they have sufficient experience to deal with and manage some of the behaviour identified within the children’s plans. A lack of understanding of risks and behaviour places children at risk of harm.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staffing situation became chronic in very recent weeks, and after the newest child was admitted to the home. However, this child’s admission was not managed well. The child did not receive a welcome guide or guidance about how to raise a concern or make a complaint.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s needs are not always prioritised. For example, a child was made to move bedroom on Christmas Day because it fitted in with when a tradesperson was able to redecorate the child’s bedroom, rather than recognising how disruptive this was for the child and the child’s need to engage in festive activities.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the shortfalls in care identified, the children appear settled and reasonably happy in the home. Family time is supported, and children have access to activities in the home and community.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, a few days after the interim inspection was carried out, the staffing situation deteriorated further. This resulted in the decision being made to suspend the home’s registration. The requirement set at the home’s last inspection relating to safe recruitment practice was not deemed to have been met. Therefore, this requirement has been restated. Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/05/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

relates to the child’s development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

is under the supervision of a person who is appropriately skilled and qualified to supervise that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(d)(i) (3)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children being cared for by sufficient, consistent staff in the home who are suitably qualified and experienced. 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 6 The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited;

p.6

Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives;

p.6

Requirement Due date

has access to the home’s children’s guide, and the home’s complaints procedure, when the child’s placement in the home is agreed and throughout the child’s stay in the home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child’s arrival about— 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 7 the children’s guide;

p.6

Requirement Due date

how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any complaint or representations will be dealt with. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(d)(i)(ii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to children being consulted with about matters that affect their care and the development and running of the home. This also relates to new children in the home being provided with a welcome guide and an introduction to the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.7

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to temporary staff having an induction to the home and being made aware of children’s plans and risks. This also relates to safe recruitment practice and ensuring that all relevant checks have been undertaken prior to staff working in the home. 10 February 2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 8 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the employment of a staff team that is suitably qualified and experienced. It also relates to effective management oversight of the home by someone who is suitably qualified and experienced for that role.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.8

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.8

Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(i)(iii))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to children receiving an induction as part of their welcome to the home, and when leaving the home, wherever possible, children should leave in a planned, positive way that they are prepared for. 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 9 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.8

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.9

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow the individual to work at the home,

p.9

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.9

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.9

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(b)(d) (8))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to anyone working in the home having all relevant checks completed prior to working with children. It also refers to external contractors and those who are not employed as part of the staff team in the home being supervised when around the children. 10 February 2022

p.9

Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.9

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(b))

p.9

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to agency staff receiving an induction to the home, and all staff receiving supervision regularly. 10 February 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 10

p.9

Information about this inspection

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.10

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pilgrim Extra Care Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 43 Woodville Road, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 8AR

p.11

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Agness Karimazondo

p.11

Inspectors

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2569519 12 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.

p.11

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspectors

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

p.12

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.12