Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 1 SC473891 Registered provider: Pilgrims Corner Limited Full inspection 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

No children have lived in the home since January 2021. A child moved at the end of January 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 27 May 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 12 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 2

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

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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Enforcement action since last inspection:

 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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Enforcement action since last inspection:

On 7 April 2020, a monitoring visit took place under the then current COVID-19 restrictions. After a detailed review of evidence provided, telephone calls with the provider and a 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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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A further monitoring visit took place on 27 May 2020 under the then current COVID- 19 restrictions to monitor compliance with the notices.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

At a subsequent case review held on 2 June 2020, it was judged that all steps in the four compliance notices were met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 3

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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: SC473891 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff from another home in the organisation have moved into the home with the child in recent weeks. This means they continue to have positive relationships with him while he is bonding well with new staff. They are providing a solid base of care for the child, who is thriving in this new placement. The child is continuing to grow in confidence and develop his interpersonal skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are held central to the planning and running of the home. The child knows he is listened to, including the choice to move into this home closer to the town. He feels valued and listened to. Staff listen to the child and are supportive in explaining when something cannot happen. The child is developing his independent skills, and as a result has become more mobile within the community, using trains and his bike. This has contributed to the child’s confidence in his skills and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home previously struggled to engage in education, but is now attending school. Since moving, he has increased his timetabled hours. Staff’s consistent support and routines in the home mean that he is up and ready for education. Close working with the school’s staff has prevented the child’s continued resistance to education. The child has been engaged in work experience at a local barber. This has further increased his confidence and has helped him to feel part of the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, their transitions are tailored to their needs, and they are able to visit and meet staff as often as they need to prepare them for the move. There have been three placement endings since May 2020. In the main, children have moved on in a planned manner. However, one child moved in an unplanned manner, but staff recognised the negative impact that this may have had on the child. Reflection on the child’s placement has led to some changes in the pre- placement process in order to reduce the likelihood of this happening in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff engage the child in healthy living skills in order to understand what this means for him. Since moving to this house, he has increased his physical activity with a new bike. He is engaged in other activities, such as go-karting and pool, that promote his physical and emotional well-being. The child’s menu planning and budgeting is positive, with him choosing mostly healthy dietary options. Staff encouragement for the child to access routine health appointments has improved his access and engagement with services. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 5

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff create an atmosphere of safety in the home, and children say they feel safe to share their anxieties with staff. Staff understand the child’s needs and provide time and space for the child to process how he is feeling. Staff are quick to respond if the child becomes upset, supporting him with interventions that are known to help.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. Staff are aware of the processes to follow should they be worried for a child’s safety or well-being, including liaison with partner agencies. Staff are acutely aware of the child’s risks and vulnerabilities, including patterns of exploitation and other risks in the local community. Clear strategies are in place to protect him from harm. The child’s plans and risk assessments are updated regularly and in line with changing patterns of behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know that the child’s perceived aggression is a form of communication. Staff manage this through refocusing on a positive activity or topic. The child responds well, feeling safe with the consistent boundaries and approaches when he is anxious or upset. The child is making significant progress in his emotional and behavioural development.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Responses to children going missing from care are individualised to the child. Staff are proactive in locating children, and they encourage them back to the home when they are missing. This is not a current concern for the child living in the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are protected from avoidable risk. Safer recruitment practice ensures that children are protected from the risk of unsuitable adults working in the home. There are regular checks of the home and firefighting equipment. However, there is not a sufficient number of staff with fire safety training, especially as staff mostly lone work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is relatively new to the role. She oversees this home and one close by. She divides her time between the two homes. The leadership within the home has effectively prepared the home and staff for the child moving in. The home manager is in the process of applying to be registered. The responsible individual has actively sought an appropriate manager to register while the home was closed. She has closely monitored the home during the period in which it has not had a manager, and continues to provide support to the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Plans are clear and reflective of the child’s needs, skills and abilities. A review is yet to take place as he is new in his placement. The responsible individual has been spending a lot of time in the home, helping managers and staff to understand any progress the child is making. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 6 Staff are confident in the manager and say they can contact her at any time. This has led to the consistency required to support the child effectively. Staff are supported through regular supervision and team meetings. Despite lone working, they act and work as a team. Staff can request refresher training at any time and the training they have enables them to effectively meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The members of the management team have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service, despite its recent opening. Plans in place are being constantly updated to make improvements to the service. Managers reflect on reports from the independent visitor to help further develop the service provided. The management team works well with partner agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children in placement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 7

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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.

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must— make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention (Regulation 25(1)(c)) 30 June 2022

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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 for children’s home: SC473891 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pilgrims Corner Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 185 Sea Street, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 8JY

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC473891 9 regulates and inspects 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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