Children's Home run by Pilgrims Corner Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 1 SC473877 Registered provider: Pilgrims Corner Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care and accommodation for up to two children who may experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. A manager has recently been appointed but has not yet applied for registration with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2023 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 3

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improvement to be good

The child living in the home is supported by a consistent staff team who seek the child’s views, wishes and feelings through regular discussions. The child is settled and is forming some positive relationships. There have been no complaints from children.

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improvement to be good

The child is not currently accessing education. Managers have advocated for the child to return to education and offered some challenge to other professionals. Home tuition has been explored but efforts to implement this have been unsuccessful. Furthermore, there are no plans or guidance in place for staff to support the child to access structured educational learning within the home environment. The child is encouraged to explore their interests and provided with opportunities to access local clubs and leisure activities. Daily activities are planned. However, the child’s engagement can be limited, and alternatives are not provided.

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improvement to be good

Staff sensitively encourage the child to attend planned health appointments. However, leaders and managers have not sought support from health professionals to promote other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. This includes support to help the child with healthy eating and their sleep pattern.

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improvement to be good

No new children have moved into the home since the last inspection. One child has moved out since the last inspection. The move was planned but was brought forward due to a significant incident. Leaders have reflected and identified learning to inform future admissions. The current child living in the home is regularly consulted on their views about a new child moving into the home in the future.

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improvement to be good

Managers have not taken action to ensure that the home is compliant with fire safety regulations. A fire risk assessment had not been undertaken at the home and the fire evacuation procedure did not reflect current restrictions regarding locked external doors. Furthermore, an external fire exit had a faulty lock which prevented the door from opening. This presented a significant fire safety risk to children, staff and visitors. The lock was replaced, and an external fire risk assessment was booked and undertaken during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities of the child living at the home. Staff hold regular discussions to support the child’s understanding of key risk areas. Safety plans are clear and identify individual strategies to support the child. However, some safety plans have not been updated to reflect the current needs of the child. This includes the child’s personal emergency and evacuation plan. Therefore, guidance is not always clear to staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 4 Staff respond effectively when children go missing. Staff search the local area and inform relevant authorities in line with agreed protocols. Children are sensitively supported by staff when they return home. Managers take appropriate action following missing incidents, and relevant plans are updated. Independent return interviews are completed in line with statutory guidance.

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improvement to be good

There have been no incidents requiring physical intervention since the last inspection and no consequences have been issued to children. Serious incidents are notified to Ofsted in line with regulation. The current managers have taken action to address the previous shortfall in this area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is currently no registered manager in post. A new manager has recently been appointed and has experience working in the home. They currently oversee the day-to- day operation of the home, with support from senior leaders. However, senior leaders and managers have not yet established a consistent approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers and senior leaders continue to develop monitoring systems and have devised new documents to support this. However, new processes are yet to be implemented or tested. Managers and senior leaders have now failed to ensure that the previous requirement in this area has been met on two occasions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The lack of effective monitoring and oversight has resulted in records not being reviewed regularly. For example, discrepancies on a child’s medication record had not been identified and no action was taken to investigate this. This increases the potential risk to the child’s health.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff say that they feel supported by managers. However, staff lack clear plans and guidance from managers to support children to make progress in some areas. For example, there are no plans in place to support children’s progress in education and to develop positive daily routines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

New staff are appointed following safer recruitment processes. Staff report that there is a positive induction to the home and they receive regular supervision. Team meetings enable wider reflection and information-sharing. Training has been completed that is appropriate to the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers share information regularly with other professionals to ensure a collaborative approach. One professional reported good communication with the manager and staff team and confirmed that they receive information in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 5

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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, The 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

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

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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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)(h)) 28 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b)(d)) 28 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 26 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(viii))

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that when a child needs additional health or well- being support, staff work with the child’s placing authority to enable proper and immediate access to any specialist medical, psychological or psychiatric support required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)

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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: SC473877 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pilgrims Corner Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Gathering Space, Highland Court Farm, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent CT4 5HW

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Inspectors

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC473877 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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