Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

Unique reference number SC412953 Inspection date 23/11/2011 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/03/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The 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 relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This home is privately owned and is part of an organisation that has other children's homes. It accommodates up to four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties between the age of 12 and 18 years of age.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people living at this home thrive, gain control of their lives, feel safe and feel well cared for. The home provides outstanding individualised, well planned care taking into account the diverse needs of young people and promoting exceptional outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are fully involved in planning and reviewing their care. They are consulted in the running of the home and developing the service. They achieve improved outcomes and are supported by an enthusiastic and committed staff team. Relationships between young people and staff are exceptional and young people are consistently positive about the home, staff, manager and quality of care.

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Overall effectiveness

Leaders, managers and staff undertake rigorous monitoring and are ambitious and enthusiastic for continued improvements. There are no requirements and two recommendations as a result of this inspection.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure the registered person and staff work effectively in partnership with other agencies concerned with child protection, with specific regard to submitting safeguarding procedures to LSCB (NMS 4.7)  ensure the registered person provides a suitable physical environment for children, specifically in regards to ensuring that the maintenance of gas and electrical appliances (NMS 10.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding . Young people at this home are thriving and achieving because they are given positive and purposeful opportunities to develop and reach their full potential. Young people have comprehensive case files which detail all areas of placement planning and are inclusive of the young person’s views. Areas of risk assessment and behaviour management are self-assessed by the young person and appraised through the use of reflective diaries and worksheets. Young people have their own Every Child Matters file that they complete with staff. This file illustrates aims and achievements in the areas of educational progress, participation, independence skills, health, safety and behaviour. The goals and methods to achieve them are agreed jointly between the young person and their key worker. Inclusion in placement planning and evidence of their progress inspires increased confidence in the young

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Outcomes for children and young people

The participation of young people in the running of their home and is exceptional. Some are involved in the organisations Youth Council where members meet regularly to contribute ideas to improve care provision. All young people are involved in participation activities. All young people are involved in the day-to-day running of the home through the weekly residents meetings and within daily routines. This builds their confidence and increases their self esteem. Young people are further encouraged to gain further confidence and skills from participation in the wider community, with the service establishing excellent links within the community. The service places a strong emphasis on the importance of integration within the wider community. The development of social skills and participation further enables young people to have the necessary skills to make a positive transition to living independently.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with family and friends as appropriate and understand why there may be difficulties in some contact arrangements. The provision of a psychotherapist enables maintenance of family relationships through direct work with family and significant people. The staff team work with young people to assist them to understand their family dynamics and relationships. The staff team engage very well with family and friends and have good relationship with parents.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and are fully involved in their assessment of health needs and plans taking responsibility for their own health and development. Relevant health professionals are available and involved as appropriate. Young people enjoy good health because food is nutritious and varied and a strong emphasis is placed upon the benefits of physical exercise and activities. The individual health needs of young people are met because there is good and effective consultation with young people, professionals, parents and families.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's attendance at school and college significantly improves upon admission to the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to engage in structured educational activities, both within formal educational provision and in a wider sense. Young people engage in diversion activities, such as horse riding and snowboarding. Recreational activities are facilitated to enable young people to exert energy and develop team skills. Educational engagement also extends to trips to places of educational interest and voluntary/community work. The progression and achievements of young people in education is impressive with all young people engaging in education. Young people enjoy consistency in their education because the service liaises well with education providers.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported and encouraged to develop independent living skills to prepare them for adult life. Young people undertake a diverse range of activities to prepare them for independent living. These include domestic tasks, transition to higher education/training and even includes enabling a young person to develop his own business. The acquisition of such life skills provides young people with improved outcomes to live independently. Staff contribute to the transition process by facilitating communication with the relevant services. The team attend leaving care reviews and support the young person throughout the process. The staff at the home remain in regular contact with young people who have moved on from the home and have made a successful transition to adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s individuality is valued and their identity needs are met. Diversity and difference are embraced and young people are accepted. For example, preferences, choices and cultural needs are included in the care planning and the provision of care. Young people’s identity is valued because staff understand a range of issues which impact on young people and know how to provide appropriate information and resources to meet these needs.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from service provision which specialises in the care of young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and associated challenging behaviours. Placement planning is organised in advance of young people staying at the provision. The planning is inclusive of health, social care, youth justice and education. The coordination of the placements takes into consideration the needs of the young people with sensitivity given to considerations such as age, gender and behaviours.

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Quality of care

Parents and carers are fully consulted in all aspects of care provision and service delivery. This leads to a transparency of provision which enables parents to express their views and if necessary seek support to make a complaint.

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Quality of care

Young people take an active role in the running of the home and their views and feelings are integral to their planned care. The home provides each young person with a young people's guide and a welcome pack for their own bedrooms. In addition the service provides weekly Residents meetings. Young people confirm that they are consulted through these meetings, manager's meetings and key worker sessions to influence the running of the home. They are fully aware of how to make a complaint.

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Quality of care

Young people receive an outstanding quality of care as a result of a cohesive, enthusiastic and committed staff team. The staff team are highly qualified with a significant proportion of the team being suitably qualified graduates. In addition the staff team are all engaged in appropriate child care training. This expertise enables the staff to understand individual behaviours and the group dynamics within the home. This provides an excellent quality of care which enables young people to achieve positive outcomes.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from excellent, positive relationships with the staff and with each other. The home promotes a therapeutic approach to enabling positive behaviour management with young people. Young people say they feel safe and protected within the home and that the care provided ensures that they are safe from harm.

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Quality of care

Care planning is a real strength of this home. It is highly effective because young people are fully consulted and they contribute to their own care plans with support from their key worker. The care plans for the children and young people are individualised and placement plans are informative and comprehensive. Each young person has a risk assessment and behaviour management plan. This ensures that all staff support young people in a consistent way.

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Quality of care

Young people receive a high quality service that is clearly focused on their social, emotional and psychological health needs. The management and staff team have a good knowledge of services available to young people within the community. They act as advocates for young people in relation to accessing a range of services and promote a variety of opportunities for young people. Staffing levels ensure young people have effective transport and support to enjoy a wide variety of new experiences.

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Quality of care

The home is well maintained and the décor is of an exceptionally high standard. Young people’s bedrooms are individualised and decorated and furnished to the highest standard. The home is spacious and offers opportunity for both privacy and social engagement. The home is kept very clean and tidy and young people are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and changing their bed linen, washing clothes and linen and washing up. The home has extensive grounds and amenities. The home has a relaxed and pleasant feel to it and resembles a large well resourced family.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe and feel safe within the home and outside in the community. The experience and skills of the staff team combined with the robust procedures and policies of the home protect the young people from harm. Staff are subject to a robust recruitment process and are well trained in safeguarding and fully understand child protection procedures. The staff team is stable, with all staff remaining since the service was established. One new staff member has been appointed since the last inspection. Young people say there is no bullying at the home, but feel able to talk to staff if they have ever felt unsafe or threatened.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people do go missing from care. However, staff have worked with the police to produce an excellent missing person procedure and they have a thorough system for managing unauthorised absences. The staff and young people have excellent relationships with the local police.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no allegations of abuse or suspicions of harm since the last inspection. There has been one child protection referral which was resolved without further action. There have been two complaints, which were resolved at the informal stage, without further action.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people have a significant input into their behaviour management plans and risk assessments. Risk assessments are comprehensive and reviewed regularly to protect young people. Young people receive opportunities to discuss restraint after an incident. Young people agree that restraint is necessary and fair and that they understand why it is used. The incidence of restraint has reduced with staff using techniques to diffuse behaviour. Restraints are used appropriately by trained staff. Accountable records, including those about sanctions used are maintained and regularly reviewed by the manager.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are consulted on any sanctions imposed and are given every opportunity to explore and address the behaviour leading to the sanctions. Young people have opportunities to earn additional money through an incentive scheme. This method of behaviour management offers a measurable method for young people to measure the impact of positive behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in an environment which is physically safe. Health and safety is managed very well and safety checks are carried out as required. Fire risk assessments are completed and reviewed and fire drills take place to ensure young people know what to do in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a home that has maintained consistently high standards since the last inspection. The previous recommendations have been met. The service continues to improve and expand and this is reflected in the home’s development plan for 2011/2012. There is an ethos of continual improvement of the service to enable young people to achieve improved outcomes.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is comprehensive and accurately reflects the aims, ethos and facilities offered to young people and their parents and carers. The service provides a children’s guide which is appropriate and accessible. A separate welcome pack is provided with an informative outline of the area, resources and the staff team. This document provides a range of information on advocacy and support services.

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Leadership and management

A key strength of the home is the extraordinary contribution which the staff team make to the delivery of the service. The home is managed and staffed by personnel who are highly qualified and have a high level of experience in working with young people with challenging behaviours. The staff team are well established, dedicated and have significant experience. This means that young people are provided with sound and safe care.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from effective management and monitoring of the home. The Registered Manager undertakes thorough regulation 34 inspections, in addition to the comprehensive regulation 33 visits. Young people can contribute to management decisions where they input into the plans for the running of the home. The Registered Manager undertakes regular monitoring to maintain the high standards of care provided. Young people and stakeholders are routinely requested to feedback their views on the care provided and outcomes achieved.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are sufficiently managed and the management team provide a consistent presence. The staff receive a thorough induction which is followed up with continuous training which is relevant to the young people’s needs. The organisation is committed to provide continuous development opportunities for the staff. The staff are positive about the manager and the quality and consistency of the support they receive. Supervision is regular and of good quality covering professional development and the care of young people at the home.

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Leadership and management

Young people and staff records are excellent, clear and up to date and stored securely. All notifications are carried out as required and appropriate actions taken.

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Leadership and management

The home has excellent relationships with the local community, police, education providers and placing authorities.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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