Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Milton Keynes

Unique reference number SC414738 Inspection date 21/08/2012 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately-owned home accommodates up to four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good children's home where young people make exceptional progress and there is an outstanding quality of care. Young people enjoy spending time with the staff and each other. Relationships between staff and young people are built on mutual respect. Relationships between young people are good. Young people access a wide range of activities and experiences. All young people are encouraged to develop and maintain appropriate social relationships with their peers. The staff team ensure that the needs of young people are carefully identified and met. Regular reviews of care plans and behaviour support ensure that young people make excellent progress and are kept safe.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is regularly checked for defects and the physical environment is well maintained. The safety of young people is well managed. Young people know how to complain and are supported in voicing their concerns. The young people's guide does not include the contact details for the Children's Rights Director. Restraint is used appropriately at the home and appropriate sanctions given to young people. However, the amount of reparation and duration of sanctions are not always recorded. Furthermore, there is no written policy regarding the use of electronic monitoring devices used to keep young people safe at night.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager has ensured that all requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been addressed. The home is making good progress and has plans for further development. The staff team are committed, stable and passionate about improving the care for young people. The home is effectively managed and offers a stable, secure and appropriate environment for young people.

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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 that sanctions and rewards for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all staff and children. This specifically relates to the recording of amount, frequency and end dates of financial sanctions given to young people (NMS 3.8)  ensure that where specific measures, including electronic devices, are used to monitor children, there is a written policy that sets out how they should be used, how they promote the welfare of children, how children will be informed of their use, how legitimate privacy of children will be protected and how children will be protected from potential abuse of such measures (NMS 10.5)  ensure that the guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children, how they can find out their rights, how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer, the Children’s Rights Director, Ofsted if they wish to raise a concern with inspectors, and how to secure access to an independent

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make exceptional progress at the home. From their starting points, there has been excellent progress and all young people enjoy living at the home. All are are making excellent educational progress. In some cases, there have been significant improvements in young people's attendance at school. The achievements of young people in their educational placements are further enhanced through young people being encouraged to take part in additional learning activities. All young people attend weekly therapy sessions, where they enjoy creative activities and also further develop their emotional awareness.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The emotional needs of young people are well met in the home. The home uses therapeutic techniques and young people develop excellent emotional resilience. A young person commented that, 'I am getting more self confident – when I first came here I didn’t believe in myself. The staff help me with my confidence in key work sessions.' All young people keep up contact with their family and maintain important emotional relationships. They also make and sustain ordinary friendships with peers in the local community. Their friends are welcome at the home and visit regularly; so young people have plenty of opportunities for ordinary teenage life and learning positive social skills. Young people develop their sense of identity and express their views, wishes and feelings. They regularly participate in and chair house meetings. Care plans are reviewed with the young people and their views acted upon. This ensures that young people play an active part in planning their care and feel

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people follow a clearly defined reward and incentive programme that encourages positive behaviour. Consequently, they do not engage in dangerous behaviour at the home. All young people benefit from regular discussions with staff about the dangers of offending behaviour, drug use, smoking, alcohol and sexual health, amongst others. They make excellent progress in developing their personal safety and are proud of their achievements. They develop their independence through a structured and regularly reviewed programme. This means that young people are starting to develop the necessary skills for adulthood. A young person commented that, 'being here has changed my life.'

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for by a committed, enthusiastic and caring staff team. Relationships between staff and young people are excellent. A young person commented that, 'staff are really nice and friendly.' A culture of mutual respect is evident in the home. Young people feel respected, valued and listened to. The use of innovative and creative strategies to engage them means that young people take an active interest in the process. They are encouraged to track their own progress in bespoke monitoring systems used in the home; they record their achievements, discuss their progress and reflect on any improvements needed. The staff team celebrate and share their achievements.

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Quality of care

Relationships between young people are very good. Where tensions and difficulties arise in the peer group, the staff team are quick to act and resolve any issues. A sensitive, approachable and fair staff team encourage young people to develop appropriate relationships with their peers. Young people benefit from access to a freely available telephone. This means that young people are empowered to make contact with family, friends and other important people in their lives. Furthermore, where young people wish to raise a concern or complaint, they are fully supported in doing so. Complaints from young people are rare. Where they do occur, they are sensitively handled. A young people's guide, given to all young people in the home, promotes a range of support services for young people. Although the telephone number for Ofsted is included, the telephone number for the Children's Rights Director is missing from this document.

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Quality of care

Young people are fully encouraged to achieve their potential. All young people are engaged in educational activities that meet their needs. The staff team support young people to maintain their attendance and achievement; there is excellent communication and sharing of information between the home and educational providers. Young people benefit from detailed and highly individualised incentive programs that reward educational attendance, amongst other key areas.

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Quality of care

Communication between staff and young people is a particular strength. Young people are regularly and routinely involved in decisions affecting the home. They share their views, thoughts and feelings at regular young people's meetings, which they also chair. A young person commented that they are, 'really happy with the young people's meetings.' Senior managers from the organisation regularly seek the views of young people and make recommendations to the staff team where necessary. This means that young people know that their views are important and are acted upon.

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Quality of care

The individual needs of young people are well met. Detailed care plans ensure that the diverse needs of young people are thoroughly identified and planned for. Furthermore, young people regularly review their own care plans with their key working staff. This ensures that the care given to young people is based on their needs, wishes and preferences. Where young people have specific cultural needs, for example dietary or religious needs, the staff team ensure that young people are able to follow their preferences and beliefs. Young people are encouraged to express and embrace their identities. For example, activities are planned based on the wishes of young people and bedrooms are decorated according to the individual tastes of young people.

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Quality of care

The arrangements for the safe storage, administering and recording of medication are effective. Young people benefit from a home which is able to care for their medical needs. Furthermore, health plans for young people are up to date and regularly reviewed. Where the health needs of young people present concern, the staff team ensure that these are swiftly referred to appropriate professionals. Furthermore, the emotional health of young people is regularly reviewed. Young people and staff regularly consult with therapeutic professionals. This means that all young people have access to relevant support at all times.

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Quality of care

The staff team ensure that young people follow healthy lifestyles and play an active part in the local and wider community. Staff plan meals with the young people and these are varied, healthy and nutritious. Furthermore, the menus reflect the choices that young people make. The home recently won an award from the local community for their decoration of the home during a national period of celebration. Young people were involved in decorating the home and took pride in this recognition of their achievements. The home provides a range of activities for young people both in and outside of the home. Regular trips and events in the community ensure that all young people have active social lives and are making and sustaining relations with peers outside of the home. This is further enhanced through young people inviting their friends to trips and events in the home.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy living in a home that is comfortable, well furnished and homely. The physical environment is well maintained and appropriate to the needs of the young people. The interior of the home is now decorated to a very high standard. The outside of the home is similarly well kept. A young person commented, when asked about the home, 'I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safe at the home. A vigilant and responsive staff team ensure that young people are safe from harm. Where concerns arise, they are quickly and effectively resolved. A young person commented that, ‘I feel really safe here, I can talk to the staff if things worry me and I know that they will help me.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

The behaviour of young people is well managed. Individualised behaviour management plans ensure that staff know the particular vulnerabilities of young people. Young people are involved in reviewing how the home keeps them safe and are able to discuss and negotiate changes where appropriate. Individual risk assessments give the staff team awareness of the vulnerabilities of young people and regular reviews and updates with relevant professionals promote their welfare and safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Rewards and incentives are used to encourage positive behaviour in the home. Where young people display challenging behaviour, the staff team use a range of appropriate measures. Sanctions are used appropriately. However, the duration, amount and end date of some financial sanctions have not been recorded. This means that young people and staff may not be clear about the measure. Restraint is used in exceptional circumstances and only for the purpose of keeping young people safe. Restraint recording is effective.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has effective links with the local police and safeguarding authority to protect young people when they go missing. However, young people rarely do go missing from the home and the frequency of these episodes has reduced. A local authority designated officer for safeguarding commented that, ‘the home is diligent in following correct procedures and always acts appropriately.’

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Safeguarding children and young people

Effective recruitment practices ensure that only suitable adults work with the young people. The physical environment is safe, well maintained and appropriately secure. Regular checks of the house ensure that defects are identified and resolved. Furthermore, all required checks on electrical and gas appliances are up to date. The home uses movement sensors, which cover communal areas, when the young people are asleep with the aim of promoting young people’s safety. Young people are aware of the use of these electronic measures and that it is to alert night staff if they need support during the night. However, there is no written policy for the use of these measures. The outcomes for young people are not affected by this shortfall; their health and safety is promoted at all times.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home has made good progress since the last inspection. Four requirements and three recommendations were made, and all have been implemented. Monthly visits from the senior managers in the organisation now take place. The manager now sends his monitoring reports to Ofsted. The physical condition of the home has improved. Avoidable hazards are better identified and acted upon. Arrangements for reviewing trends and patterns of behaviour are improved and the staff team are regularly and effectively supported and supervised. Sanctions are no longer applied for inappropriate reasons.

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Leadership and management

The home is regularly visited by senior managers from the organisation and a report is given to the registered manager. These visits are highly effective at driving improvements in the home. Furthermore, the visits seek the views of young people and monitor the progress the home is making. The manager similarly reviews the standard of care given to young people. Regular monitoring reports are completed and this enables the manager to identify strengths and weaknesses in the home. The home's development plan clearly defines the plans for the home and identifies areas of improvement.

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Leadership and management

The well-trained, committed staff team are ambitious and energetic about continually raising standards for young people. A member of staff commented that, 'We are a good team and share responsibility. We work hard together to improve things for the young people. Consistency is a key strength of the home. We work well with other agencies and share our experiences.’ All staff are trained to the appropriate level and have received additional training in restraint, first aid, child protection, therapeutic techniques and fire safety, amongst others. This means that the staff team are highly skilled and able to provide excellent care to young people.

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Leadership and management

The strong management team effectively supports and regularly supervises staff at all levels, including professional support for the Registered Manager. This means that there are clear lines of accountability in the home. This enables staff to discuss the young people, their practice and ideas for improvement and ensures care practice is regularly evaluated. Regular staff meetings ensure that the needs of young people are discussed and areas of development are identified. The manager also discusses legislation and practice changes in childcare with the staff team. This benefits the young people as the staff team are encouraged to further develop their practice.

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Leadership and management

The manager has robust procedures in place to quality assure the home. Regular surveys are given to young people, their parents, carers, and the placing authorities. These surveys are highly positive and show a range of complimentary responses. However, the manager is passionate about developing the service to further enhance outcomes for young people and is also responsive when areas for improvements are identified. These arrangements contribute to effective monitoring of the quality of care in the home.

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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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