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

Unique reference number SC414738 Inspection date 07/03/2013 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 21/08/2012 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

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

This home was judged to be good overall at the last full inspection in August 2012. Three recommendations relating to sanctions recording, the young person’s guide and the use of electronic monitoring devices were made. The Registered Manager left the home in November 2012 and a new manager was appointed by the organisation. The new manager has applied for registration with Ofsted and the registration process is currently underway.

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Progress

The recording of financial sanctions has improved since the last inspection. The timescales and amounts to be repaid are more robustly recorded and therefore clearer to young people and staff. This is effectively underpinned by the views of young people being sought and recorded. As a result, the manager is able to review the effectiveness of these measures. The young people’s guide now includes the contact details for the Children’s Rights Director, and an electronic monitoring policy is now in place at the home. Furthermore, young people have had this policy explained to them in detail and are aware of, and consent to, the use of these protective measures. Therefore, the recommendations made at the last inspection have all been fully addressed and met. There have been further improvements since the last inspection. Where young people follow culturally specific diets, these are integrated into the home’s menu

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Progress

choices. As a result, young people are able to follow their beliefs in an enabling and respectful atmosphere. Menus are planned with young people and include meals from different cultures. This ensures that all young people are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world and respect the beliefs of others.

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Progress

The manager has undertaken further child protection training and is now able to train the staff team in this area. Additional, higher level child protection training has also been completed by some staff in the home. As a result, the safety of young people is promoted by a well-trained and knowledgeable staff team. All young people are safe at the home. A largely settled staff team provide consistency, familiarity and security to young people. New staff are appropriately checked prior to their employment. This further promotes the safety of young people and ensures that only suitable adults work in the home.

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Progress

Restraint is used only where absolutely necessary and for the purposes of keeping young people safe. All required restraint information is clearly and accurately recorded and the views of young people sought. Where young people go missing, the staff team promote the safety of young people by maintaining regular contact and ensuring that concerns are appropriately shared with their families, social workers and the police. Thorough discussions with young people ensure that the reasons for them going missing are recorded and acted upon.

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Progress

All young people know how to complain and are encouraged to voice their concerns, worries or anxieties. There have been no complaints since the last inspection and young people do not identify bullying as an issue in the home. Where serious incidents occur, the manager ensures that notifications are made to the appropriate bodies. Furthermore, good relationships with social workers, safeguarding services, police and therapeutic services ensure that concerns are appropriately shared and resolved.

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Progress

Where young people are of compulsory school age, they are supported in attending and maintaining their education. In some cases, there has been excellent educational progress. For example, young people with disrupted educational histories are now studying towards GCSE qualifications and are positive about their futures. A young person commented, ‘I’m doing well, the staff have really helped me.’ Young people who have left school are supported by a proactive staff team in attending college, applying for training opportunities, and working with careers services to find employment.

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Progress

All young people are encouraged to take ownership of their own lives and develop their independence. They regularly cook meals, help with domestic tasks and plan their time constructively. Where young people are planning to move into semi- independent placements, the staff team provide structured programmes to help them develop the necessary skills and knowledge. The manager ensures that the home is regularly monitored and any defects are swiftly and appropriately resolved. As a result, the home is well presented, warm and homely. There has been redecoration to some areas of the home since the last inspection and this has further enhanced the high standard of the décor in the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to personalise their bedrooms and this ensures that they develop a sense of belonging within the home. A young person commented, ‘I feel at home here.’ Regular audits of young people’s files, in addition

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Progress

to all other records in the home, ensure that information is correctly recorded and appropriate for use. Regular reviews of the home’s operation are completed by the organisation and the resulting reports are reviewed by the manager. Where shortfalls are identified, they are quickly resolved. The robust monitoring of the home ensures that young people receive a good quality of care and that positive outcomes are promoted.

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Progress

All required checks for electrical and gas installations are in place and all staff are appropriately trained in fire safety. Regular fire drills ensure that young people and staff know how to safely evacuate in the event of fire. However, recent fire drills have only taken place during daylight hours. As a result, young people may not be fully practised in safe evacuation at different times of the day. A recommendation has therefore been made to improve this area of practice.

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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 there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have practised so they know what to do in an emergency. This specifically refers to ensuring that fire drills take place at different times of the day. (NMS 10.9)

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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