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

Unique reference number SC414738 Inspection date 15/10/2013 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/03/2013 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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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 home has had a lengthy period of time without a Registered Manager in post. This situation has now been satisfactorily resolved, and the effectiveness of interim arrangements means that the quality of care for young people was not adversely affected. Young people have continued to thrive in a very child-centred environment where they are enabled to make good progress. Some young people are no longer involved in risky behaviour, and other young people are now attending school regularly. Young people's views are usually listened to in this home, and they are effectively involved in their care planning. Relationships between staff and young people are generally relaxed and warm. Behaviour management is usually effective, and restraints are unusual. Young people's emotional and physical health needs are well-met, and staff work together to promote educational attendance and achievement. Local authority colleagues

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Overall effectiveness

think this is a good home and value the effective communications they receive. Safeguarding practice is strong, and overall this comfortable home is well-kept and well-located. The home has a shortfall in relation to the outdated statement of purpose, and one recommendation has been made to further improve acting on young people's wishes and feelings.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the statement of purpose is revised and a copy sent to Ofsted within 28 days of that revision. (Regulation 5 (a) (b)) 02/12/2013

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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 the wishes, feelings and views of children are taken into account in developing the home. This specifically relates to items raised in resident's meetings. (NMS 1.7)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people make positive progress across all aspects of their lives, although this is more difficult for young people who are on planned, very short term placements. Young people, who are in placement longer term, make very good progress in developing emotional resilience. This helps them more skilfully cope with the stresses in their lives. Young people say, 'I used to hit staff and trash my room, now I know how to calm down.' Young people have developed strong relationships both inside and outside the home, and are now better able to sustain these at times of difficulty. They also achieve success in other areas such as reducing offending behaviours, and this gives them pride and a much more positive self-view. Young people are generally healthy, and support this with appropriate diet and exercise. Some young people have made very good progress in not being involved in harmful risk-taking behaviour, and this further protects their physical and emotional

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Outcomes for children and young people

health. Young people also have appropriate hygiene and self-care skills, and some take a lot of care over their appearance. This means they are making good progress in developing their self-esteem. Some young people were not attending school, and others were not making any progress educationally prior to coming to the home. Some young people are educated partially or wholly on-site and now have good attendance. They are now successfully achieving a variety of individualised, educational goals. This means young people now have some transferable skills which will greatly assist them in living successful adult lives. One local authority colleague says, ' x has made really good progress in education.' Young people maintain regular contact with people who are important to them. This helps to sustain key relationships which offer not only valuable insights about their backgrounds, but also long-term options for support. Some young people make

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Outcomes for children and young people

sound progress in developing practical life skills to help them prepare for independence. They learn useful, core skills in cooking, budgeting and washing which means they are better prepared for the challenges of an independent life.

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Quality of care

Young people are clearly central to this home, and their needs are the most important. The staff demonstrate this by prioritising spending time with young people. They join in on practical education sessions and have focused individual time with young people, as well as informally chatting and chilling out together. As a result relationships between staff and young people are generally warm and constructive. Young people say, ' they are always willing to have a laugh with you, they treat you like family.' Local authority colleagues are appreciative of the 'strong positive relationships' that staff have with young people, and note that these give young people a real 'sense of security.’ Some young people appreciate the open food cupboards saying, 'it feels like it’s your own house.' Young people are confident about their views being heard either through individual discussions or through attendance at the regular residents’ meetings. The staff

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Quality of care

facilitate these meetings and enable young people to discuss any current issues in the home, new admissions, or staff coming and goings. Young people also contribute to menu planning and activities. They say that the meetings are, 'good, you can say what you like, and you get the food choices you want in turn.' However, sometimes requests made at residents’ meetings are not always carried through to action or explanation for no action. Occasionally, young people feel sufficiently strongly about an issue to make a complaint, but are then content that their issues were resolved at an informal level to their satisfaction. They are aware that they may not always be happy with complaint outcomes, but trust staff to resolve issues appropriately. Staff contribution to care planning is done in a timely fashion and is of a high standard. The content is highly individualised, outcome - focused and involves young

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Quality of care

people. For example, young people are involved in setting their individual goals, which are then routinely reviewed and signed off or amended. This helps young people to feel that their views are valued, and that they have the power to change things in their lives. Local authority colleagues say that, 'the homes’ weekly reports are very helpful and clear.' The home is very effective in meeting young people's health needs. Staff demonstrate good role modelling in terms of healthy eating and exercise, and are persistent in encouraging young people to stop smoking. Young people say, 'they are always on at you to give up.' Local authority colleagues note the positive impact the in- house psychotherapist has made on some young people's emotional health. The home has a strong emphasis on sexual health, and this has had a positive impact on some young people. The home also brings in specialists to stress the negative

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Quality of care

impact of substance misuse, and some young people are now no longer involved in this area. Another key priority of this home is meeting young people's educational needs. The dedicated education room is bright and welcoming, and education and care staff are equally committed to encouraging young people to do the best they can. Care staff say, 'it's our job as well to help young people develop educational skills.' This combined approach has been effective in helping young people have a more positive view about education. The staff encourage young people to take part in any activities they have an interest in. All young people have a weekly activity planner, which they contribute to. Some young people enjoy active pursuits like going to the gym or horse-riding. Others prefer to stay around the home chatting with and enjoying activities with staff. This helps young people develop social skills and a sense of what it feels like to be

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Quality of care

relaxed and calm. The home supports this by routinely offering in -house creative time. These facilitated sessions offer imaginative and fun ways to develop skills and express individuality. The home is well- located and attractively designed. It is regularly maintained, and generally offers a good level of comfort.

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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 confident in stating that they feel safe, and demonstrate this by their relaxed and trusting behaviour with staff. The staff are supported to keep them safe by routine and extensive safeguarding training and by their good knowledge and approach to safeguarding issues. Staff take appropriately protective action in relation to specific concerns, and local authority colleagues think staff are, 'very good on safeguarding issues.' Thoroughly completed and regularly reviewed risk assessments help young people stay safe, as does a proactive approach to any concerns about bullying. The home has appropriate relationships with local police and these are effective in in helping to protect vulnerable young people. Some young people are no longer involved in offending behaviour and this is sustained over a lengthy period of time. Young people rarely go missing, and if they do they usually return to the home

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Safeguarding children and young people

quickly. This represents a reduction in risk for some young people. The home has also been very effective in minimising risky behaviours in some young people. All this progress means that young people's safety is being well-promoted. Local authority colleagues have noted an improvement in the frequency of restraint use. This is now used sparingly, and the staff are committed to a de-escalation model of behaviour management which is usually successful. When restraint is used it is appropriate, and its use is well-monitored with a view to further reduction if possible. The manager takes a lead in ensuring that regular safety checks are done on the home, and that it is constantly being maintained to an overall good standard. Fire drills including evacuations are routinely held, and are held more frequently if there are new young people.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

There is now a suitable Registered Manager in post, but this follows a significant delay in one being appointed. This delay was due to circumstances which were outside the organisation's control. Where possible, the organisation acted in a timely and effective fashion to expedite the Registered Manager vacancy. During the vacancy period, effective acting manager arrangements were made. Local authorities have commented positively on the good impact these arrangements had on the quality of care provided to young people. There is no evidence that this Registered Manager gap had an adverse effect on the welfare of young people. At the last inspection there was a recommendation about further improvements to fire safety which has now been met. However, the statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the current situation in the home, nor does Ofsted have an updated version. The Registered Manager is new in post, but has already begun to

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Leadership and management

make improvements to existing recording systems and to file audits. She has inherited and added to a detailed and aspirational business plan, and has made a promising start to her new role. The staff are positive about their supervision which is appropriately recorded and happens in a timely fashion. The staff value their training opportunities and have reasonable access to a wide range of basic and specialist opportunities. This helps to equip them to give a good quality of care to young people. Files are well-kept and are routinely and effectively monitored. Local authority colleagues are positive about relationships with the home, and appreciate the good communications they receive. The home is monitored overall through appropriate Regulation 33 visits, and the Registered Manager has completed a strong Regulation 34 report. In addition to routine daily monitoring the manager analyses incidents on a monthly basis which

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Leadership and management

gives her sound information about the quality of care provided. This manager's actions and conduct so far suggest that leadership and management has good potential for further improvement.

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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 and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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