Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC465579 Inspection date 14/01/2014 Inspector Mark Blesky Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This private children's home can accommodate three children of either gender with emotional or behavioural difficulties on a medium to long-term basis. This company owns and operates a number of other children's homes and a fostering service.

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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

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points across most aspects of their welfare and development. This has been particularly evident in challenging and modifying behaviours.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff members have effectively engaged the young people and built and sustained effective and beneficial relationships with them. Care practices are well-managed and are effective in delivering good outcomes for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are beginning to address an aspect of a young person's behaviour and it is acknowledged that progress is being been made. However, the process should have started sooner; a lack of decisive action and consistent planning has contributed to delay. Delay in addressing negative behaviour is less likely to promote positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's awareness of the importance of health and education has increased substantially and they are now more able to make informed choices.

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Overall effectiveness

Care planning and placement planning is comprehensive, individualised and meets the diverse needs of young people. Plans are well-managed and ambitious and these have been effective in providing young people with good opportunities and positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Health and education have been effectively promoted in most areas. However, staff have not always made the most of opportunities to further promote these key areas. Staff feel supported by a Registered Manager who provides strong leadership and staff have used their training effectively to positively shape and influence their practice. While there is evidence to show that effective supervision is being provided to staff, the way in which supervision is recorded is not always consistent which impact on the effectiveness of performance appraisal.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and well cared for and risk assessments are used to mitigate and minimise risks and enhance the safety of young people. Risk assessments are typically up-to-date, of good quality and reviewed regularly although it was noted that in one case there was a delay in implementing the risk assessment. Delay should be avoided.

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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 home regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour, examines trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice (NMS 3.21)  implement a proportionate approach to any risk assessment. This is related to consideration of the staff gender and the gender of the young people (NMS 4.5)  ensure that the learning and development programme is evaluated for effectiveness at least annually and if necessary is updated (NMS 18.2)  ensure that suitable arrangements exist for professional supervision of the registered person of the agency. This relates to maintaining detailed supervision records (NMS 19.3)  ensure children’s physical and emotional and social development needs are promoted (NMS 6.1)  ensure that children are helped by staff to achieve their educational or training goals. This includes providing support, facilities and opportunities as needed.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are cared for in a manner that results in them establishing positive and meaningful relationships with staff members. Young people gain self-confidence and their ability to express themselves increases. Young people feel valued and are taking increased responsibility for themselves. Young people's health improves as a result of the care, support and advice that they receive. Staff members are effective in supporting young people to develop an understanding of the importance of health and diet and young people make positive lifestyle choices.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a healthy and nutritious diet and take advantage of opportunities to cook for themselves. Young people's health is generally well promoted, however staff have not always used opportunities to adopt a team approach to health promotion. This has made health promotion less effective in the case of a specific preventative treatment.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The Registered Manager and staff understand the importance of education and have worked hard to secure education in the absence of mainstream exclusion. This has resulted in a young person receiving education and beginning to commit to more regular study. The social worker and independent reviewing officer have applauded the efforts made by the home and acknowledge that this has benefited one young person greatly. However, in the absence of home tuition, staff could have been more proactive in promoting education within the home. Staff members have not always used opportunities to introduce education and learning into the day-to-day practices within the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have good opportunities to partake in activities and hobbies within the wider community and staff constantly promote this. One young person has not taken advantage of these opportunities and has said they prefer activities that are more solitary. Staff however, continue to work hard to promote community activities and progress in this area was evident.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact that is structured and well planned. Young people use these opportunities to enjoy contact with friends and family and benefit from the practical and emotional support from staff members. Contact is typically rewarding and uneventful and this is greatly valued by the young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well supported by staff and gain and develop skills that will support them into adulthood. Young people learn to cook, plan and prepare meals. Young people also learn to budget and use public transport. They learn a range of skills that are specific to their diverse needs and complement their abilities. Young people gain confidence through this support and as a result are more positive about being able to look after themselves.

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Quality of care

Young people form and sustain positive and constructive relationships with staff. Relationships are warm and respectful and young people feel valued and well looked after.

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Quality of care

Young people generally behave positively as a result of being engaged and supported by the staff who care for them. When behaviour is less positive, staff negotiate effective sanctions to encourage more positive behaviour. Key working is also used effectively to discuss less positive behaviour in a way that supports improved behaviour. The home is currently trying to address some elements of negative behaviour and it is recognised that progress in this area has been challenging.

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Quality of care

Young people use opportunities to voice their views and opinions effectively. The formal arena for this is provided by residents’ meetings. Young people also use key working sessions and their day-to-day contact with staff to express opinions about their care and the running of the home. One young person spoken to has recently had their room decorated and successfully negotiated more free time. A young person commented that their opinions are valued by the staff; that staff listen to them and act on their suggestions.

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Quality of care

Complaints are uncommon in this home, however young people are aware of the complaints procedure and are confident about being able to use it if necessary. Where complaints are made, staff take them seriously and young people are kept informed of how their complaints are being dealt with. Young people are aware that if they are dissatisfied with the way in which a complaint has been addressed they can take the matter further.

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Quality of care

Comprehensive care planning and placement planning is provided for all young people. Plans are of good quality and demonstrate an understanding of the young person's individual and diverse needs. Young people understand their plans and where appropriate contribute to them. Placement planning is regularly reviewed and includes a running record of key events and significant milestones. Care planning is therefore well managed, engaging and regularly reviewed, providing young people with effective day-to-day care.

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Quality of care

Young people's health is managed within the care and placement planning process. Each young person is registered with core health services and benefits from regular health assessments. Where a specific need for medical intervention arises, staff are prompt in referring the matter to the appropriate agency.

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Quality of care

Staff are effective in engaging community health, including community mental health, services which provide additional support for the young people. However, in one particular case the home is still addressing the issue of outstanding immunisations. There is limited evidence to show that in this case health care has been promoted as effectively.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported in their education and staff have worked hard to ensure that home tuition is provided by the education department. A placing social worker and independent reviewing officer (IRO) commented that the home has worked tirelessly to provide home tuition for one young person who had a long history of school refusal. While it is acknowledged that the home has worked exceptionally hard to get the home tuition in place, staff did not use opportunities to promote education and one-to-one support, while they were waiting for the home tuition to start.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy living in a very well maintained and decorated home. One young person commented that the staff always keep the home nice and that any repairs are carried out quickly.

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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 kept safe by staff who are aware of the vulnerabilities of young people. All staff receive training in safeguarding and child protection and this has provided them with insights and skills in keeping young people safe. Staff say that the training has shaped and influenced their practice and they are more aware of how to keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe and have confidence in the staff to look after them and protect them from harm. One young person commented that ‘the staff worry about me and it makes me feel cared for’. Investigations into any allegations or suspicions of harm are managed effectively ensuring the protection and support of the young person. Any suspicions of harm are brought promptly to the attention of both the local authority and the placing authority. As a result young people are safeguarded and protected and matters are promptly addressed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

When young people place themselves at risk as a result of their behaviour, for example by running away from the home, the staff take prompt action. The home has formed close working relationships with the local police and all parties, including social workers, work together effectively to minimise risks for the young people. The risks for young people are therefore reduced. One young person is beginning to make significant improvements in keeping themselves safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Physical intervention has not been used in this home since it was registered in August 2013. The Registered Manager and staff believe that through effective working and engagement with the young people physical intervention is rarely necessary. However staff are trained and supported by robust practices and procedures to ensure any use of physical restraint is managed effectively.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are looked after by staff who have been safely recruited and only appointed once checks on their suitability to work with young people have been completed. Staff members are also subject to statutory checks to ensure they remain suitable to work with young people and safeguard their welfare. All visitors to the home are strictly monitored and required to identify themselves before they are allowed access. Young people are aware that stringent checks are made on all visitors to ensure young people do not come into contact with people who are unsuitable.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessments are conducted in the home to ensure that the health and safety is maintained for each young person. Young people benefit from risk assessments which consider their behaviour along with the physical environment: hazards and risks are reduced as a result. During the inspection, it was noted that one risk assessment being developed to address issues around the gender of staff and young people is outstanding.

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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 is effectively managed by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager who has been in post since the home was first registered in August 2013. Staff and young people spoken to are confident in the Registered Manager’s skills and abilities and state that she is approachable and reliable. Staff say the Registered Manager is a strong and effective leader and feel that their professional development is supported effectively.

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Leadership and management

This is the first inspection since registration. The home has produced a development plan detailing areas for further improvement. The plan appropriately identifies key areas of performance and improvement is already emerging from the work which is being undertaken. This demonstrates that the Registered Manager and staff are proactive and committed to improving the services.

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Leadership and management

The home has published, and reviewed, its Statement of Purpose which details the services that it provides for the young people. In discussion with staff and a social worker it is clear that the care is provided in accordance with the Statement of Purpose.

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Leadership and management

Quality assurance systems are effective and result in regular monitoring of the home’s performance with action being taken to address identified weaknesses or shortfalls in performance. The Registered Manager has a clear vision of the support and services that need to be provided and this results in staff members being effectively motivated and focused. The home has just undertaken a comprehensive review of its Regulation 33 practice in monitoring the home’s performance. The new document is comprehensive, provides more detail and goes beyond the expectations set out in the regulations.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager and staff members demonstrate a good awareness of the needs of the young people and understand the importance of engaging young people and achieving positive outcomes. Staff members spoken to demonstrate a good awareness of the care provided and are also able to articulate the positive differences that their care has made.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from being looked after by confident members of staff who are appropriately trained and supervised. Staff training enhances their skills, their awareness and their confidence and young people benefit from the consistent care practices that result. Although training covers the key elements of young people's care, some training, which has been identified to meet the specific needs of young people, is not always pursued expeditiously. This may result in staff having less skills and knowledge to address more diverse needs.

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Leadership and management

Staff value their supervision, and feel that their professional development is driven effectively through this process. However, in a small number of examples supervision records are not capturing these sessions well. This makes the benefit of supervision in relation to staff development, less demonstrable.

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Leadership and management

The home maintains young people's personal files and records effectively. Records are clear, concise, up-to-date and stored securely. Records that may be used to support the young person gaining an understanding of their care history are sensitively written and shared with young people appropriately.

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Leadership and management

All significant events relating to the protection of children accommodated in the home are notified by the registered person to the appropriate authorities. Appropriate action is subsequently taken following the incident.

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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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