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

Unique reference number SC391379 Inspection date 14/02/2014 Inspector Barbara Davies Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 18/10/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to take up to four young people with emotional or behaviour difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

p.3

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.

p.3

Progress

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

p.3

Progress

The full inspection of this home took place in October 2013 when the overall effectiveness was judged as being good. In the interim period the home is judged as making good progress. It has demonstrated the capacity to improve by having addressed all the recommendations imposed at that time. A requirement concerning the signing of records was subsequently withdrawn by Ofsted following a provider complaint. An updated report has not yet been published.

p.3

Progress

Young people are well supported in accessing advocacy, by for instance receiving frequent visits from an independent advocacy organisation. They are however, now better informed of other parties who they can approach for advice or to express concerns. This is because information, such as the contact details for the Children's Rights Director, is distributed throughout the home in several highly visible places and is included in the children's guide. Young people make good use of advocacy services to challenge and represent their views to their placing authority.

p.3

Progress

There is better recognition of the individual needs of young people. The content of placement plans are more geared towards meeting individual needs with specific and measurable targets being identified in most areas. The manager acknowledges that there is a need to be more specific about the strategies being used by staff in a small number of areas and is addressing this. Young people are now subject to regular and individual review during team meetings and this represents an improvement from them being viewed as a group.

p.3

Progress

Young people make progress by having their personal leisure interests and hobbies met. For instance one young person has taken part in a young learner drivers course and cello lessons. Educational attendance is sporadic for some but this is mostly attributed to uncertainty created by likely placement moves.

p.4

Progress

The home has worked effectively with young people since the last inspection and has achieved good outcomes. Young people enjoy stable placements and settle quickly on admission. The home has worked closely with placing authorities and in line with young people's care and placement plans. Some young people have moved positively to new placements within their home area and others are due to move to foster placements and return home.

p.4

Progress

Staff are aware of the vulnerabilities of individual young people and, in conjunction with the placing authority, take robust action in response to any incidents of young people being absent without permission or going missing. The frequency of this type of incident is low but did increase for a short period of time; this appropriately accelerated the move to a new placement.

p.4

Progress

Behaviour is managed well. The restraints records show that there has been no use of physical restraint as a means of managing behaviour in the period since the last inspection. Any sanctions imposed are reasonable and relevant to the misdemeanour committed. They are effective because there is seldom any repeat of behaviour. It is recognised that any sanction applied in respect of young people going missing has not always been successful and plans have then been reviewed with placing social workers.

p.4

Progress

Young people are aware of the home's complaints procedure and use this with confidence to raise concerns. Concerns raised by young people are taken seriously and the manager writes a letter to them following investigation which ensures they are informed of the outcome.

p.4

Progress

The health of some young people has improved after giving up smoking. They have achieved this after receiving encouragement and support from staff through a programme of rewards. Others remain committed to trying again despite unsuccessful first attempts. Literature around the home helps young people make informed choices about smoking and other health related issues.

p.4

Progress

The organisation is currently updating its safeguarding procedures to be consistent with the latest guidance issued by the Department for Education in respect of young people who go missing. The current safeguarding policy does not make reference to child sexual exploitation or the procedures to be followed in this instance and there is no evidence that the policy has been submitted to the local authority designated officer for approval. The current policy does indicate that any child protection concerns need to be referred to the social work office in which the home is located, but the specific contact details are not included in the policy or readily available in the home, leading to a lack of clarity regarding the process. Subsequent to the inspection, the managers have been asked by the organisation's child protection consultant and responsible individual to secure this information. The manager has

p.4

Progress

demonstrated a commitment to improving practice by taking prompt action to address the recommendation ahead of receiving the inspection report.

p.5

Progress

Reports completed following quality assurance visits to the home in line with regulation 33, although forwarded to Ofsted have not had the correct reference on them and this has resulted in them being categorised against the wrong setting. Inspectors have therefore had insufficient oversight of these during the interim period since the last inspection. This has not impacted on young people as any issues have been identified and addressed by the Registered Manager during her own monitoring of the home and in response to the actions identified within the regulation 33 reports that are available in the home.

p.5

Recommendations

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

p.5

Recommendations

 update the organisation's safeguarding policy and procedure to include information about child sexual exploitation, the contact details to which child protection concerns should be referred. Also forward a copy of the updated policy to the local authority designated officer (LADO) for approval (Statutory guidance, vol 5, para 2.67)  ensure that a written report on the conduct of the home is made available to HMCI following each visit made to the home in line with regulation 33. In particular ensure that the unique setting number is correct ( Stautory guidance, vol 5, para 3.13)

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6