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

Unique reference number SC414738 Inspector Jennie Christopher Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Benjamin UK Ltd Registered person address Ascott Lodge Lower Ascott, Wing Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 0PU Responsible individual Claudette Elizabeth Deysel Registered manager Louise Rachael Hyams Date of last inspection 20/02/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 16/07/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2014 Interim good progress 15/10/2013 Full good 07/03/2013 Interim good progress 21/08/2012 Full good

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose. (Regulation 17B (3)) 29/08/2014

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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 where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, child are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home 4 of 9 (NMS 3.18)  review the risk assessments on the locking of the front door overnight to ensure this continues to be necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Further assess if there are other means to secure the front door at night (NMS 10.8)  continually review the number of staff on individual shifts to ensure staffing levels meet the individual needs of all young people in the home. (NMS 17.1) 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress in all areas of lives in relation to the starting points. They are supported to understand their personal histories and explore themselves as an individual. As a result young people develop improved confidence and a strong understanding of the issues which led to them being in care. Young people learn healthy attachments through their relationships with staff and each other, providing a stable base to form appropriate relationships in the future.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are supported to understand healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. Meals are mostly home made by staff and young people and include a range of fresh produce. Activities include swimming and using the gym. Care plans identify healthy living concerns and how to promote these with individual young people. Some young people do smoke or misuse substances and external support agencies are actively involved with individuals to encourage cessation. Furthermore specialist sexual health workers engage with young people in the home in both group and individual sessions. Young people engage effectively with youth offending workers as appropriate and as a result offending within the home has reduced.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are actively encouraged to share their views in group and individual meetings. Changes within the home, as result of consultation, have included brighter décor and a continually evolving range of activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are all involved in some form of education both within the organisation’s school and in community placements. Some have recently completed their GCSE’s and are considering their options for the upcoming academic year. In addition to formal education young people engage in AQA short courses on a variety of subjects including drug misuse, cooking and fishing. Young people have a mostly positive presence in the community and engage in a variety of activities there. All young people are currently exploring volunteering opportunities they would like to be involved in.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people learn skills for independence such as laundry, self-care and budgeting, dependant on their age and abilities. Many young people who have moved on from the home into independence remain in contact with staff and comment on how useful the support they had living in the home was.

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Quality of care outstanding

6 of 9 Staff have extremely high aspirations for all young people in their care. Young people benefit from t excellent relationships with them. Young people feel that staff are not 'just there as a job', with one stating that they are ‘child centred’. Staff are demonstrably concerned for all aspects of young people’s welfare. Observations by inspectors showed a variety of methods used by staff to positively engage individuals. Staff form strong relationships with parents, carers and a range of external agencies to promote continuity in care and safety for young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people’s views are taken into consideration in all aspects of their lives. Weekly group meetings with the organisation’s psychotherapist provide young people with the opportunity to share any concerns regarding the home and relationships with others there. Young people are aware of the complaints procedure and responded to robustly; separate meetings can be held with an independent adult to determine a way forward and potential resolutions. Young people are also provided with the space to reflect how their behaviour may affect others.

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Quality of care outstanding

Individual care plans contain information completed by the young people regarding their view of themselves and what is important to them. Young people are actively involved in the review process and, when required, have access to independent advocates. A system to review individual care plans, demonstrating monthly progress against targets is being implemented. This is proving an effective evaluation tool. Contact with family and friends is continually monitored, ensuring it remains beneficial for the young person.

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Quality of care outstanding

All young people are engaged in education and young people are supported to overcome any barriers to learning. Close liaison with placing authority virtual heads and local education providers ensures continuity in education and that young people have the opportunity to succeed in line with their peers. In addition, the use of the varied AQA programme adds to individual young people's education portfolio.

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Quality of care outstanding

Positive behaviour is promoted through a variety of methods, including the organisation’s monetary based programme. Young people understand the system and feel it is effective, as it supports them to work towards a goal of a specified activity they can use the money for. In addition sanctions are fair and proportionate, and related to the negative behaviour displayed. Young people are supported sensitively to understand social rules and norms. For example, staff gently remind a young person not to interrupt another’s conversation.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe within the home and they identify staff they would go to if they were worried or upset. Young people’s demeanour within the home evidences how comfortable they feel. Staff have a good understanding of each young person’s vulnerabilities and work proactively to reduce individual risks. Staff are aware of processes to follow should they be concerned for a young person’s welfare. 7 of 9 A flow chart in the office acts as a further reminder of how to report any safeguarding concerns.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Bullying is currently identified as a concern. The home has responded in a robust manner to reduce instances of bullying behaviour, working closely with staff and young people to recognise the differences between sibling style arguments and bullying.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Safeguarding investigations are responded to promptly and in a robust manner. Records are clear and demonstrate how the home follows local procedures. The home is also able to utilise the expertise of an external safeguarding consultant as required. Policies within the home are updated in response to safeguarding concerns locally and nationally, including identifying signs of exploitation.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do go missing on occasion. When young people leave the home without permission staff try to remain in contact with them at all times, including following them or looking for them in known locations when it is safe to do so. Robust measures are in place should a young person be missing and the home has a good working relationship with local specialist police officers. Staff liaise with young people to identify the reasons why they left the home without permission. They support them to consider how they can prevent this happening again or make choices that could keep them safe should they be missing in the future. Individual files contain up-to-date photographs of young people in case of emergency. Young people’s risk assessments focus on risk reduction, while enabling young people to engage in age appropriate activities.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Individualised positive behaviour plans reward young people through the organisation’s monetary base reward system and verbal positive reinforcement. Young people are supported to consider causes of unwanted behaviour and how they can respond more positively in the future. Restraint is rarely used and always as a last resort. Staff are trained in safe physical intervention practice and focus on de- escalation. Observations by inspectors demonstrated staff responding effectively to a young person’s anger and distress in a non-confrontational manner, resulting in a peaceful resolution. Records of sanctions and restraint are not always completed fully though, including documenting when a young person declines to comment on the effectiveness of the intervention.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Regular checks of risks assessments, the building and procedures protect young people from unnecessary risk. Locking the front door overnight for safety requires regular review to ensure it is necessary to safeguard young people, not overly restrictive and allows exit of the building in an emergency. Room searches are conducted with appropriate reason and young people understand the circumstances where their belongings would be searched. The organisation’s recruitment policy is thorough, including robust personnel checks. 8 of 9

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Leadership and management good

The home manager was registered by Ofsted in October 2013. The manager holds a degree and NVQ 3 qualification in caring for children and young people. She is currently undertaking the level 5 qualification in leadership and management with young people and is suitable and experienced to manage this provision.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses within the home and care practice. However, there has been a failure to identify that records of restraint have not been fully completed.

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Leadership and management good

Evaluative reports in relation to Regulation 33 visits are of a high standard. Quarterly evaluation of the manager’s monthly monitoring identifies trends and patterns and highlights areas to be included in the annual development plan. Questionnaires completed by young people, their families and various partner agencies are evaluated to further identify areas of improvement within the home.

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Leadership and management good

The Statement of Purpose is clear, reflecting both the individuality of the home while remaining within the organisation’s ethos. Staff fully understand the functions of the home and their role in providing the service detailed in the document. The young people’s guide is in an age appropriate, easy to understand format. It contains information on both internal, local and national advice and advocacy services.

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Leadership and management good

The home has an effective multi-agency approach to working, aiming to improve outcomes for young people. Social workers comment that communication with the home is good. Close working relationships with a range of specialist services increases positive outcomes for young people. Services that are not performing are challenged rigorously when necessary. There have been no complaints regarding the home from the local community.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a consistent staff team and rarely requires the use of agency staff. Current risk assessments identify there is sufficient staffing to meet the needs of young people, however this needs to remain under review to ensure young people’s safety and that their needs are met. Staff have an excellent understanding of the young people they care for and are very positive about their roles. Staff say they are supported well by the management team through regular supervision and feel they can approach managers with any concerns at any time. Annual appraisals identify training needs for the coming year detailed in individual training profiles. Newly appointed staff complete an induction programme specific to the service, based on the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards.

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Leadership and management good

The home is well maintained and regularly redecorated. It has various areas for group and individual interaction and is located in an area that meets the needs of the young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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