Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Unique reference number SC062317 Inspector Emeline Evans 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 Florin Nicolae Morar Date of last inspection 14/02/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 22/07/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

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

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Overall effectiveness

Relationships between the staff group and young people are a strength of the service. This relationship is based on trust and respect and young people talk positively about the staff team and report that, ‘staff are good,' and 'I can talk to them.' Although the overall judgement is adequate there are a number of strengths that provide young people with a good quality of care. Young people are supported by a stable and experienced staff team. The Registered Manager and staff are committed to improving outcomes for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say they feel safe and they are looked after well. Unsafe behaviours are challenged appropriately and have reduced recently. The home is proactive in working in partnership with the young people and professionals to develop strategies to ensure the young people's safety is paramount.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are actively involved in consultation and service development through regular house meetings and individual work. Young people know that any issues or concerns will be dealt with appropriately by staff. Young people receive clear information about making complaints, but state they do not feel the need to do so. Young people are supported to engage in activities in the home and community.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls were identified within the inspection and have had an impact on the 3 of 12 overall judgement. Information available at the time of inspection indicated there was a delay in notifying significant others within the staff team and the appropriate authorities of safeguarding information. In addition no information was available relating to what action the home had taken in this instance. Management oversight had not identified these shortfalls. In addition there are shortfalls with regard to some specific training in loss, bereavement and life story work. Recommendations have been made to strengthen care planning to promote the young people's independence, regular review of Regulation 34 checks to identify trends and patterns and to revise the generic risk assessment to incorporate the fire escape routes when doors are locked and ensuring young people as much freedom as is safe. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children's home providing care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 19/09/2013 Full good 31/01/2013 Interim good progress 24/08/2012 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

(2001) ensure the written policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect is implemented (Regulation 16(1)(a)) 25/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the procedure under paragraph (1)(b) shall in particular provide for written records to be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response (Regulation 16(2)(d)) 25/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure if any of the events listed in column one of the table in Schedule five takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column two of the table. (Regulation 30 (1)) 25/08/2014 5 of 12

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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

 update the organisation's safeguarding policy and procedure to include information about allegations against another child. 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 staff have the relevant skills and experience to meet the health needs of young people; in particular in relation to loss and bereavement and l story work (Statutory guidance vol. 5, para 2.5)  review the risk assessments on the locking of the front door and back escape route to ensure this continues to be necessary to safeguard children and prom their welfare. In addition, fire escape routes at night time are clearly identified these risk assessments (NMS 10.8)  ensure the home has clearly recorded activities to promote individual young people’s independence  ensure that there are effective procedures in place for monitoring and control

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Recommendations

the activities of the home. This is with specific reference to incidents and allegations (NMS 21.1)  ensure the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records ke by the home to ensure compliance with the homes policies to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Reviews carried out are to be sent into Ofsted within the required timescales. (NMS 21 6 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make positive progress in many aspects of their lives, in relation to their extremely challenging starting points. The staff have high expectations and provide encouragement, incentives and celebrate any progress. Consequently, young people develop a positive view of themselves and are proud of their achievements. The holistic therapeutic approach supports young people to begin to make sense of their childhood experiences. This process of support is allowing young people to begin to reflect on behaviours and develop confidence in preparation for their transition to adulthood. Staff support young people to have an understanding of their past through life story work, intensive key work sessions and therapeutic intervention. This practice is enabling young people to think about their current placement and their future plans. One young person commented ‘It is good here; we have had our ups and

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged and supported in adopting healthy lifestyles, through a range of physical activities and a nutritious diet. Young people are actively involved in contributing to the menu and staff discuss with the young people the importance of healthy eating. Young people are provided with a range of information and given opportunities to spend time with staff to discuss and make decisions on their health and well-being. Young people report that, ‘Staff are available to talk to all of the time.’ Young people are involved in food preparation and cooking; this assists in developing independent living skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s potential and aspirations for future learning are supported by staff. Staff recognise the value of education and provide effective support to the young people’s individual educational arrangements. Young people are generally positive about their learning opportunities and the achievements they have made. Some young people with support from the staff team are looking at alternative provision for the next academic year.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy various leisure activities and are keen to be involved in the local community. For example, they go to the cinema, go karting, have joined football clubs and can visit friends’ houses. This helps young people build positive peer relationships increasing their social networks and integrating in the community.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

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 possible long-term options for support. Individual contact arrangements are suitably supported and facilitated by staff. Young people confirm that they understand the contact plans and arrangements that are in place. Placing authorities report on the flexibility of the home in providing these arrangements. 7 of 12 Whilst living in the home, young people are starting to develop a range of practical skills for independent living. Staff report that young people are developing in this area and this is contributing to enhancing their self-esteem. Staff explained that at present young people are not emotionally ready to undertake the organisations formal independent living plan. However, some young people will be moving on to adult

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Outcomes for children and young people good

placements in the near future and the progress young people have made or the skills young people could further develop was not clearly documented within care planning. Therefore, staff are unable to fully ensure young people are equipped with the necessary skills in preparation for successful transitions in to adult placements.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from the quality of the relationships they are developing with the caring members of staff working with them. Each young person is valued as an individual and staff members positive regard enables strong attachments and the foundation to develop and sustain appropriate relationships with peers and family. Young people are positive about staff and observed interactions are therapeutic, nurturing and challenging. Young people have developed a strong relationship with each other and are able to have fun and enjoy each other’s company. Young people say that, 'it feels like a family home.'

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Quality of care good

Routine consultation with young people on areas for improvement ensures their views are sought and when possible acted upon. There is an emphasis on including young people in decision-making about their personal plans and also in the development of the home. Key work sessions, house meetings and daily discussions provide opportunities for young people to express their views and influence the running of the home. Young people are encouraged to bring issues to these forums and know how to make a complaint. Records indicate that young people have not made any complaints since the last inspection. Young people spoken to felt staff resolved any grumbles or concerns and they have not needed to make a formal complaint.

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Quality of care good

Staff have been proactive in helping young people to sustain college places which will help them gain important skills. They have been successful in encouraging some young people to regularly attend these college placements. However, other young people have decided college placements have not been the right decision and attendance has been varied. The management and staff team openly work with other agencies, building effective partnerships in relation to health, local authorities, youth offending services and the police. This ensures that collaborative working benefits the young people through meeting their needs. One placing authority has requested additional information with regard to how the home is keeping the young person safe when out in the community. The home is currently compiling this information and is in communication with the placing authority to ascertain responsibilities in this area.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s needs are central in all aspects of care planning. Excellent placement 8 of 12 plans have been developed. Extensive work is undertaken in ensuring that young people's diverse needs are met in the best possible way. Young people enjoy good health with limited use of prescribed medication. Smoking is discouraged and specialist workers support young people with addictions and substance misuse concerns, resulting in young people’s greater awareness of the negative impact this can have on their health. The psychotherapist works closely with the home including weekly visits for all young people and family therapies. The psychotherapist is also available to staff, in assisting them to gain more knowledge and understanding of young people’s behaviour and emotional needs. To ensure consistency of approach and to support young people’s emotional well-being, comprehensive therapeutic plans are in place for young people. Medication is stored appropriately and there is a

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Quality of care good

thorough system to ensure safety when administering.

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Quality of care good

The home is well-maintained and in a convenient and accessible location. It provides a comfortable environment where young people feel secure. Bedrooms are personalised with pictures and possessions, and young people can choose the colours for redecoration. The staff and young people have been developing relationships with the neighbouring community. There are encouraging signs that the situation is improving and the manager is very aware and responsive to any concerns.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people say they feel safe and that staff do what they can to keep them safe in the home. Young people do not feel bullying is currently an issue in the home, staff are proactive in working with young people around instances of bullying. Young people are confident in approaching staff to ask for advice on issues that are worrying them. Since the last inspection, there has been a change in the group dynamics within the home. This has resulted in the home feeling settled and young people and staff moving forward together.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people know the consequences of risk-taking behaviours and how this impacts on their safety and their presence in the community. Staff are persistent in supporting young people to keep safe and work collaboratively with external professionals including the youth offending team to encourage young people to reflect on the impact their behaviour has on others.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Safeguarding is a strong feature at the home and young people are confident that staff will ensure their safety and well-being. There are clear and comprehensive child protection policies and procedures which inform and support staff practices. The child protection consultant is currently in the process of updating this policy and it still requires information in relation to actions to take following allegations against another child. The home's staff group demonstrates a good understanding of child protection procedures. However, at the time of inspection records indicated that a disclosure had been made a number of months ago. According to staff spoken to and records available at the time of inspection, there was a delay in notifying significant 9 of 12 others within the staff team and the appropriate authorities. This lack of information did not indicate young people’s needs for protection were addressed thoroughly. It is

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

therefore, unclear if in this instance the safeguarding procedure was implemented in practice. In addition, there are insufficient written records available in the home to determine the actions taken following this disclosure and the outcomes. The management oversight in this instance was not clearly evidenced. However, in other cases there was clear information available to evidence young people’s welfare is adequately safeguarded and that any concerns or allegations has been investigated in line with protocol.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people are reducing the risks to their personal safety by going missing less often. Procedures are in place for staff to actively search for any young people who do go missing and refer to the police as required. Similarly, incidents of behaviour that require physical intervention by staff have significantly reduced with a low level recorded since the last inspection in February 2014. This is good progress for the young people in placement and demonstrates personal development in managing their own behaviour without the need for physical intervention, they are responding well to low level support from staff.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

This organisation has demonstrated robust and thorough vetting procedures for the employment of new staff. This ensures that there are adequate safeguards for the protection of vulnerable young people. Matters of health and safety, and fire detection and prevention are given serious attention. This is underpinned by policies, procedures and training that alert staff to their roles and levels of responsibility. As a result, young people benefit from a safe environment and this has a positive impact upon their welfare. However, staff explained that the front door is kept locked at night and that this is necessary to ensure the environment is safe and secure and because of the vulnerabilities of young people in placement. Young people do not perceive the door being locked as a problem. However, the risk assessment in place does not support this practice to allow young people as much freedom as possible,

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

consistent with the need to keep them safe. In addition, the fire risk assessment does not clearly indicate the means of escape at night time when doors are locked.

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Leadership and management adequate

Since the last inspection, the manager has been successfully registered with Ofsted. The manager has been in post since February 2014 and has a number of years’ experience of working with children and young people. He is currently undertaking a level 5 qualification in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services. The shortfall identified within the safeguarding judgement did not have appropriate management oversight. At the time of inspection, the manager was unable to provide evidence that appropriate action had taken place following the incident and if any internal investigations were required following receipt of the information. 10 of 12 The manager understands the strengths of the home and is aware of the areas for development. Staff report that morale is good amongst the team and they have clear direction and leadership. Their enthusiasm is to get it right and raise the quality of

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Leadership and management adequate

care for young people is evident as they use the opportunities for supervision, team meetings and daily handovers. Since the last inspection there has been one complaint; this has been dealt with promptly and effectively. This demonstrates capacity to learn from feedback and work with others within the local community. Social workers report very good working relationships with the staff and management of this home where communication is regular and reliable.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose is comprehensive, setting out the home's objectives. Young people receive a vast amount of information on the home in an accessible format which allows them to have an understanding of what care is provided by the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Young people benefit from being cared for by an evolving and committed staff team who are positive about their roles and enjoy their work. The home is sufficiently staffed and resourced to enable it to meet the needs of the young people currently in placement. The staff team comprises of a good gender balance. Agency staff have not been used often, this ensures continuity of care for young people. Staff are very positive about the range of unique training opportunities offered by the organisation. Since the last inspection, staff have participated in a range of training specific to the needs of the young people currently accessing the service. This includes training on cognitive behaviour therapy and advice from professionals on health matters such as young people smoking. However, staff have not attended training in life story work which is currently being undertaken with young people in the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Significant events have not been notified to Ofsted in all circumstances. It is unclear which other authorities were notified following one incident. This suggests there is a lack of transparency and working together with other agencies to ensure best practices.

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Leadership and management adequate

Monthly monitoring reports are undertaken by an independent visitor. This level of monitoring is effectively used by the staff team, ensuring action is taken to address any shortfalls. The Registered Manager undertakes quality assurance monitoring checks in line with Regulation 34 on a regular basis. However, the review of these checks has not been recently undertaken. This does not enable trends and patterns to be fully examined and information to be fully shared with the staff team. The requirement following the last inspection has been met and all but two recommendations. These recommendations was partially met; the child protection policy requires some additional information and for a copy to be forwarded of the updated policy to the local authority designated officer (LADO) for approval. In addition staff have yet to undertake training in bereavement and loss. Young people’s files now contain the date and circumstance of any measure of control, restraint or

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Leadership and management adequate

discipline. In addition, there are now clear boundaries in place around smoking and these are consistently reinforced and care planning focuses on strategies to reduce 11 of 12 this behaviour. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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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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