Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Unique reference number SC067757 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 Leanne Emma Heppleston Date of last inspection 18/02/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 22/07/2014

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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 good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people make some very good progress as a result of living in the home. They benefit from positive and caring relationships with staff. Young people feel that staff listen to them and their views and act upon these when appropriate. Observations show young people build solid relationships with staff in a nurturing environment. Peer relationships are generally positive and young people are supported well to manage any issues within the group.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say they feel safe in the home and staff act proactively in response to any issues or concerns. Staff have constructive relationships with parents, education and a range of specialist services, resulting in continuity of care for young people and access to specialist support when required.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is well managed by an enthusiastic Registered Manager and recently appointed deputy, who identify strengths and weaknesses within the home through monthly checks. The annual development plan includes identified areas for improvement in the quality of care and the environment for young people. Young people are also involved in consultation and service development through regular group meetings and individual sessions. The staff team say they are well trained and feel supported through formal and informal supervision. Therefore, young people benefit from a consistent approach from a stable team of carers. 3 of 9 The areas identified as requiring improvement as a result of this inspection are: referring the safeguarding policy to the local safeguarding children board for review; assessing the use of locks on the front door and evaluating turning electricity off to bedroom sockets as a behaviour management tool.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned, 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

18/02/2014 Interim good progress 16/08/2013 Full adequate 30/01/2013 Interim good progress 14/06/2012 Full good

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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 safeguarding children board for approval (Statutory guidance, vol 5, para 2.71)  review the risk assessments on the locking of the front door 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 for safety (NM 10.8)  devise a policy that details how the home's design promotes the health and safety of young people, with specific regard to the isolation of electricity to bedrooms (NMS 10.2) 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make significant progress in many areas of their lives, in relation to the starting points. Progress specific to individuals varies from attending education for the first time in several years to having inoculations and attending medical appointments for the first time. Young people develop skills to understand their personal histories and recognise how this impacts on their current behaviour. Young people are further supported to increase their confidence and self-esteem and to develop healthy attachments with staff, peers and family members. Young people are given some tools to improve resilience and understand the situations which lead to them being in care. The organisation's therapist supplements day to day care with individual, group and when appropriate, family therapy.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people gain an understanding of healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. Activities include cycling and using scooters, swimming and basketball. Meals are mostly homemade, including fresh produce. Smoking is not permitted in the home, although this is a current concern. Cessation workers and fire service staff are accessible to support young people to understand the dangers to health and of smoking indoors. Addiction, substance misuse and specialist sexual health workers engage young people to address specific issues or for general information sharing sessions. Young people have previously engaged with youth offending workers, although anti-social behaviour, such as shop lifting, remains a concern for some young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are effectively supported by staff to have their voice heard during statutory reviews. Young people’s house meetings encourage them to share their opinions on activities, menus and any other concerns within the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are generally involved in education either in the community or within the organisations school. Small achievements are celebrated, such as spending time in a classroom, when this has been a significant barrier for individuals in the past. Those who have left compulsory education are supported by specialist education and training organisations. However engagement is sporadic, despite staff tirelessly encouraging young people to attend appointments. In addition to formal education, young people learn skills for independence such as laundry, self-care and budgeting. An observed example was a young person being supported to order his new scooter by telephone.

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Quality of care good

6 of 9 Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff. Observations demonstrate that staff are genuinely concerned for young people’s wellbeing and they go beyond expectations to ensure young people are supported. An example is a member of staff coming into work on their day off to attend a police interview for an individual who was a victim of a crime. Staff have strong relationships with parents, carers and a range of external agencies to promote continuity in care and safety for young people. A parent commented that it was the best home her son has lived in and that ‘staff really care’.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s care plans are individualised and detail how to care for young people from the moment they wake until bedtime. Staff highlight improvements individuals make on a monthly basis and update plans in response to this. Behaviour management strategies are clearly detailed within plans and staff use a wide range of diversion and distraction techniques. Young people are actively involved in the formulation of plans and attend their review meetings when able.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s views are sought in all aspects of their care. Regular group meetings ensure young people have the opportunity to share their views on their care, activities and food, for example, within the home. There have been no formal complaints since the last inspection, although young people are aware of the complaints procedure. A serious bullying incident was managed immediately and decisively, ensuring the victim was safe. Bullying is not currently raised as a concern, although young people are confident staff will manage issues promptly.

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Quality of care good

Young people are involved in formal and informal education, through the use of a variety of short accredited courses. These include money skills, fishing and music. Staff are passionate about young people’s success and have high aspirations for them to succeed. Incentives to attend education are generally effective. If a young person is not engaging, staff use a variety of tools to help them overcome barriers to learning. Close working relationships with external education providers supports young people to attend school and continuity of approach to increasing engagement.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe and that staff do all they can to keep them safe within the home. Observations show they have staff they can go to if they are worried or upset. A current concern for young peoples’ safety has been managed robustly, including close working with the police. Due to the potential risk from external factors, the front door is being locked. The practice requires review to ensure the door can be opened quickly in the event of an emergency.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff have an excellent understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities and work proactively to reduce individual risks. Staff are knowledgeable in processes to follow should they be concerned for a young person’s safety or welfare and a flow chart displayed in the office reminds staff how to report any safeguarding issues. Incidents 7 of 9 of bullying are responded to swiftly and in a robust manner. Safeguarding investigations are managed promptly and robustly. Records are generally clear and demonstrate how the home follows local procedures. The Registered Manager is the safeguarding lead for the organistaion and sits on local multi agency panels. In addition the Registered Manager utilises the expertise of an external safeguarding consultant when required. Policies within the home and organisation are updated in response to safeguarding concerns locally and nationally. However the most recent version does not contain responses to a young person making a disclosure about

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Keeping children and young people safe good

another young person in the home and it has not been forwarded to the local safeguarding board for review.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Proactive positive behaviour plans relate to the organisations monetary based reward system and focus on de-escalation and positive reinforcement. Sanctions, when used, are fair and proportionate. Restraint is rarely required and only implemented as a last resort. Observations demonstrated staff de-escalating a situation within the home, calmly and with great effect. Post incident, staff support young people to consider the triggers of their unwanted behaviour and look at how their responses could be different in the future. However the use of isolating electricity to young people’s bedrooms in certain circumstances is not included in the behaviour management policy. It is also an institutional practice.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people go missing or do not return at the agreed time on occasion. Responses to being missing are proactive, with staff remaining in contact with young people or when appropriate, following them or looking for them in known locations. Robust procedures are in place should a young person be missing. The home has an excellent working relationship with local specialist police officers and attends regular meetings to keep abreast of local concerns and issues. Staff consult with young people to identify triggers causing them to leave the home without permission. Further, they consider how they can prevent them being missing in the future.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Regular checks of the building and practice fire drills help protect young people from unnecessary risk. Young people’s individual risk assessments allow young people to take age appropriate risk in line with their individual abilities. 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.

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Leadership and management good

The home has an effective and competent manager who was registered by Ofsted in June 2013. The manager holds an NVQ 3 qualification in caring for children and young people. They are currently undertaking the level 5 qualification in leadership and management with young people. The manager continuously fights for the rights for the young people placed both in the home and in the community. 8 of 9 The Registered Manager has an excellent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the home through their day to day presence and evaluative monthly monitoring. When shortfalls are identified, the manager seeks to rectify these swiftly. Quarterly scrutiny of monthly monitoring identifies trends and patterns while highlighting areas to be included in the annual development plan. Comprehensive reports in relation to visits conducted under Regulation 33 provide further insight into the quality of service provided. Additionally, questionnaires completed by various

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Leadership and management good

partner agencies provide valuable feedback regarding external impressions of the home and staff.

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Leadership and management good

The Statement of Purpose reflects the service provided in the home and by organisation wide staff. Staff understand the functions and ethos of the home and their role in meeting the needs of young people in placement. The young people’s guide is age appropriate and contains information about the home and staff and how to contact local and national advice and advocacy services.

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Leadership and management good

The home demonstrates an effective multi-agency approach to caring for young people. The manager’s involvement in multi-agency panels enables young people to have improved outcomes through prompt referral to services as required. Services that are not performing are challenged when as necessary and young people are supported to complain about external services when appropriate. Complaints about the home from neighbours are managed effectively. The manager has improved relations by making herself accessible by phone to neighbours and relationships have improved.

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Leadership and management good

The home has a consistent staff team who have an excellent understanding of the young people they care for. Staff are positive about their roles and enjoy the work they do. The management team act as positive role models and staff feel they are supported well through regular formal and informal supervision. Staff say managers are approachable and they are comfortable raising any concerns they may have. Staff benefit form varied training opportunities in order to complete their roles effectively. Further development opportunities are identified in annual appraisals. 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 resourced and maintained, providing a homely environment for young people. The recent area risk assessment demonstrates the home is located in an area that meets young people’s needs. 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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