Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC465579 Inspector Chris Golbourn Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Benecare Ltd Registered person address 18 - 20 Canterbury Road Whitstable Kent CT5 4EY Responsible individual Stephen William Richmond Registered manager Angela Lorraine Baskerville Date of last inspection 14/01/2014 2 of 12 Inspection date 28/01/2015

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Previous inspection good 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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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home with some outstanding features. Young people make good progress from their starting points at the time of admission. They thrive in this nurturing environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Committed staff are strongly led, well-trained and supported to give high quality care to young people. Staff have high expectations of young people in terms of presentation, behaviour and achievement.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from personalised individual plans, which focus on maximising positives. This helps create a home where young people make excellent progress and achieve progressive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people report feeling very happy living in this home. They have positive relationships with each other and the staff team. They feel very well listened to by the manager and all members of staff and are able to influence how the home is run. They enjoy a wide range of fun and stimulating activities. They have regular contact with family members and friends and engage well in education placements.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe in this home and are positive about the warm support that staff give them. They develop a real sense of their own personal responsibilities and 3 of 12 being able to take appropriate risks over time. Staff work with young people, family and involved agencies to ensure that clear plans and goals are set and met for all young people. This has led to a significant reduction in safeguarding and missing from home concerns. A social worker says 'staff work really hard to reduce the risk and keep young people safe'.

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Overall effectiveness

The management team and staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there is a development plan in place. The Registered Manager has also reviewed and implemented new policies and procedures for safeguarding within the home, an impact of which is a reduction in a young person going absent without leave and being at risk for sexual exploitation.

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Overall effectiveness

All recommendations from the last inspection have been well met by the Registered Manager and staff team. Two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to a proportionate approach in risk assessment to show the work carried out by staff and lessons learnt; and to ensure that there are clear arrangements for suitably qualified and experienced staff to deputise in the registered person’s absence. Neither of the shortfalls identified have an impact on the high quality of care young people are currently receiving. 4 of 12

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Information about this children’s home

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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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 implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment.(NMS 4.5.) This relates to updating risk assessment plans from the outcomes of incidents to show the impact of work carried out by staff and the lessons learnt.  ensure that there are clear arrangements for staff to deputise in the registered person’s absence. The deputy of the registered person of the home (or the person designated to deputise for the registered person in his/her absence) has at least one year’s relevant supervisory experience. (NMS 17.4.) This relates to no substantive deputy being in post at the current time and acting deputy manager (s) deputising for the Registered Manager in her absence. 5 of 12

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people living in this home make good progress. Staff work consistently hard to engage them on all levels. There have been notable reductions in the number of times young people have been found absent without permission. For example a young person who in previous months was absent regularly has had no such episodes in the last six weeks. There has been a reduction in incidents of behaviour requiring intervention by staff and reducing restraint being used. A social worker says " Staff have a very can do attitude"

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people maintain good health. They benefit from the personalised support and guidance provided to them in relation to their emotional and physical wellbeing. They learn about health risks such as smoking and drinking alcohol or experimenting with substances and are strongly encouraged to reduce behaviours which may impact negatively on their health. Partnership working by the staff with community based providers to the support the individual health needs of the young people is well recorded. As a result young people begin to understand the importance of following a healthy lifestyle; they make improved life choices in relation to their diets, their social activities and take part in physical activities outside of the home which promote their health and wellbeing. Young people see a range of health professionals to support them with evolving or ongoing health issues.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are able to develop and maintain social relationships. Opportunities to promote friendships are facilitated. For example, young people are able to invite family friends to events held in the home. an example of this was one young persons birthday which was celebrated in the home with other residents, friends from outside and family members also being invited to participate in the celebration. Such positive social interactions for the young people enable them to develop an improved sense of identity within their peer group, which in turn promotes their self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people also benefit from positive family contact in-line with arrangements agreed with the placing local authorities. Family members are welcomed into the home. They feel that they have choices and feel listened to. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms and are involved in decisions about the home. For example, they contributed to decisions about a recent change of use within communal living areas, so that one young person is able to access his learning and leisure resources more easily.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The young people are positively engaged in the choice purchase and preparation of food and meals. The Registered manager, staff and the wider organisation is keen for 6 of 12 young people to be involved in the selection of new staff and includes them in the final interview panel. As a result this shows that young people's views are valued within service arrangements and development. It is also shows that the young people are given opportunities to expand their own experiences of formal interaction with professionals which will give them a sense of pride an achievement.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

There are a range of stimulating leisure and social activities provided for the children and young people which are appropriate for the age, aptitude and ability. Some examples include trips to a local farm park, working as a volunteer in a local community shop, horse-riding, swimming and local gym. Engagement in activities such as these by the young people improve their confidence and promote good physical and mental health through physical and social activity.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Staff see education as important and they understand the clear expectation for regular school attendance. this is reflected by the young people's comments and views. Young people make good progress from their starting points at the time of admission. Regular attendance at school and college is very good

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Comments from young people include 'I receive good help with my education; I have been on a lot of courses and have the certificates to prove it'. The well planned individualised care provided by the staff to the young people promotes the development of independence skills and knowledge. Young people moving towards leaving care learn to budget, shop and cook for themselves while still living within a supportive environment.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people benefit enormously from living in a home where staff are friendly, nurturing and provide high quality individualised support. A social worker commented, 'Staff are very nurturing and very realistic in their care… the young people feel this from them'. The Registered Manager and staff are realistically ambitious for young people to succeed to the best of their potential and be able to live safely in the community.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for young people and work hard to make living at this home as fulfilling as possible for them with a very personalised care approach. The Registered Managers has a strong determination to make a difference to young people's lives, and staff follow this example. This underpins the exceptionally high standards of care. As a result the staff achieve these goals by communicating high levels of genuine warmth and concern towards young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff ensure that high quality individual placement plans are up to date that fully detail how young people's assessed needs will be met. They review these monthly with the young people praising their success and celebrating achievements. As a result, this structured and nurturing approach helps young people feel safe, secure 7 of 12 and be able to trust the adults who look after them. In this trusting environment young people are able to talk about past negative experiences and put these behind them.The passionate approach which staff show in their work generates some quick successes for young people such as improved behaviour, self-presentation and being on time for appointments, fewer incidents of going missing or absent without permission soon after moving into the home. Changes which are as noticeable such as these are commented on by external professionals supporting the children's needs to a Social worker says' without the support that the home has given to

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Quality of care outstanding

stabilise our young person, they would not be able to return to a planned community foster placement - they would just not cope'. The Registered Manager and the staff team have an exceptionally strong reluctance to give up on young people, irrespective of their diverse and complex challenges. Staff make young people feel particularly cared about, they work diligently with young people and have considerable success in reducing incidences of negative, risky behaviours while promoting positive outcomes.

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Quality of care outstanding

The Registered Manager and the staff have a willingness to try different approaches based on the individual young person's needs, pathway and aspirations. Advice is taken from other professionals as appropriate to inform care planning. This is not always straight forward depending on the behaviour and needs of each young person. Through strong team work, reflective practice, a young person centred approach, and relentless drive to make a positive difference; staff continually review the care plans and strategies in place and negotiate with the young to people to make continued improvement in their lives. As a result and from the examples set by the staff to the young people, the young people are empowered to make choices and decisions about their lives.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff consultation with young people in strong and individualised ways particular to their own style of communicating, for example using a cuddly toy as a third party to interact through. High levels of inclusion help young people influence decisions about their care, day to day running of the home, décor, activities and contact arrangements with their families. Communicating to young people that their wishes and feelings are highly regarded helps them to talk about important aspects of their lives and to feel listened to.

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Quality of care outstanding

The Registered Manager and staff have developed excellent partnerships with external agencies including, police, health, education and placing authorities youth justice services. The Registered Manager is pivotal in co-ordinating a strong multi- agency approach. As a result this ensures young people receive very effective support. Partner agencies and placing local authorities are also appropriately challenged by the Registered Manger if it is believed that the care plan for the young person is not appropriate at that time. A clear example of this is that a young person who has a pathway plan to go to semi- independent living was challenged as the Registered Manager produced evidence that this was too soon, and would place the young person at risk of harm through child sexual exploitation. 8 of 12 Further examples of positive partnership working and care planning is evident in the reduction of, substance misuse, missing from home incidents as well as

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Quality of care outstanding

improvements in education, emotional well-being, family contact and pathways to independence. The Registered Manager ensures that these arrangements also lead to admissions and discharge from the home that are comprehensively planned around the individual needs of young people.

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Quality of care outstanding

A social worker commented, 'we have very positive partnership working with the manager and the staff, the work they do around child sexual exploitation, reducing young people going missing and any exploitative behaviours, , minimising risk to young people is real quality care planning.'

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Quality of care outstanding

The staff use a matching tool to assess young people as part of a planned admission. The Registered Manager ensures young people are able to access local children and adolescent mental health services. Very good use of the professional, help and direction from such services to work creatively with young people who have complex mental health needs is used in an effective and timely way. A professional stakeholder said, 'A magnificent job with her complex and challenging needs.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they are and appear to be safe and happy in the home. This view is reinforced by professionals who state, ‘ Safeguarding is a high priority in the home'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff have good safe caring practices in place and demonstrate high levels of competence when caring for the individual young person's needs. Staff knowledge of the individual young person is very good, knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are and what signs and symptoms to recognise if a young person is likely to placing themselves or others at risk. Good consistent staff teams and staff ratios ensure close support, supervision and monitoring of young people. Robust risk assessments and behaviour management plans clearly highlight warning signs, triggers and strategies. Plans are reviewed and updated in response to incidents, and effective communication within the team ensures that everyone is made aware of presenting issues or concerns. As a result staff know exactly what to do and how to keep young people safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There is a reduction in the number of physical restraints. For some young people there is from their individual starting points also a reduction in incidences of self- injurious behaviour. When restraint has been used, it has been for the right reasons and professionally managed. Records are clear and the manager ensures that interventions are evaluated and monitored. This ensures that physical restraint remains appropriate at all times. Staff are offered the opportunity to discuss incidents, and social workers and parents are kept fully informed. This further demonstrates collaboration and professional partnerships with relevant people. 9 of 12 Investigations into complaints are fully investigated and handled fairly. The Registered Manager ensures that both the young person and staff are fully supported. All partner agencies, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and the allocated social worker, are informed when appropriate. Internal

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Keeping children and young people safe good

investigation records of all complaints are clear in relation to the outcomes. The most recent complaints made by young people were withdrawn, full investigation continued, the outcome of which was that restorative practices were used with the young person to reconcile any differences. As a result young people are heard when they raise concerns and feel that they are supported in voicing any concerns they may have. They also feel that this will not damage their relationships with staff, through this they learn positive role modelling and the benefit of compromise in difficult situations.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff recruitment practices are safe. An example of this is this is that checks and references are obtained prior to employment and personnel files are clear in relation to the decision made about a person’s suitability. Further checks are undertaken on visitors and they are appropriately monitored around the home. This means that young people are protected from individuals who may pose a risk to them.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a physically safe environment. They are protected from harm through effective health and safety checks and risk assessments. These measures further enhance the security of the building to create a safer environment for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Leadership and management in the home is strong. The Registered Manager has been in post since November 2011. She has relevant and high levels of experience and is very competent. She continues to undertake relevant professional development, working towards appropriate qualifications. The registered manager is supported by a qualified and competent deputy who although acting in the post has applied for the permanent position. With a stable and committed staff team they manage the home effectively and efficiently. There is a clear understanding of the Children's Homes Regulations and associated national minimum standards and these are translated into practice by managers.

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Leadership and management good

The home's aims and objectives are clearly outlined within the Statement of Purpose for interested parties to read. Information is available in a simplified format for young people to refer to and this informs them of the expectations of the home and of their rights. This has been written in collaboration with by a young person in a neighbouring home within the organisation. The home consistently delivers high quality care and its practice is consistent with the Statement of Purpose. There have been two complaints made by a young person since the last inspection, these have been managed with full cooperation of the young person and positive outcomes reached through well managed restorative approaches. 10 of 12 The staff team and young people benefit from a leadership style which is inclusive, allows staff and young people to influence practice and, at the same time, provide clear direction and guidance. A comment from a member of staff says 'The manager

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Leadership and management good

knows the staff members and the young people really well, she knows our strengths and also our areas that require development. She matches the young people who come to the home in a planned way before they arrive. This helps us to quickly assess and positively help the young people'. The Registered Manager believes in leading by example and models practice to the staff. She is involved in all aspects of the home's functioning including cleaning, and health and safety. This enables her to monitor everyday practice in the home.

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Leadership and management good

The staff team is diverse and well-balanced in terms of age, gender and mirror the ethnicity of the young people they care for. They bring a range of skills and life experiences to their role. Staff receive good quality and up to date training in safeguarding, child sexual exploitation and care planning. New members of staff are registered on the course. All staff strongly agree that their induction training at the time of commencing employment prepared them for their role and that their training needs continue to be identified and met. Staff who are not yet qualified to a minimum standard are all actively working towards their level three qualification. This is reflected in their supervision records.

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Leadership and management good

Staff are very well supported in their role with regular, high quality supervision, team meetings and annual appraisals. Serious incidents rarely occur, but if they do additional support is made available for the staff involved and they are informed of other support mechanisms that are available to them.

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Leadership and management good

The arrangements for management monitoring are good. The monitoring of the conduct of the home by an external visitor is sufficiently evaluative of the homes practice. The Registered manager regularly completes the formal monitoring systems which focus on young people's progress over a period of three months. Reports from these monitoring activities are detailed and evaluative. The management team and staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there is a development plan in place. Internal quality assurance systems are now established and support improvement, the Registered Manager constantly seeks to improve these systems for the benefit of the services they provide young people.

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Leadership and management good

The management team understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and there is a development plan in place. This sets out expectations for the home for the coming year and is regularly reviewed and updated by the Registered Manager.

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Leadership and management good

Young people's files comprise of both electronic and hard copy information. This provides staff with easy access to information shared by placing local authorities and similarly enables staff to share information quickly with social workers and senior managers. Young people's care documents clearly evidence the positive impact the 11 of 12 home is having on them. Individual files of children and young people are maintained with detailed information by all staff members. These are stored securely to protect their right to confidentiality. This information contributes to young people's understanding of their history and care in the home. Children and young people are actively encouraged to read and contribute to all their records so that they know what is written about them and so that their views are incorporated into all their plans

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Leadership and management good

Feedback is regularly sought by staff from young people, visitors, professionals and families and this feedback contributes to service oversight. Good relationships have been forged with families and professionals. Social Workers and other professionals have commented about the positive recording they receive from the home. Staff provide regular updates to Social Workers about young people’s progress and, as a result, young people experience comprehensive and integrated care.

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Leadership and management good

One good practice recommendation has been identified which is that the vacant post of deputy manager is appointed to quickly. The Registered Manager has actioned this and interviews will be taking place in the very near future. 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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