Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Admission processes are not well-documented in line with expectations set out in the statement of purpose. This makes it difficult to evaluate whether safe and appropriate admissions are made.  The quality of young people’s case records is variable. Examples of key working records which had been copied from other young people’s records were found. This does not show an understanding by staff of the importance of young people’s personal records.  Sanctions records require improvement. They do not consistently capture the effectiveness of sanctions and the measure imposed. Missing from home behaviour is sanctioned which is not appropriate.  Partnership working with placing authorities is not wholly effective. Important information about the young person had not been shared with a placing social worker on two occasions.  The leadership and management of the home are inadequate. The Registered Manager is not aware of the strengths and areas for

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because:

development. The overall organisation of the home requires improvement.  Recruitment practice is inconsistent. Significant regulatory beaches were identified in the recruitment of one member of staff, but not another. This demonstrates a lack of oversight in ensuring only fully vetted adults work in the home.  Internal monitoring systems are ineffective. They fail to identify and address areas of weakness. The review of the quality of care does not robustly review the six-month period to learn from and evaluate young people previously placed, in order to improve future practice.  There are a number of fire safety shortfalls, such as ensuring all young people are adequately supported in case of emergency. This places young people at potential risk.

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The children's home strengths

 Young people are positive about living in this home and say they feel safe.  Young people live in a home which provides them good quality accommodation.  Staff facilitate a wide range of activities which young people engage in.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(2) (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered provider must

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(5)) 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any limitation placed on a child's privacy or access to any area of the home's premises— (i) is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; (ii) is necessary and proportionate; 04/01/2016 (iii) is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and (iv) allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe (Regulation 21(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

(3) The requirements are that— (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (c) the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32(2)(a)(3)(a-d)) 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes a description of the measure and its duration; and the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)(vii)) 04/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— (a) include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; (b) are kept up to date; and (c) are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a-c)) 04/01/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure staff offer warm and consistent care when a child returns, and that running away should not be viewed as behaviour that needs to be punished. (Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care, page 23, paragraph 70)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and behavioural needs. It is managed and run by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

While young people living in this home are making progress shortfalls in safeguarding and leadership are impacting on their experiences. For example planning for admissions has not been wholly effective meaning young people’s needs are not fully understood and plans are not put in place to meet them.

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Requires improvement

Young people are positive about living in this home. They speak warmly of staff. They said ‘my key worker listens and helps me’, and ‘staff let me know that they care and worry about me’. Young people spend time with key workers and go through their care plans together. This involves young people in their care. This includes young people helping decide what targets are set. They make steady progress in meeting these goals.

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Requires improvement

Young people live in an environment which is homely and well-maintained. Photos of young people undertaking activities and having fun are on the walls. Young people like their bedrooms. All are individualised, some have fairy lights and are colourful, others have posters and photos of family and friends on display.

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Requires improvement

Overall, independence is well-promoted in the home, with the exception of the locking of a cupboard in the kitchen. This limits young people’s access to some food and snacks. The risk assessment in place has not been reviewed to take account of young people’s progress in managing their eating habits. This does not support young people in learning how to make good choices around foods. Young people do take part in daily chores such as washing up, shopping and laundry. One young person said ‘I make cakes with staff’. This is successful at providing them with appropriate life skills.

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Requires improvement

Contact arrangements are promoted and suitably facilitated by members of staff. This helps young people maintain attachments with those who are important to them. Young people attend routine health appointments and medication reviews as required. As a result some young people have improved their health.

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Requires improvement

Staff provide a range of activities which young people engage in. These include a good range of activities which promote physical activity, such as bike rides, swimming and playing football. Young people enjoy attending local clubs where they socialise with friends. Events such as Halloween are celebrated. Young people get involved by decorating the home with themed artwork.

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Requires improvement

Young people’s views are listened to through regular house meetings. Menus, activities and requests for household items are discussed and actioned. Some young people are supported to share their views through alternative communication systems. This ensures that all young people’s thoughts and feelings are considered.

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Requires improvement

Young people say they feel safe in the home. Staff show sound knowledge of child sexual exploitation and safeguarding procedures. There have been no safeguarding referrals to the local authority since the previous inspection.

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Requires improvement

Recruitment and vetting checks require improvement. One staff member’s file sampled was compliant with relevant regulations. Another file was not. This staff member had commenced work without references, there is a gap in their employment history, no risk assessment was completed for them commencing work using a DBS check undertaken by another organisation, and there are no copies of qualifications on file. Some aspects of these shortfalls were addressed during the inspection. However, the individual has been in post for seven months without robust vetting. The organisation has not followed its own recruitment and selection policy. This places young people at risk of unsuitable adults accessing the home.

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Requires improvement

One young person has become increasingly safe since moving to this home. This is due to their missing episodes reducing significantly. For example in July 2015 they were reported missing nine times. They have not been missing since the start of September 2015. The Registered Manager works effectively in partnership with local police to support young people to understand the dangers of going missing from home.

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Requires improvement

Sanction records show that young people who go missing or absent are sanctioned upon their return. This is not in line with statutory guidance and does not demonstrate a welcoming approach to young people on their return. The effectiveness of sanctions is not routinely considered. In one record, the sanction imposed was not documented. This compromises the Registered Manager’s ability to review whether sanctions imposed are effective, fair and reasonable. Use of restraint in the home is relatively low with four holds since the previous inspection. Records are not consistently completed fully by staff, even though they are signed by senior staff who monitor them. This means that young people’s records are not always complete and learning is not fed back.

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Requires improvement

Although a fire risk assessment is in place, this has not been reviewed following the admission of a young person with a sensory impairment. As a result the risk assessment does not consider the unique needs of this young person, and any specific adaptations they may require to alert them of danger. Rear fire escape doors are locked shut overnight, meaning they cannot be used without a key. This limits fire exits in case of an emergency. The fire escape plan is generic and does not offer specific directions which relate to this home. These cumulative shortfalls in fire safety place young people at potential risk in case of a fire in the home.

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Inadequate

The leadership and management of the home is inadequate. The breadth of shortfalls identified across the home have not been recognised by the Registered Manager, so actions have not been taken to address them. Her knowledge of the strengths and development areas is weak.

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Inadequate

The Registered Manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2013. She has obtained the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. She has recently completed a qualification in education and training. This allows her to write and deliver bespoke training courses for staff, which she intends to do.

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Inadequate

The statement of purpose describes an admission process which matches the needs of a potential child to that of young people already placed. However, for the most recent admission this evaluation of how the home can meet this young person’s individual needs is not documented. For example, safe evacuation processes for this young person are still not in place.

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Inadequate

Key working sessions take place on a regular basis. These include support around sexual health matters. Two key working sessions three months apart were identified as almost exact copies. This does not indicate an individualised approach to support for young people. Furthermore, the serious content of these meetings had not been shared with the placing social worker. This does not demonstrate effective partnership working.

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Inadequate

Supervision systems within the home are effective. Staff receive performance management which is regular and documented. These sessions are focused on the needs of the young people and supporting staff with their role. Annual appraisals take place. Staff feel well-supported by the Registered Manager and senior team.

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Inadequate

Staff are provided with a range of learning opportunities. Since the previous inspection, these include topics such as food hygiene, safeguarding children with disabilities and autism awareness. Senior staff are supported to undertake the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. This supports professional development and keeps staff up to date in key safe caring skills.

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Inadequate

Internal monitoring systems are inadequate. The six monthly review of the quality of care refers to the other children’s home the Registered Manager is responsible for. It also contains numerous sections which are exactly the same as that home’s six month review, including the identified action points. This does not demonstrate an individualised approach to reviewing and raising standards in this home. This home’s report contains inaccurate information and only analyses the care of young people who are currently resident in the home. Young people who have left during the six-month period of review are not evaluated, thus the review does not include learning from these placements. Monitoring systems have not been effective in identifying extensive regulatory shortfalls in recruitment practice, fire safety, children’s case files and sanctions records.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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