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

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The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The positive relationships between young people and staff have enabled young people to grow and progress in many areas of their lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people like the staff who work with them, have fun with them and trust them; young people feel safe.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are listened to about how they wish to be cared for and have input into their plans.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have made good progress in engaging in their education.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There has been a reduction in young people taking part in risky behaviours such as being missing from care and self-harming.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Contact with people who are significant in young people’s lives is well supported so that young people can maintain relationships that are important to them.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager is committed to the young people and is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff are of a good calibre, committed to improving the lives of young people and work well together as a team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Not all local authorities have provided up-to-date care plans to the home to aid internal care planning.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Clear agreement has not been reached between the home and the local authorities about what decisions staff can make in respect of the young people, such as staying overnight with friends.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The fire prevention checks failed to identify some faults in the fire doors.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Some staff have not had training in some areas relevant to the needs of the young people.

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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 each child’s needs are met

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Requirement Due date

If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; with specific reference to escalating requests for local authority care plans to senior managers within local authorities where social workers have not provided the home with a child’s care plan. (Regulation 5 (c)) 27/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development; with specific reference to ensuring all staff have completed training in the use of the child sexual exploitation framework adopted by the organisation and in countering bullying. (Regulation 33 (4) (a)) 27/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

{an asterisk is added in the table above where Compliance = 'Y'} * These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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 that each child’s placement plan sets out the permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the registered person. This should provide clarity on the home’s ability to give permission for school trips, sleep-overs or the child’s involvement in sporting, leisure and cultural activities. Wherever possible the home should secure the appropriate authority to support children to be involved in the same positive activities as their peers. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 6.2)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the home complies with health and safety legislations at all times; with specific reference to ensuring that the systems for checking the fire door shut flush are effective. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to four young people. It is registered to provide care and accommodation to young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is a privately owned home. The organisation is registered to provide education as part of the care package.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/01/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

21/02/2012 CH - Interim Inadequate Progress

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people living in the home are

Young people experience very positive relationships with staff who invest quality time in them, listen to their views, are child focused and show interest in them and their achievements. Young people have a clear sense that staff value them as individuals. A young person said, ‘it’s like we are their children they want us to do well.’

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people living in the home are

The plans developed by the home are individualised and form the basis for work with the young people; they are all making steady progress in many areas of their lives. Young people’s views about their care are seen as important. They are involved in the development of their individual plans and targets; this means that they engage well. However, the home does not have the up-to-date local authority care plans for all young people and there are no signed agreements about what aspects of parental responsibility are entrusted to the staff. This was a source of frustration for one young person because matters, such as visiting a friend, have to be referred to the social worker for a decision

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people living in the home are

Young people are supported well to make improvements in their physical health. For example, they learn how healthy eating and exercise are necessary to keep them in good physical health. While not all young people have taken on the advice staff persevere and try to use things that young people enjoy, such as bike riding or swimming, as an incentive to them to get fitter. The manager ensures that young people get the services they need. For example, she has successfully challenged children and adolescent mental health services. The organisation’s therapist endeavours to work with the young people and some young people have engaged in this work. The therapists also guide staff in developing ways of working with the young people that support improvement in their emotional health. There have been impressive levels of success in supporting young people’s emotional well-being; for example incidents of self-harm have reduced, and in some cases

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people living in the home are

Young people have received good support from staff that has led to them all integrating back into education. When considering how they have struggled previously with attendance in education this is impressive. Staff work with education providers so that young people are able to make the best of the opportunities to fulfil their educational potential. They make sure that young people get to school and back each day and attend relevant education meetings to discuss their progress. Some young people have part-time employment and are learning the importance of having a good work ethic. There is an emphasis on ensuring that young people have access to a good range of activities that keep them occupied, help them to develop an interest in new pastimes and new skills. For example, horse riding and visits to the cinema. There are also pets in the home that belong to young people, a friendly cat and some hamsters. Ownership of a pet brings its own responsibilities and young people

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people living in the home are

Not all young people who are reaching the age of independence wholeheartedly engage in developing the practical skills they will need to live successfully as adults. Staff are good at encouraging this, at the young person’s own pace, and some help with the food shopping and are involved in preparing and cooking food for the house.

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people living in the home are

Young people who live away from their home area are well supported in maintaining safe contact with people who are significant to them. Staff support contact plans for young people and their families that help to maintain and strengthen relationships with people important to them. These relationships will be key to them in the future as they move into more independent living.

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people living in the home are

Detailed assessments are made when a young person is referred to the home. The staff’s experience and ability to meet their presenting needs and the potential impact their admission is likely to have on the dynamics of the existing group are carefully considered. Since the last key inspection some young people have moved on; these moves have been due to safeguarding or other concerns. The group of young people living in the home currently are relatively stable and are learning the importance of accepting others for who they are and have begun to respect other’s wishes and feelings.

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people are helped and protected

Young people feel safe living in this home; they trust staff and talk to them about their worries and fears. They have felt safe enough to confide in staff their past experiences of abuse.

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people are helped and protected

The work carried out with young people is underpinned by a range of risk assessments. There has been a reduction in young people placing themselves at risk. For example, young people rarely go missing now and therefore risks of them being sexually exploited or coming to other harm have reduced. In the event a young person does go missing or is late home staff take appropriate action to ensure young people’s safe return home. While the risk assessment approach has led to a reduction in risks of child sexual exploitation not all staff understood how to use the exploitation framework assessment tool adopted by the organisation. This has not had an impact on the safety of young people to date. As the aim of the tool is to keep senior managers up to date with each young person’s risk status so that an interagency approach can be taken where necessary it is important that all staff are aware of how to use it.

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people are helped and protected

Young people have been educated in the dangers of the internet and social networking sites and they understand the strategies unsafe adults use to gain the trust and confidence of people. Some young people have been involved in the development of the format of internet ‘staying safe’ plans that shows they are taking an interest in, and responsibility for, their own safety.

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people are helped and protected

Bullying is an issue in this home but it is one that staff take very seriously and any incidents are dealt with robustly. There has been some very good work in relation to bullying using mediation to help develop the young people’s understanding about why they may bully and the affects bullying has on others. They have begun to think about their actions and to take responsibility for them. The have discussed their differences and frustrations as a group and have developed agreements about how they will treat each other and respect each other’s belongings. This work has supported young people to develop an understanding about appropriate and inappropriate social interactions and they have begun to take more responsibility for their unkind behaviour.

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people are helped and protected

Young people have been involved in developing their positive handling plans. These, alongside diversion and incentive schemes, support and encourage young people to deal more appropriately with their frustrations and anger. Sanctions and physical interventions are only used where absolutely necessary. Young people make good use of their relationships with staff and the diversion and incentive programmes, as a result their behaviour has improved.

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people are helped and protected

Safeguarding incidents are addressed and notified appropriately to ensure that young people’s safety and well-being are promoted. Staff are clear about their responsibilities in relation to reporting safeguarding concerns. The manager and staff have a good working relationship with the local authority designated officer and use him appropriately for consultation and advice. Only those people who are suitable to work with young people are recruited to do so; young people have been involved in the recruitment process and have been able to say which candidates they would like as carers. Visitors to the home are required to have a valid reason for their visit, to show their ID and to sign in and out of the home.

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people are helped and protected

The premises provide young people with a pleasant environment to grow and develop in. It is clear that the organisation invests in the young people’s environment and this helps them feel valued. One young person said, ‘look at it, what teenager would not want to live here!’ The premises are subject to safety checks on a regular basis, including the fire prevention systems. During the inspection there were two fire doors that did not shut flush and this posed a risk of being insufficiently fire proof. This was addressed during the inspection.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager for this home is currently not at work and the deputy manager is overseeing the day-to-day work. She has submitted an application to apply for registration during the interim period. She has been a deputy manager within this organisation since February 2014.

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leaders and managers

The Registered Manager provided the deputy with a good handover and this has meant that work has carried on seamlessly. The statement of purpose underpins the work carried out with the young people; the staff understand the organisation’s principles and incorporate these into their work. The statement provides the reader with an accurate view about what people can expect from the home.

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leaders and managers

The arrangements for monitoring are effective overall. The acting manager understands the strengths and areas for development and demonstrated a strong desire to ensure that young people continue to achieve well and grow and develop into well-balanced young adults; she knows the young people well. The recommendations made as result of the last inspection have been met and there is now clarity in the safeguarding procedures about how to deal with a safeguarding matter between the young people and the length of time a young person has been missing from the home is now recorded and this aids the monitoring and risk assessment processes.

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leaders and managers

There are a low level of complaints, only three since the last inspection. These have been taken seriously and addressed appropriately. Young people have used the complaints procedure and this shows they know and feel able to raise an issue.

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leaders and managers

The manager and the staff have established good working relationships with other professionals and agencies. This interagency approach ensures young people are cared for effectively and can make good progress in their lives. A social work stated that this home was ‘one of the better quality homes’ she has used.

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leaders and managers

Staff are of a good calibre and demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting the young people in their growth and development so that they achieve well and become useful members of society. The staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of the current young people and when required extra staff are deployed. Staff are well supported through supervision; they report this is regular and of a good quality. They also said that peer support is good and that all staff share the same level of commitment to the children. One staff member said, ‘this is not a job it is a life style, we are very passionate about the work.’ Training opportunities for staff are good and include statutory training and more specialised training such as in the use of the therapeutic model used in the home. Staff said that the support they receive from the therapists has also helped their work with young people. There are some gaps in the training for some members of

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leaders and managers

staff, specifically in, countering bullying, the use of the exploitation assessment tool and an update of fire safety training for one member of staff.

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leaders and managers

Records are stored safely and provide a good view about young people’s time in the home and their progress. This information will be useful to them in the future if they want to access their files; it will help them understand the progress they made.

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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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