Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When the last full inspection was undertaken in July 2015, a new manager had recently been appointed. At that time he had not submitted an application to the regulator to become registered and resigned his post soon after. The organisation made attempts to appoint a permanent manager, but until recently, no suitable applicants were identified. The deputy manager took on the acting manager role until 4 February 2016, when she transferred to another of the organisations homes. During this period she made significant progress in addressing the shortfalls highlighted at the full inspection. She received good support from senior managers, and successfully implemented an action plan that has improved the standard of care and overall effectiveness of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager, working elsewhere in the organisation, was appointed two weeks before this inspection. She has submitted an application to the regulator to become Registered Manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the full inspection the standard of young people’s individual risk assessments has improved, all young people now have a personal emergency evacuation plan. The content of these is shared and explained to young people in key-work sessions. Risk assessments, which are designed to keep young people safe and protect them from harm, are regularly updated. Significant events are recorded, and this enables staff to assess whether the level of risk has increased or decreased. Consequently, risk assessments are an effective working tool for keeping young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, practice has improved in relation to safeguarding and child protection. Staff are vigilant and quickly identify causes for concern. Effective monitoring subsequently takes place. The acting manager ensured that information was shared in a timely manner with relevant professionals, and contributed well at child protection strategy meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good progress has been made in terms of the training delivered to staff. All staff have received training on autism, and more is planned. Consequently, staff are better equipped to meet the needs of the residents. Although some staff have received training in communication methods such as the pictorial exchange communication system (PECS) and Makaton, there are still a number of staff who have not yet completed this. This potentially limits the quality of communication between staff and young people. The training matrix now clearly identifies what training staff have undertaken, and what they need to complete.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s placement plans clearly identify realistic and achievable targets for young people. This enables staff to monitor the progress young people are making and celebrate success. The PECS system enables young people to express their views on how they are progressing, and whether they are content with how they are being cared for. Progress is recorded in several documents, such as the ‘praise and reward’ log. The acting manager recognised the benefits of using all these records to ensure placement plans capture young people’s progress effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people have made notable progress since the last inspection. Some have increased their vocabulary and become more confident in communicating through PECS. Others have gained greater independence skills in relation to personal hygiene and domestic tasks. All have an excellent attendance record at school.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Line management support for staff and performance monitoring has improved. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and records are kept of their progress. Staff supervision is more frequent, but not yet regular. The quality of supervision is good. It enables staff to reflect on their practice and identify their learning needs. Staff say they have been well supported by the acting manager, and have been consulted on implementing new strategies, since the full inspection took place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Detailed records are kept of all physical restraints of young people. These have been regularly monitored by the acting manager. Procedures are in place to determine whether a young person may need medical attention following a restraint. Behaviour management approaches are evaluated for effectiveness. This has resulted in new de-escalation techniques being adopted with one particular young person, in an attempt to reduce the frequency and length of physical restraints. Consultation takes place with young people’s social workers and parent’s prior to strategies being amended.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The overall monitoring of the quality of care has improved. Regular dialogue has taken place between the acting manager and the independent visitor, who is encouraged to communicate with young people as part of her monitoring visits. Effective action is taken to address recommendations made by the independent visitor. Quality of care monitoring reports are now being submitted to the regulator.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the requirements made at the full inspection, with the exception of the requirement relating to training, have been met. Good progress has also been made in relation to the recommendations made. The acting manager has ensured effective communication now takes place with a range of professionals, including speech and language therapists, child and adolescent mental health workers, the looked after children’s nurse and teaching staff. This ensures a more holistic approach is taken to meeting the needs of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A simple but effective system has been introduced to ensure parents and carers are kept up to date with young people’s progress. Regular communication takes place, and parents and carers are given the opportunity to comment on how their young person is being cared for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s guide is available in an accessible format. The acting manager and staff recognise the importance of developing young people’s communication skills. The good progress young people have made in recent months can be partly attributed to the overall improvement in the communication taking place between young people and their carers’. Additional training for staff on communication methods, will ensure continuous improvement in this area of practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to meeting the needs of young people. The standard of care being delivered respects their dignity and individuality. The home generally provides a welcoming, homely environment. However, the young people’s lounge, is overlooked by a number of close proximity dwellings. There are no curtains up at the lounge windows. Consequently, the privacy of young people relaxing in the lounge, could be compromised.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children's home. The company owns four other children's homes. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four children with learning disabilities and emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to staff training in relevant communication techniques, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 29/04/2016

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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 the process and timescales for supervision of practice is adhered to; specifically, ensure staff receive practice based supervision on a regular basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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