Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has Sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made progress against the recommendations of the last inspection. The home environment is of a good standard and repairs previously suggested have now been undertaken. The garden area is improved, looking well- kept and ordered, and plans are in place for further improvements. As a consequence, the home appears better cared for and more homely. Rooms are well furnished, attractively decorated and the house has the feel of a large family home. Unfortunately, another window had just been broken in the home during an incident involving a young person. The manager was aware of this new damage, which staff reported promptly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are now starting to use better outcome monitoring tools that enable them to track progress for young people across all areas of development. Information is collated from a number of sources, including the behaviour management programme, education and key working sessions, and is reviewed by the manager on a monthly basis. The ongoing plan is for this information to be illustrated by annually produced charts, which will show progress made. This will highlight positives and enable future planning to focus on areas requiring further development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour incentive schemes are also well established. These provide young people with the opportunity to progress through different levels, gaining incremental rewards. The organisation recently held an awards evening for young people, recognising individual achievements such as ‘most improved’ and ‘positive contribution made’. This was a prestigious event, which gave young people the opportunity to recognise and be proud of their successes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people are now accessing an appropriate educational provision. This is a recent and significant achievement for one young person who has been out of school for many years. He is now attending college regularly and progressing well. Another young person continues to be educated on site, but is selective about the subjects with which he will engage. However, a full timetable is in place for him, and he has achieved good results in some areas of work that he enjoys. His father said that this is a significant achievement as he has chosen not to engage with any education for many years. The same parent said that he is ‘impressed by staff’s ability to maintain firm boundaries in what can be a challenging environment’. It is this consistency of approach that he believes has made a difference for his son.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do still go missing from this home, but the frequency of incidents has decreased. Staff continue to offer a proactive response when young people leave, in order to return them to the home as soon as possible. Staff understand the specific risks of young people missing from care and have identified wider concerns within the community, which have led to a multi-agency safeguarding response.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records kept in relation to missing episodes are not always consistent or clear. Staff are using some systems inconsistently. This makes it difficult to produce definitive records that demonstrate a robust response to all incidents. Staff are working towards keeping records electronically, in line with the organisation’s policy. There were some difficulties in locating required records to evidence that staff consistently follow processes and procedures. Similarly, the manager was unable to locate an important risk assessment relating to a community activity, on either a file or the electronic system. As a consequence, there is potential for staff and managers to miss important safeguarding information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Serious incidents have reduced, as have occasions when physical intervention is required. There has been just one incident recorded since the last inspection, and the records indicate that this was proportionate and appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some significant events very recently that have required police involvement and that are still ongoing. These involved damage to the home. Prior to this, progress for all young people had been consistent and positive. The manager was able to evidence that young people are engaged in a wide range of activities. One young person plays football regularly for a local club. Another, with a talent for writing and recording music, has weekly lessons and the opportunity to spend time in a recording studio. This helps to nurture and cultivate individual interests and give opportunities for friendships outside of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff group is now established and stable. Five new members of staff are undertaking National Vocational Qualifications at level three and the deputy is starting at level five. All have successfully completed a probation period and undertaken core training. Individuals are now being encouraged to develop areas of specialism within the staff group.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has plans in place to develop further systems that record and track young people’s progress and areas requiring development.

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned and accommodates up to four young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular regard to consistent recording around young people missing from care, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(vii) that staff are familiar with and act in accordance with the home’s child protection policies

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Requirement Due date

(e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 24/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation: Ensure that records that are kept electronically can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them. (The ‘Guide to the quality standards’ page 61 paragraph 14.2)

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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, work- based 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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