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 Declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Five requirements and two recommendations were made at the last inspection. Two requirements and both recommendations are met. Three of the requirements are unmet

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the registered manager was asked to ensure that risk assessments identified and ensured strategies are in place to reduce the risk of harm to young people. However risk assessments and subsequent management plans to protect young people are not consistently undertaken. In addition, when young adopt risk taking behaviours, staff fail to carry out analysis and assessment, which leaves young people at further risk of harm. This requirement from the previous inspection is therefore unmet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following two significant incidents related to fire safety, a fire risk assessment has not been carried out to protect young people. In addition, fire safety building plans fail to accurately reflect the locations of the firefighting equipment and installations. This may cause delay in locating equipment in the event of a fire and impact on staff training and appliance maintenance. It is however acknowledged that despite the inaccurate plans, fire equipment and installations are present in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed the safeguarding procedures in respect of notifications and undertaken advanced safeguarding training. This has provided her with increased insights into the safeguarding procedures used by the home and improved partnership working with statutory agencies, such as the police and the local authority. The registered manager now oversees all safeguarding matters and referrals to key agencies. In addition, practice supervision has increased focus on safeguarding and the registered manager has used team meetings to review the homes safeguarding guidance.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have gained increased awareness of the importance of liaison with statutory agencies and now make timely referrals and notifications.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed and updated policies and procedures in relation to young people going missing. However, guidance remains unclear, and in some cases contradictory. Some states that young people are to be reported immediately they are missing, other guidance states that staff are expected to carry out a search before reporting. The requirement from the previous inspection is therefore unmet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy well managed by key working relationships, which help guide them positively. Effective discussions engage young people and help them develop constructive aims and goals and drive their progress. A young person said that key working was ‘my time, a chance to talk to staff about anything I want, I can get things off my mind’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good health is effectively promoted through prompt registration with core services. Effective health management ensures each young person attends regular check- ups in accordance with their individual placement plans. Young people have a rich and varied diet of wholesome foods, which they choose and plan with staff support. Staff are aware of the importance of healthy eating and lifestyles and promote this through key working and day-to-day interactions with young people. This helps young people gain a sense of the importance of diet and provides them with the knowledge to make informed choices. Young people are encouraged to cook and one young person was cooking a meal with great enthusiasm during the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote education by ensuring young people attend school regularly and support them with their learning within the home using books, activities, and art and craft. Staff have created a reading program and use this time to help a young person discover the benefits of improving their reading. Stories at bedtime are a particular favourite.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff were observed by the inspector managing young people's behaviour effectively, they were caring and nurturing while providing appropriate guidance and control. This calming, guiding approach enables young people to learn to behave positively through non-confrontational means, reducing conflict and increasing co-operation. Behaviour management strategies are typically effective and there are very few occasions when physical interventions are used.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When physical intervention is used it is not always clearly recorded to make clear how staff have managed the situation and the techniques that have been used to de-escalate, or indeed, manage situations. This leaves records of events unclear and introduces the possibility of the mismanagement of physical interventions not being identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Sanctions are uncommon and staff favour discussion and consultation to address negative behaviour. This is successful and typically leads to positive discussions and improved behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Lone working has been used in a one-to-one situation and this has not always been successful in providing adequate care for the young person. There has been one occasion where a lone staff member was unable to gain control resulting in a young person placing themselves at risk of significant harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

On one other occasion, a new staff member awaiting training, had been left lone working in a situation that they were not suitably trained or experienced for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although, this home has strengths which include the engagement and support of young people, leaders and managers have failed to take the necessary action when risks have presented and failed to plan how to manage future risks when needed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The review of management and staffing from the previous inspection has failed to ensure that young people are supported and protected by suitable numbers of experienced and trained staff. This has left young people vulnerable and staff in situations which they are unable to manage. The requirement from the previous inspection is therefore unmet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager immediately put measures in place during the inspection to ensure additional staff were deployed to support less experienced staff and lone working practices have ceased.

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private company who also manage a fostering agency and three further children's homes. This is a home for three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The manager also manages the home located next door.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim Sustained 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to assessing risk associated with allegations made against staff and protecting the child's welfare, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child (2)(a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare 20/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

Take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. In particular ensure that the fire plan accurately provides the location of firefighting equipment (Regulation 25 (1)(a)) 20/05/2016

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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, with particular reference to promoting children's welfare, ensuring staff have the skills and are in sufficient numbers to meet their needs, and use monitoring systems effectively to improve care the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

13(1)(b) enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children's home that promotes their welfare (2)(b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child (2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous 20/05/2016 improvements in the quality of care provided in the home

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Requirement Due date

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:

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Requirement Due date

(i) the name of the child (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure (vi) the name of the person who used the measure and of any other person present when the measure was used (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure (Regulation 35 (3)(a)) 20/05/2016

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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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