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

Good

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

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

 Young people settle well into the home and are happy there. They develop positive relationships with staff and confide in them  Young people are supported well to see their families and other people who are significant to them.  Young people make improvements in looking after their personal care needs and make some progress in living more healthy lifestyles, for example though exercising regularly.  When a young person has not got an educational placement, the manager advocates strongly to ensure that their educational needs can be met. Young people improve in their attendance and engagement in education and some have developed aspirations for their educational achievement.  There has been some decrease in young people taking risks, such as being missing or offending, although there continue to be some incidents.  When there are concerns about the safety of a young person, for example when the pattern of their missing episodes change, the manager identifies

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

concerns promptly and informs all relevant people. The manager and her staff are fully involved in the subsequent multi-agency meetings, during which strategies to minimise risks are developed.  The manager is committed to supporting young people with complex needs to make improvements in their lives.  Staff feel well supported in their roles and share their manager’s dedication to supporting the young people to achieve in their lives.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile, in relation to the children’s home, a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. With specific reference to including 14 (b) information about how the effectiveness of any healthcare or therapy provided is measured, the evidence demonstrating its effectiveness and details of how the information or the evidence can be accessed. (Regulation 1) 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether: children are effectively safeguarded, and if the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(b)) 28/10/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being. With specific reference to nutrition and a healthy diet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.18)

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Recommendations

 The children’s guide should to help children to understand how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner . (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.22,)

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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 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/10/2015 Full Good 22/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/07/2014 Full Good

p.6

Good

The quality of the relationships between staff and young people is good. The quality of the relationships between young people is variable but they are learning to get on with each other and some positive relationships have developed. New young people are welcomed into the home and they get to know staff and settle in quickly.

p.7

Good

There is care taken when considering referrals of young people. Compatibility assessments are carried out to establish if the young person will fit in well with the current group of young people and if staff are likely to be able to manage any risks identified. Local authorities do not always provide the home with all known information. As needs and risks emerge, the manager challenges authorities to provide the support young people need to keep safe, for example through funding extra staff members.

p.7

Good

Most young people have difficult backgrounds in relation to their educational attainment and achievement. There have been some successes in young people’s attendance and attainment within school over the past year. Some young people have now developed aspirations to take their GCSEs. The manager constantly challenges placing authorities when young people are not provided with the education they are entitled to. As the home is registered to provide education, young people who have no education placement engage in work with tutors within the home.

p.7

Good

Young people’s routine health needs are catered for well and there is encouragement to attend appointments relating to these. For example, staff attend the dentist with a young person who is scared of this. There has been some progress in young people adopting more healthy living styles, such as taking exercise, achieving weight loss and attending to their personal hygiene more effectively. Young people are fully involved in menu planning. The choices they make do not always provide a varied diet, although staff always ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables are also available. The young people would benefit from staff supporting them to develop a better understanding about nutrition and a healthy diet.

p.7

Good

Young people progress in their emotional and psychological well-being through the work carried out with them by staff and through engagement with the therapist. The therapist supports staff in working with young people by explaining the reasons for their behaviour and suggesting strategies to use to support them to modify poor behaviour. Young people have made progress in developing their social skills. While the young people do make mistakes they are gradually learning more socially acceptable ways to manage their behaviour. Some young people have developed appropriate friendships in the community and these provide them with healthy relationships with their peers. Not all of their relationships are appropriate and these inappropriate friendships are discouraged.

p.7

Good

Young people enjoy seeing their parents or other people significant to them and staff establish good working relationships with these people. Staff are aware of the emotional impact that having contact can have on a young person and support them to overcome any confusion or distress following contact. The staff make parents and other visitors welcome in the home and these visits reassure parents that their child is being cared for well.

p.8

Good

Young people’s views are seen as important and are used in developing the planning for their care. Their views are listened to, respected and acted upon where possible. For example, activities they have expressed an interest in are arranged for them. Young people have regular house meetings, during which they put their views across about all aspects of life in the home. This is a good arena for them to get things aired and addressed. For example, disagreements are discussed and a way forward is agreed. On the rare occasions that young people make a complaint, these are dealt with promptly and effectively.

p.8

Good

There are currently no young people living in the home who are following an independence plan but there are some who are of an age where they will soon be commencing this. The home has a clear and easy-to-follow general independence planning format. This work takes a staged approach, so young people progress at their own pace. Day-to-day life in the home includes age and ability appropriate planning for learning practical skills, for example doing their own washing, cleaning and cooking.

p.8

Good

There have been no young people who have moved on in a planned way. The two young people who have moved have done so because of safeguarding concerns. Both have moved on to other homes within the organisation. It has been arranged that staff from this home whom they know and trust have contact with them. This has given them some consistency and is allowing for positive endings to their time in the home to be achieved.

p.8

Good

Young people who are living away from their home areas are doing so because of concerns about their safety while they are in that area. They do miss the familiarity of the area they are from and, where safe and possible, staff provide them with good support to visit their home areas. Judgement grade

p.8

Good

Young people feel able to confide in staff, and they like the staff and trust them. Staff are committed to the young people and young people know that they are cared about. Staff are good at recognising young people’s trigger points and at working to divert them from being provoked by these. Staff understand the impact their pasts have had on their emotional well-being and behaviour and support them to find more effective coping strategies. The approach to risk management is sound and includes allowing young people to develop some responsibility for their safety.

p.9

Good

Prompt action is taken when it is suspected that risks are escalating because young people are not managing their safety effectively. For example, missing episodes are closely monitored and any unusual patterns to this behaviour are risk-assessed and dealt with in conjunction with the police and other agencies. Use of police in the home is low and staff make prompt referrals to the police in relation to young people missing and/or at risk of offending.

p.9

Good

Bullying is not tolerated. Any incidents between young people are discussed during the house meeting. If a more formal approach is required, young people who bully may be referred to a bullying panel that the organisation arranges. During these meetings, young people who bully have to account for their behaviour and reflect on the impact bullying has on the person they have bullied. The incidences of bullying in this home have been low since the last inspection and there has not been a need for any young person to attend the panel.

p.9

Good

Young people are supported to use the internet safely, although some do not always comply with this. When a breach of the policy occurs, work is carried out with young people. This includes key work sessions, during which the dangers of unsafe use of the internet are discussed with them and through the young person working through an educational pack about personal safety. This helps them to understand the dangers that they put themselves in by improper use of the internet.

p.9

Good

Young people are supported to modify their poor behaviour, although there are some slip-ups from time to time. Young people engage well in the diversion and token systems run by the home. These keep them engaged in activities and provides them with rewards for meeting their set targets. This engagement means that young people have begun to make improvements in managing their behaviour. There is a low use of physical interventions and sanctions and these are only used if absolutely necessary.

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Good

Staff are trained in dealing with safeguarding matters and follow the safeguarding policy and procedures. This means that there is a prompt response made if a young person is at risk of harm. There are clear audit trails of actions taken and these are monitored by senior managers and the registered manager. Risk assessments are reviewed after an incident and amended if this is required to keep young people safe. The designated officer for safeguarding confirmed that she has no concerns about the management of safeguarding issues in this home.

p.9

Good

Staff recruitment practice is focused on the suitability of the applicant and all checks are carried out to ensure that the person is fit to be working with the young people.

p.10

Good

There is a permanent manager who has a degree in criminology, a level 3 qualification and is just completing a level 5 diploma. She has managed the home since 2013 and has just returned to work following a period of maternity leave. She demonstrates a strong commitment to the young people and is a strong advocate for them when required. The manager and her staff work with other agencies to ensure that young people get the help and support they need.

p.10

Good

There is a stable staff team which is committed to caring for the young people to a good standard. They work closely with the young people and spend time with them to find out what is troubling them or just to chat with them.

p.10

Good

Staff feel well supported through regular supervision that is of a good quality. Staff say this support helps to improve their practice. The training that staff undertake also supports them to care for the young people effectively. In addition to mandatory training there is additional training that further benefits their practice. All staff apart from the newest members have achieved a level 3 qualification.

p.10

Good

Areas of development are identified from the internal monitoring arrangements and are addressed so that improvements are made over time. However, young people’s views are not incorporated into this evaluation so they do not have a direct input into strategic developments for the home. There is an independent visitor who visits the home monthly. The reports they produce are not evaluative. For example, while incidents are reported on there is no assessment of whether the actions taken by staff safeguard young people.

p.10

Good

The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendation made following the last inspection. The independent visitor’s reports are now forwarded to Ofsted monthly, there are clear records made about the discussions the manager has with a young person after a physical intervention and a clear rationale for the use of window restraints has been recorded.

p.10

Good

Care planning is based on young people’s needs, risks, views and abilities. Young people’s progress is monitored and plans are reviewed accordingly. When concerns arise about the safety or well-being of a young person these concerns are escalated to local authority social workers and care plans are adjusted accordingly. Case records are well maintained, kept up to date and provide a good account of the young person’s time in the home.

p.11

Good

There is a statement of purpose that informs interested parties about what the home aims to achieve and it provides good information about the objectives of the home. It does not describe how the therapy provided is measured, how the outcomes of the work are evidenced or how the evidence of the outcomes can be accessed.

p.11

Good

There is a useful guide for young people living in the home about what they can expect and the expectations on them. This does not include information about how to contact the Children’s Commissioner.

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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 children looked after 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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