Children's home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Hammersmith and Fulham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has successfully been registered with Ofsted. He has the necessary skills and experience to lead the team and this has resulted in the team being well supported and practice in the home moving forward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the last full inspection in April 2016 the home had not taken on any further referrals due to the need to redevelop the team. The two young people who were in placement then moved out. A new group of young people has moved into the home, hence the high number of admissions. In total, there have been eight admissions and six discharges since April. Two of these admissions and discharges were emergency placements and only admitted on a short-term basis. Decisions have been made to end two placements due to the home not being able to meet the young people’s needs. The impact of behaviours on other young people at this time was significant and placed all young people at risk. The manager was constantly reviewing the impact of these behaviours and using strategies to attempt to reduce them. The ending of these placements was not an easy decision for the management team, and there is clear evidence that the staff

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

team worked with professionals and the young people themselves in trying to sustain these placements. Prior to young people’s placement, staff work with professionals in acquiring information from the necessary people to determine whether they are able to support a young person. However, the organisation does not have a process or referral form which prompts them to request comprehensive detail. This inhibits managers when they make decisions as to whether the placement is suitable for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been admissions to the home, which resulted in new challenges for the staff team. The home experienced an increase in the challenging behaviour exhibited and staff worked effectively together to support each other and the young people. Ofsted received a high number of notifications in September and October because young people placed themselves at risk of harm. During this time the home worked with professionals, including the local neighbourhood police, and with the young people, to bring about a reduction in some of these behaviours. There was a high number of physical interventions during this time. These were appropriate and contributed to keeping young people safe. Recording of these interventions has improved. This enables them to be fully reviewed. In recent months, the home has experienced a change within the group dynamics. It is described as much calmer and more relaxed by young people and staff. Young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people are just beginning to settle and adjust to group living.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home demonstrates steady improvement in the quality of care provided, with a commitment to achieving positive experiences for young people. The staff team has remained stable and this is enabling attachments to begin to be formed. Young people spoken to stated that staff are always around and they can speak to them. Since the last inspection, managers have focused on moving practice in the home forward and have looked at how they meet the aims and ethos of a therapeutic home. Staff have received training in therapeutic ways of working and training has been sought in specific areas, such as anxiety and depression. However, this training is not regularly reflected on within team meetings and it is not incorporated within the training programme to enable staff to reinforce this learning in their support of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been proactive in addressing any complaints from neighbours. This has involved the home liaising with the neighbours and police to resolve the concerns. There is evidence which demonstrates that these complaints have been investigated fully. All complaints are thoroughly investigated and acted upon, and managers learn from these concerns. Young people have been supported to contact services external to the organisation when young people have raised concerns about their care-planning arrangements. Staff have taken every opportunity to put advocacy into practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to make progress across several areas of their lives, particularly their behaviour and in their education attendance and attainment. Young people are now actively engaged in education, either with the home’s tutor or in local schools or colleges. Young people have been supported to make decisions about where they would like to attend, and this enables young people to be empowered and therefore more determined to succeed. This collaborative working has further enhanced young people’s self-esteem and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is fully aware of the strengths of the home and is aware of areas for development. External monitoring is carried out by an independent visitor and internal monitoring by the manager. The internal monitoring now gives challenge, reflects an awareness of any crucial issues and identifies any trends. There is extensive evaluation and monitoring of the professional support and care that young people receive. It is evident from this monitoring that the manager and staff team intend to improve the experiences for young people in the home further. The external monitoring does provide some challenge but there is still only limited evaluation of practice and this could be improved further.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to take up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of a group of homes owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/04/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Monitoring No judgement 12/01/2016 Full Inadequate 21/08/2015 Registration No judgement

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  Ensure that the home provides the individualised care as described in the statement of purpose. This specifically refers to ensuring that staff undertake regular training in attachment disorders and therapeutic ways of working. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  Ensure that the registered person only accepts placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs. This specifically refers to compiling formal referral paperwork. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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