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

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 full inspection, there have been changes within the management team for this home. A new manager has recently been appointed on promotion. She is suitably experienced and has applied for registration with Ofsted. She understands the strengths of the home and is aware of areas for development. She is settling into this new role well and reviewing practice and culture within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection in October 2016, the home has experienced one young person leaving the home and one new admission. Three of the young people who were in placement at the time of the last inspection remain living in the home. The one discharge was a decision made by the young person’s placing authority as a result of her wanting to be closer to home. She moved to another home run by the same provider. Staff worked collaboratively with the placing authority and young person to ensure that the young person was prepared for this transition. The manager works with placing authorities to ensure that she has the necessary information prior to a placement. The manager also visited the young person who was recently admitted at her previous placement to inform the decision as to whether the placement was suitable for the young person.

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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 in their behaviour. Incidents of missing from care, aggression and substance misuse have decreased. Young people are beginning to reflect on and understand the consequence and impact of their behaviours. Notifications to Ofsted have been low, with staff intervening more quickly when behaviours are escalating. Staff know the young people well and, as a result of these relationships, they are able to de-escalate situations, including bullying. The need to use physical intervention has been low, with three recorded incidents since the last inspection. The interventions were appropriate and proportionate, given the level of crisis the young people were experiencing. Sanctions have been used effectively. However, the records of young people’s views on sanctions and physical interventions are not consistently completed. This inhibits the effectiveness of the oversight of these

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

interventions. Young people are either registered at the organisation’s school or at a registered alternative provision. Attendance is very poor, with all young people refusing to attend at the time of this inspection. The staff have been chasing up educational arrangements with each of the placing authorities and are in contact with the virtual school head. Although there are planned educational activities in place for young people in the school day, young people are not willing to complete these. Young people’s files contain limited information on what young people should be working on educationally, with no school reports and plans being out of date. It is unclear whether staff recognise fully the value of education and young people’s potential for learning. The lack of information does not enable activities to be tailored to the young people and, as a result, young people are falling behind academically.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some staff changes, with vacant positions being filled. There have been three new staff, and two staff have left (one being the previous manager). The manager is aware of the impact of any changes, and the focus has been on building relationships and forming strong attachments. A stable staff team has been in place, and staff ensure that they spend quality time with the young people. The home is currently without a deputy manager as a result of the promotion of the previous postholder to the manager’s post. There are senior staff in post. However, there are not clear arrangements in place showing who will manage the home when the manager is unavailable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made to improve recruitment records. The procedure for the recruitment and vetting of staff is now consistently followed. Gaps in employment histories and reference checks that were previously identified during inspection have now been rectified. Senior managers in the organisation have been in contact with the agency that they use to ensure that the staff supplied are appropriately qualified. This is being carried out in conjunction with a training company.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monthly monitoring visits are undertaken by an independent visitor. Managers have recognised the need for these visits to be strengthened and to be more challenging. They have recently employed a new organisation to undertake these visits. The internal monitoring by the manager reflects an awareness of any issues and identifies any trends. Following the last inspection, staff have undertaken training on recording to ensure that paperwork reflects the therapeutic and nurturing environment that the staff strive for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One unmet recommendation is now raised to a requirement. One member of staff who sleeps in at night continues to use the lounge for this. This is not a suitable sleeping-in arrangement. The manager is looking at alternative sleeping arrangements, but these have yet to be achieved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works effectively in partnership with external agencies, including the local police. There is evidence that any allegations or suspicions of harm are promptly shared with external safeguarding agencies for consultation and appropriate action to be taken. It is evident that the new manager and staff intend to improve the experiences for young people in the home further. Staff have realistic aspirations for all the young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to take up to four young people who have 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 25/10/2016 Full Good 21/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/08/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

8 The education standard In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (iv) help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment. (v) promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(i), (iv), (v)) 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home. (Regulation 21(b)) In particular, do not use the children’s lounge as a sleeping-in area for staff. 31/03/2017

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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 home has clear arrangements to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children are encouraged to add views and comments to the records on the use of restraint and on sanctions. (the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

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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 whom 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

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

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