Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

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 declined in effectiveness . At the last inspection, three requirements and two recommendations were set. The manager has made changes to some children’s individual education timetables and discussed in staff meetings the need for consistency in waking children in the morning, to encourage children to attend school. However, while one child continues to attend school on a daily basis, and is making significant progress, other children’s educational attendance and achievement has decreased. On many occasions, children sleep until early afternoon, and often do not settle at night until late. Some children’s daily routines fail to encourage them to engage in their education. During the inspection, some shortfalls were identified. Not all potential and actual bullying incidents between children are effectively managed. This is because the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff have failed to record all incidents in the bullying log; records detail staff dis- engaging during potential incidents of bullying as a way to manage incidents, and therefore leave children together unsupervised. Staff have also failed to implement fully the anti-bullying policy. Some children have been escalated as requiring to attend a bullying panel with senior management to address their bullying actions. However, the staff have failed to ensure that all children involved have received key work sessions; and management has not interviewed all staff and children involved to determine all the information regarding the incidents. This fails to ensure that all action required is taken to reduce bullying incidents between children. The staff have failed to implement the home’s diversion programme to support young people to manage their behaviour appropriately. On occasions, when children have displayed inappropriate behaviour, such as not adhering to the daily

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

routine, being abusive to staff and other children, or have bullied other children, the staff have not implemented the diversion programme to reflect the behaviour. Therefore, there is minimal action taken to help children develop socially aware behaviour. In addition, the staff have taken children on paid activities when they have not completed their education for that day. This fails to ensure that children engage in the behaviour management system in the home, and develop skills to manage their behaviour in a more appropriate way. The manager has made some progress to meet a requirement regarding records held in the home. This is because the manager now keeps a clear record of all complaints, including the action taken and the outcome. This helps to identify any trends and patterns, and seeks to improve staff practice. However, not all records are up to date. Children’s records fail to show that the staff have spoken to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

children regarding current concerns, such as bullying. Children’s individual risk assessments are not up to date. They fail to identify recent bullying incidents, and the action required to reduce incidents occurring. This fails to ensure that the staff gain children’s views or take all action required to reduce the risk of bullying in the home. Due to insufficient time since the last inspection, one requirement regarding internal monitoring by the manager, and one recommendation regarding children’s memorabilia, is made again. The manager has met one recommendation, through ensuring that, where allegations against staff are made, all action is taken to safeguard children. This is now done through communicating with the local authority designated officer to gain their view and, where required, by completing internal investigations. Records now clearly detail all action taken, and investigations are robust. This helps to keep

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

children safe, and improves the quality of care to children. The children have made some progress while living at the home, through the support they receive from the staff. For example, some children’s relationships with their families have improved, with overnight stays now part of their contact. Some children engage with the organisation’s therapist, supporting their emotional and psychological needs. All children continue to have positive relationships with the staff and management. The organisation is committed to making changes to improve the quality of care that the children receive.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for four children, irrespective of gender, aged between 12 and 18 years, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard 2. In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure: (a) that staff (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. This is with particular regard to ensuring that the daily routine of the home encourages children to attend their educational provisions. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard 2.In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure: (a) that staff (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. This is with particular regard to ensuring that all staff implement the home’s anti-bullying policy. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard 2. In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered person must ensure: (a) that staff (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour. This is with particular regard to ensuring that all staff implement 28/04/2017 the diversion programme in line with the home’s behaviour management policy.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the records are kept up to date. This is with particular regard to key-work sessions and individual risk assessments. (Regulation 37(2)(b)) 28/04/2017

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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 staff keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them record significant life events. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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 that 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 0300 123 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

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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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