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 judges that it has improved effectiveness . The core strength of this home is a staff team that is strongly committed to providing the young people with safe care, a sense of belonging and a rich experience of the world. The staff are led by a qualified and experienced manager who is in the final stages of registration with Ofsted. He is rapidly addressing the range of deficits and shortfalls which developed during the period of uncertain leadership in the home, prior to his appointment. The young people benefit from carers who display a detailed understanding of their needs, abilities and interests and are strongly focused on their progress and positive experiences. Maintaining effective communication with young people is a key focus for staff and this helps to reduce frustration and build positive experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are settled and all attend school on a daily basis, where they continue to acquire skills and knowledge to equip them for increased independence. The home is aspirational for the young people’s optimum progress and achievement, and one young person is on track to move on to a college that will enable further learning and development. The young people are benefitting from a more cohesive and enthusiastic staff team that is positive about the changes and improvements introduced by the manager. These include a significant improvement to the appearance and maintenance of the home, as well as a substantially improved ability to safely and efficiently transport the young people to school and to activities outside the home. The progress and well-being of the young people is helped by the effective and collaborative relationships that the home maintains with external partners, particularly education and health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements set at the last inspection encompassed inadequate pre-admission assessments, an out-dated statement of purpose, significant shortfalls in staff supervision and appraisal, inadequate restraint recording and a need to update some young people’s records. The response of the manager and staff to these requirements has been energetic and sustained and all requirements have been met. Important lessons have been learned from a failed placement during the previous inspection period, and the manager is determined that the inadequate process followed will not be repeated. This will be achieved by applying greater rigour to information gathering and assessment before a referral is agreed. Recording has improved and records are up to date. Staff supervision is taking place regularly and appraisals for all staff have been completed. Recommendations were made concerning gaps in medical consent records, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

need to improve staff skills in meeting complex needs, and the registered manager making more effective use of the regulation 45 review process. Medical consent records are now current, but the other two recommendations will require further time to be meaningfully addressed, and are repeated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 When conducting the regulation 45 review, the registered manager must ensure that there is clear analysis of the information considered, that conclusions are drawn from this analysis, and that this is used as a tool to plan for continuous improvement in the quality of care during the next review period. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)  The registered manager must ensure that staff have the skills to respond to each young person’s individual behaviour, in particular skills in responding to their more complex needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14)

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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

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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