Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

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 sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement and two recommendations were made at the last full inspection, in November 2016. All have been met. The requirement related to the registered manager ensuring that a record is made of the effectiveness and consequences of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint, within 24 hours of the event. This requirement has been met. Such measures are now reviewed for effectiveness by the registered manager within 24 hours.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Proactively, the registered manager has also introduced the use of praise and rewards, as opposed to negative consequences, where appropriate. These are recorded in a personalised book for each child; they can take these with them when they move on, as happy memories. Staff ensure that positive behaviour is acknowledged, celebrated and, therefore, more likely to increase. The registered manager evaluates the use of sanctions and restraints and carefully monitors the effectiveness of individual strategies. Consequently, the staff ensure that they provide clear boundaries for each child which are reflective of the child’s own unique needs. Staff and managers ensure that they all work in a consistent way in addressing children’s negative behaviour, through ongoing discussions in team meetings, supervision and meetings about the individual children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children’s views are sought and incorporated into their behaviour management plans, resulting in children being able to reflect upon their own behaviour and share the responsibility for managing this. Such practice teaches children about consequences: a valuable life skill for the future.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The first recommendation related to ensuring that missing from home or care episodes are not viewed as negative behaviour which needs to be punished. This recommendation has been met. Staff are proactive when children go missing and have a good understanding of missing from home procedures. Staff search for children and telephone key people. Children are given the opportunity to meet with an independent professional upon their return home. Staff use key-working sessions to understand why the missing episode occurred and to help the child to understand the risks involved in being missing. Missing episodes are evaluated by the registered manager, ensuring that any gaps in staff skills and knowledge are addressed, and that patterns in a child’s behaviour are identified and supported.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The second recommendation related to the children’s access to the kitchen area at all times. The registered manager has ensured that all areas of the home are available to the children, with the exception of each other’s bedrooms and areas where confidential information is kept. Staff have risk assessed and discussed the appropriate use of all spaces within the home with the children.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is efficiently managed by a permanent and suitably qualified registered manager, who has considerable experience of working with children. He engages well with the children, which results in a good understanding of each child’s needs and strengths. He readily recognises when children are not progressing and he proactively challenges local authorities to ensure that children receive the support they need. For example, he challenged the local authority to ensure that information was shared, which resulted in the timely provision of education services for one child.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live in a warm and homely environment. They are supported by a high ratio of consistent staff with whom they have developed meaningful relationships. One child said, ‘Staff look after us. They care about us and want to make sure we are safe. Sometimes they don’t let us do what we want because they don’t think it is safe for us. That’s annoying, but okay really.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff identify and understand the risks associated with the children and these are clearly set out in risk assessments for each child. Staff support children, through group and key-work sessions, to understand their behaviour and the risks associated with this. Staff work well with key agencies to keep children safe, and have developed good relationships with the police and education staff. This has resulted in the reduction in the risk of bullying for one child.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive relationships between the children and staff ensure that children feel secure and make progress from their starting points. Staff support the children to improve their health by registering them with local GPs, dentists and opticians and by supporting them to attend medical appointments. Staff encourage healthy eating and support the children to become involved in regular physical activities, such as walking and swimming.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager proactively promotes children’s educational progress. Where children have not been in full-time education at the point of moving in, the registered manager has actively challenged the local authority to ensure that alternative activities are offered. This has resulted in all children being involved in education. An example of the registered manager’s tenacity in this regard is his success in securing additional educational hours for one child, who is progressing extremely well in education as a result. The additional hours secured have resulted in further successes for the child and her attainment level and sense of achievement have increased. Staff encourage and support the children to develop life skills. Children learn how to cook, budget, maintain healthy relationships and travel independently; they also undertake work experience through part-time jobs. Staff ensure that each child has

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

a life skills file which contains their individual targets and a record of their progress. Staff acknowledge and celebrate each achievement, which results in the development of children’s confidence in themselves and their abilities.

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children develop an increasing social conscience through their involvement in a range of charitable activities. Staff have supported the children to bake cakes, which were taken to a local residential home for the elderly. Children have supported a charity by holding a coffee morning, and have organised sponsored events, for example, staff wearing onesies. The children have now chosen to support Help for Heroes.

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and behavioural needs. It is managed and run by a private organisation.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

12/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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, workbased 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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.7