Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report children's home: SC067757 1 SC067757 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 and young people, irrespective of gender, aged between 12 and 18 years, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

Inspection report children's home: SC067757 2 This children’s home is good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are generally making good progress across all aspects of their development.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Behaviour management plans are robust and consistently delivered, which results in young people feeling more secure.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Safeguarding arrangements are robust and young people are supported to be safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people feel safe in the home and are able to express themselves confidently.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are supported to learn new techniques to manage their own behaviour and anxieties, and their behaviour is closely monitored by staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are provided with a wide range of activities and opportunities, which has contributed positively to their overall well-being.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people access educational opportunities which meet their needs and are supplemented by meaningful activities and experiences provided by staff.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Managers and staff work collaboratively with partners and families to secure the best possible outcomes for young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Parents and placing social workers speak in glowing terms about the quality of care provided to young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people’s successes are celebrated, resulting in positive developments in their confidence and self-worth.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection effectively.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff recruitment process currently inhibits the registered manager from being able to plan effectively for the induction and training of new staff members.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The recording of some supervision meetings does not include all of the information required. Inspection report children's home: SC067757 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/3/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 11/01/2017 Full Good 27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/05/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC067757 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (2) The registered person may only- (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3) (3) The requirements are that- (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work the individual is to perform: (d) full history and information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2)(a) (3)(b)(d) 01/09/2017

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Recommendations

 As set out in regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, the record of interviews of prospective staff should evidence their knowledge, skills and experience.

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Recommendations

 A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Inspection report children's home: SC067757 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well cared for, warm and homely, and meets the needs of the young people who live there. Young people say that they are able to make decisions about the decoration of their own rooms and are encouraged and supported by staff to personalise them. Staff and managers ensure that there are pictures of the young people around the home, which encourage positive memories and an enhanced sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy positive relationships with managers and staff who know them extremely well; they share positive interactions and experiences. Managers and staff show interest, and care for the young people thoughtfully. This helps young people to recognise their own strengths and abilities, and enhances their self-esteem. One young person, who has a keen interest in art, is taken by staff to view galleries and places of interest. This has resulted in a broadening of his interest and has raised his aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff proactively encourage young people to focus on their behaviour through the use of a positive and negative consequences system. Staff approach negative behaviour constructively, explaining to young people why their behaviour is unacceptable and how they could manage their behaviour more positively. Staff support young people to examine the impact of their behaviour on others. This results in young people beginning to develop a sense of empathy, and enhances their ability to build and maintain their relationships with others. Staff approach this as part of their overall work in supporting young people to develop resilience and prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff, supported by the input of the organization’s psychotherapist, have compiled a detailed analysis of how to manage each young person’s behaviour safely, and identified strategies which work well. Communication between staff in relation to young people’s needs and development is robust, ensuring a consistency of approach. This results in young people feeling more secure. As a result, they are able to regulate their own behaviour and express themselves more constructively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress. Managers and staff recognise the importance of the small but very significant steps they take, and ensure that their successes are celebrated. This results in improvements in young people’s confidence and self-esteem. One young person, with the support of staff and managers, was encouraged to arrange a local art exhibition which was attended by neighbours, the mayor, councillors and representatives from other organizations. Staff and managers ensured that the young person’s efforts were recognised, and supported him to understand the importance of such an achievement. Staff and managers approached this event inclusively, ensuring that all young people in the home contributed artwork and participated fully.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers understand that young people may experience challenges in coming to live in the home. They have utilised the ideas and skills of the young people in developing welcome boxes, which contain basic items and information designed by the young people which they feel is significant for their peers. This has resulted in young Inspection report children's home: SC067757 6 people developing empathy, and has enhanced their ability to reflect on how their own behaviour and presentation may impact on others. One young person recalled his own memories and how daunting this felt for him, and he feels that he is now able to reflect honestly on his own experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers ensure that they consult with young people and incorporate their views and wishes into overall planning. Young people and staff meet on a regular basis, and young people are provided with opportunities to discuss the intricacies of group living, and how some of the challenges this brings can be addressed. Young people report that they are consulted about most aspects of their life, and feel that they are listened to because staff take actions as a result of their input and ideas. Young people’s care is individualised, and there is a good balance with the promotion of group living and shared experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that young people are involved in decision-making about their own health, and are encouraged by staff to take increasing responsibility for their health in preparation for their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are involved in education. Two young people participate in education provided within the home, and one young person attends school full-time in the community. All young people are making good progress. For example, one young person is undertaking a range of vocational qualifications and will be moving into sixth form to pursue his interest in art.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Communications and relationships between staff and school are excellent, with daily feedback between the two establishments. This allows for constructive sharing of information, a continuation of young people’s learning opportunities, consistency of approach in managing young people’s behaviour, and reinforced acknowledgment of their successes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers have high aspirations for young people. They support young people’s education with creative and enjoyable activities and trips, which serve as a vehicle for strengthening relationships between staff and young people. These activities provide young people with memorable new experiences, and broaden their outlook.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Contact with family members is promoted effectively by staff who have developed good and positive relationships with parents. Parents are kept informed of young people’s progress and are consulted appropriately. Family therapy has been offered to one young person and his parent, which has resulted in significant improvements in family relationships. The parent said that staff have supported and empowered her to become a parent again after a difficult experience in their family life. She spoke of staff support to her son in glowing terms, and described the very positive progress which her son has made in terms of his self-esteem, his ability to empathise, his ability to develop and maintain meaningful relationships within his peer group, and the development of his life skills and preparation for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Partnership working is of a high standard and is characterised by clear and regular Inspection report children's home: SC067757 7 communications between staff and placing social workers. Staff report excellent relationships with social workers, and feedback from other professionals demonstrates value for the work undertaken by staff in relation to each young person. One social worker highlighted her appreciation of the positive progress made by a young person, resulting in improvements in his education attendance and achievement, his mental health, his relationships with peers and adults, and in particular with his own family. As a result, the social worker said that her aspirations for the young person’s future have significantly increased.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff and managers demonstrate a good safeguarding ethos. They undertake detailed risk assessments as part of the pre-placement planning process. Individual risks to each young person are identified in addition to an evaluation of the risks these may pose to other young people. Managers ensure that young people are well matched, for example by declining to offer a placement to young people whose needs they cannot meet, or where risks to existing young people are likely to increase. As a result, young people report that they generally feel safe and comfortable with their peers.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people say that they feel safe, and that staff are able to protect them. Details about who young people can approach should they have a concern, or wish to make a complaint, are available to them, and young people are clear that they have a choice in this. Staff also ensure that young people have access to an independent advocate should they need one.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff demonstrate an understanding that some young people may experience difficulties in expressing themselves, and there is a strong emphasis on the strength of the trusting relationships between the staff and young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff undertake a detailed risk assessment in relation to each young person, which is agreed with their social workers. Staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of the strategies devised to support and protect the young people. They are vigilant in their supervision and monitoring of young people, which results in fewer opportunities for bullying. Staff support young people to understand the impact of their behaviour, which has resulted in a reduction in the number and intensity of incidents. Staff utilise de- escalation techniques and are confident in conflict management and resolution. As a result, the use of physical intervention is reducing in frequency, duration and physicality.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff empower young people to take appropriate risks, and carefully monitor these. This approach enables young people to learn from their mistakes, which is a valuable life skill. Internet and social media usage is promoted and carefully monitored by staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond appropriately when a young person is missing from care, and the actions to be taken in such an event are detailed in each young person’s care plan, including the arrangements for the provision of return-to-care interviews. Staff are familiar with Inspection report children's home: SC067757 8 organisational and local protocols. There have been a number of missing-from-care episodes in relation to one young person, and managers have proactively challenged the local authority’s response to these, ensuring that the interests of the young person have remained the central consideration.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment practice includes all of the required checks and references, in line with safer recruitment guidance. However, the absence of recorded information about the applicants’ skills and experience inhibits effective induction planning for new staff members.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers and staff are knowledgeable about the actions to be taken if they have a safeguarding concern, or if a young person makes an allegation or a disclosure, and deal with these situations safely. The manager ensures that liaison takes place with other parties that have safeguarding responsibilities, and seeks advice and guidance from the local authority designated officer as appropriate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Diligent and effective health and safety measures keep young people safe, and the manager ensures that due regard for issues of health and safety do not compromise the warm and homely environment. Fire evacuation and equipment checks are undertaken at appropriate intervals, ensuring safety for all. Young people also demonstrate an awareness of issues of health and safety, and raise any concerns they have with staff, who immediately address them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager maintains effective links with partner agencies, and works well with the police community support officers in the local area. A robust locality risk assessment is in place which informs staff of the risks within the local area. These are addressed with young people in key-work sessions to minimise risk and keep young people safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A culture of reflection and learning is embedded within practice. Staff meet weekly with the organization’s psychotherapist to review and discuss any incidents of challenging behaviour, and this process is continually evolving to ensure that young people become increasingly safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and was appointed in March 2016. He demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the strengths and the areas for improvement, and this is supported by development plans arising from his oversight and management of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate and committed. He knows the young people well, understands their assessed needs and harnesses the services to meet them. His approach is young-people focused, with his presence being visible to them. The manager chairs regular meetings involving staff and young people, and he ensures that young people’s views are incorporated into the operation of the home. At the manager’s request, young people redesigned the welcome box for new young people, and he Inspection report children's home: SC067757 9 actively encourages young people to evaluate their own progress. As a result, young people feel connected to their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is described by staff as supportive and involved. This results in a culture of meaningful support and supervision by a manager who closely monitors activity and progress, and acts on concerns in a timely manner. Staff report a cohesive team, whose members confidently challenge each other and themselves in an environment where it is safe to examine the impact of their own practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff describe supervision as effective, and say that this inspires them to be motivated in their roles. Staff describe supervision as an opportunity to reflect on their own practice and relationships with young people. One staff member said that supervision allows him to take an overview of his work. He said, ‘I am able to be open and honest and feel that I am appropriately challenged. Supervision focuses upon the needs and progress of the young people and reinforces the ethos that the young people are at the centre of everything that we do.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recording of supervision meetings is a weakness. Some records of supervision meetings do not contain the information required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings take place on a regular basis and include the organisation’s psychotherapist, who provides insight and challenge to practice and strategies used to protect young people. In addition, the psychotherapist provides a perspective on the strategies used to support young people to develop holistically.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation operates a thorough core training programme, which is completed by all staff members within a designated timeframe. Core training includes a particular focus on child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and working with young people involved in gangs. Specialised training is available to staff, and access to this training is smooth. The manager ensures a bespoke approach to individualised training which is based on the particular needs of the young people in placement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been a number of complaints since the last inspection. The manager responds to the complaints in a robust and timely manner, and detailed records of all actions taken are recorded. The complaints mainly emanate from neighbours, and the manager has taken steps to address these by arranging meetings involving the neighbours, the police and local councillors. When neighbours have requested particular actions to be taken, the manager has ensured that, as far as is reasonably possible, these have been acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with the independent visitor to the home and acts appropriately on any recommendations made or shortfalls identified. He utilises the reports presented positively, in order to make the necessary improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is run for the benefit of the young people, and their needs are central to all plans. Young people’s records are clear, and provide a good analysis of how they are each progressing. The manager provides appropriate challenge to local authorities when Inspection report children's home: SC067757 10 it is felt that care planning or provision of resources is not up to the required standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a clear statement of purpose which provides an accurate reflection of the purpose of the service, and how this is provided.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: SC067757 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 32 Woodstock Grove, London W12 8LE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Deysel

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Inspector(s)

Jacqueline Georghiou, social care inspector Amanda Harvey, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC067757 12 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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