Children's home run by Benjamin UK Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 1

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Benjamin UK Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This 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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This monitoring visit

A full inspection of the home took place on 20 June 2017. The home was judged to be inadequate. Seven requirements and two recommendations were made. The date set for meeting these requirements was 21 August 2017. The focus of this monitoring visit was to assess the progress made in meeting them.

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This monitoring visit

In response to the full inspection, senior leaders re-deployed a manager on 11 July 2017, appointed for another home, pending its registration. The provider deemed this individual as suitably experienced and able to take the required action to improve the home. This interim manager understands the shortfalls and is clear about her plans for the future. She demonstrates a realistic and proportionate approach, which includes building a team to support her in driving further improvements.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the interim manager has made a variable amount of progress. Inspectors reiterated that immediate positive responses to some requirements still need further work to embed them into practice. Insufficient responses to other requirements need implementing to make the necessary changes. As a result, four requirements have been met and three have not been met.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, inspectors also identified additional breaches of regulations and a further four requirements were made. The timescale for meeting all of the requirements has been extended to 9 October 2017. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 2

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The education standard (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(viii))

Previous shortfalls included the failure to provide a meaningful alternative to education as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose while working in partnership with relevant professionals to secure education provision.

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The education standard (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(viii))

The child who typified this shortfall has now moved on. Since then, the provider has failed to rigorously explore or understand the shortfalls in education and take sufficient actions to improve.

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The education standard (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(viii))

The interim manager has taken the concerns on board and addressed them at a local level for a child who has moved in since the previous inspection. These actions are not strategic and do not demonstrate that overarching systems are strong enough to respond effectively to meet the differing educational needs of children who may move into the home.

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The education standard (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(viii))

The progress made for the child living in the home is due to the actions and tenacity of the interim manager. While her actions are having a positive impact on this child, this is not sufficient. It is the responsibility of the provider to have the structure and systems in place for all children who may move in. Failure by the provider to implement a corporate or procedural plan to address the shortfalls risks children’s needs drifting. This requirement has not been met.

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The positive relationships standard (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(v)(ix)(xi))

Previous shortfalls included poor timing and compatibility decisions made by the previous registered manager before the children moved in. Other issues included an inexperienced staff team lacking the understanding of children’s emotional difficulties and its failure to apply consistent boundaries and routines.

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The positive relationships standard (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(v)(ix)(xi))

The three children referred to in relation to this shortfall have all now moved on. Since then, the provider has recognised the impact of this and no new children have moved in. This decision has been one of the main reasons that the only child living in the home is making progress towards outcomes that are more positive.

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The positive relationships standard (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(v)(ix)(xi))

The interim manager has created a stable and nurturing environment. This has enabled the staff team the time and space to build and sustain a positive relationship with the child. A recent, well-organised holiday meant that they were able to spend quality time together. It also gave the child the opportunity and confidence to try new activities, something which has continued after the holiday.

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The positive relationships standard (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(v)(ix)(xi))

Behaviour management guidance is now clear, strategies used are effective and boundaries and routines are applied consistently. The staff now spend structured time with the child and incidents have reduced significantly.

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The positive relationships standard (Regulation 11 (2)(a)(v)(ix)(xi))

During this visit, it was encouraging to see an overall improvement in the child’s Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 3 appearance and general well-being. This requirement has been met.

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The protection of children standard (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i))

Previous shortfalls in relation to poor risk assessment and management guidance for a specific child’s going missing behaviour could not be tested as this child has now moved on.

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The protection of children standard (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i))

The provider has failed to demonstrate the learning from this to influence its general approach to risk assessments and strategies to manage this behaviour. However, the interim manager has transferred her knowledge and approach to manage the current child. While this individual piece of work does not demonstrate the wider picture, it does provide evidence that there is protective guidance in place.

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The protection of children standard (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i))

The interim manager has learnt from the past poor risk assessments for when children go missing. She has used this to consider the way in which she developed the risk assessment and protocols for the current child. Plans are robust and clear and shared with all relevant people, including the police. This requirement has been met.

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The care planning standard (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(2)(b)(i))

Previous shortfalls included the failure of the provider to recognise the impact of three children moving in within days of the new home opening and of each other. This combined with an inexperienced staff team resulted in a turbulent and challenging environment during which two placements ended abruptly.

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The care planning standard (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(2)(b)(i))

Since then, no children have moved in. However, the current child had only moved in a day before the last inspection. Action taken by the manager at the time indicated that some lessons had been learned in relation to considering the impact on the existing group, although concerns around the inexperienced staff team remained.

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The care planning standard (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(2)(b)(i))

Subsequently, a proactive agreement between the provider and the interim manager has included putting a temporary stop to new placements. This has created a period of consolidation while the interim manager identifies the areas for improvement and develops the staff team. New systems are also in place to ensure that all future placements are planned and children are appropriately matched.

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The care planning standard (Regulation 14 (1)(b)(2)(b)(i))

This clear and strategic thinking demonstrates a structured and committed response for children. This requirement has been met.

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Employment of staff (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

Previous shortfalls include the failure by managers to provide the staff with effective support and guidance to look after the children. Supervision arrangements were poor, infrequent and lacked content. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 4 Since the last inspection, the interim manager has demonstrated her commitment to the quality and delivery of supervision. The implementation of a new system means that all staff now receive practice-related and reflective supervision. However, this is not replicated through the interim manager’s own supervision by the provider, which means that this requirement has not been met.

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Storage of records (Regulation 38 (a)(b)(j)(n))

Previous shortfalls included the failure by the previous manager to keep records in an accessible manner. Specifically, in relation to records not being made available during the last inspection.

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Storage of records (Regulation 38 (a)(b)(j)(n))

Since then, the interim manager has created a professional working environment for the staff. The office area is clean and well organised. Streamlined recording systems avoid confusion and duplication and all records are now kept in an accessible manner. This requirement has been met.

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Review of quality of care (Regulation 45 (a)(b)(c))

Previous shortfalls include the failure by managers to implement a rigorous internal monitoring system to identify shortfalls and help raise standards. The lack of action taken by the provider in relation to this delayed improvements and resulted in poor outcomes for the children.

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Review of quality of care (Regulation 45 (a)(b)(c))

Upon arrival, the interim manager, having entered a chaotic environment, is demonstrating that she is beginning to unpick the issues and is starting a process of recovery. Recognising the depth and breadth of the many shortfalls and omissions, where she is currently, is proportionate given the challenge that she faces. Acting with a clear vision, the interim manager is actively seeking support from senior managers on where restructure and thinking are needed.

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Review of quality of care (Regulation 45 (a)(b)(c))

Development plans and actions remain in their infancy and therefore success criteria are not shown. Objectives are not clear and lack clear conclusions that can be evaluated. This requirement has not been met.

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Review of quality of care (Regulation 45 (a)(b)(c))

Additional observations and evidence obtained during this monitoring visit identified shortfalls in relation to the recording of sanctions, staff duty rotas, shift leading arrangements and interim management arrangements not notified to Ofsted, for which four additional requirements are made.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/06/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 5

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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

8: The education standard In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a)(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. (Regulation 8 (2)(a)(viii)) 09/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 09/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating: (a) the quality of care provided for children; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 09/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. If the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3), the requirements are that the individual has the appropriate experience, qualifications and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. This is with specific reference to reviewing the impact and 09/10/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 6 risks of probationary staff leading a shift with agency staff. (Regulation 32 (3)(b)) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy"). The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made. This is with specific reference to reviewing the quality and appropriateness of recording sanctions more effectively.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home. This includes a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home and a record of the actual rosters worked. This is with specific reference to ensuring that staff rotas are sufficient, accurate and do not contradict other records maintained in the home. (Regulation 37, Schedule 4(3)) 09/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place— a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children’s home. This is to ensure that Ofsted is formally notified of interim management arrangements. (Regulation 49 (a)) 09/10/2017

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Church Farm House, Station Road, Aldbury, Tring HP23 5RS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Deysel

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Inspector(s):

Amanda Harvey: social care inspector Mrs Maire Atherton: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1242111 8 to 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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