Children's home run by Beaufort Care Group Ltd in Barnet

Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 1 SC470479 Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company which operates four homes in the south of England. It is registered for up to six children who may 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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children and young people receive high-quality, child-focused care. They have excellent relationships with the staff and feel comfortable in speaking with them about Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 2 any worries. As a result, all the children have made good progress since they came to live in the home.  There have been serious incidents in the home. Some have required staff to restrain children appropriately to keep everyone safe. The staff manage these incidents very well. The high quality of care provided helps the children to trust the staff and begin to build relationships. As a result, the frequency and intensity of incidents are reducing over time.  The registered manager prioritises safeguarding children. The home’s risk assessments for individual children are exceptionally good. The manager ensures that the staff’s training is up to date and monitors any risky situations very closely.

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Key findings from this inspection

Whenever there is a concern about a child’s safety, the registered manager requests a risk management meeting. This brings extra professional expertise to the situation.  The staff hold frequent, in-depth key-working meetings with children. This helps children to make sense of and learn from their experiences.  The registered manager is a skilled and respected leader who always encourages her staff to see the positives in every child. She has built a strong team and supervises them well. Management monitoring is extremely good. There are excellent systems in place to help managers to track the children’s progress in the home. The children’s home’s areas for development:  Children do not always receive an independent interview when they return home after going missing. The registered manager always requests independent interviews, but some placing authorities do not always offer this service. This means that children do

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Key findings from this inspection

not have an opportunity to talk about their experiences with someone who is independent of the home, in line with statutory guidance.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/10/2016 Full Good 18/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children receive exceptional levels of support. The staff are dedicated and child- centred in their practice. All the children in the home have good, and in some cases exceptional, outcomes and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has made such good progress that he was able to return home to live with his family. The staff helped the remaining children in the home to manage his departure very well. This ex-resident then helped to show a new child to the home around his school. Because he has had very positive experiences at the home, he was able to reassure the new child about the quality of care and the staff. This made a major difference in helping the new child to settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the summer has had turbulent moments, there have been many more positives. One child took part in a Summer Youth Theatre School, which involved taking part in a show. This was a major achievement for this child, who had to go alone and make friends. This is something that she has previously found very difficult. The staff team went along to watch the show, which helped her to feel valued and appreciated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child who is new to the home has engaged very well with the staff. He is doing extremely well in school, enjoys his activities and plays football regularly for a local youth team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team has established very good relationships with parents. Parents whose children have returned to live with them keep in close contact with the home and phone with any news. The staff help parents and social workers to manage family contact so that it is a positive experience for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s healthcare needs are recorded very well, with plenty of information to help the staff to meet their needs. Placement planning is very clear and detailed. The home uses an electronic recording system. Records are detailed and up to date. This helps the staff to work efficiently. It also makes relevant information available for any children who wish to see their own records.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are all receiving a good education. During the inspection, the staff were helping a child to understand that attending school is in their best interests. They quickly identified a potential barrier which might stop the child from wanting to go to school. She had shaved some hair from her forehead and was feeling self-conscious. A member of staff helped the child to arrange her hair to make this less noticeable. The child went to school the following day with no difficulty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are referred to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) when necessary, although some choose not to engage with this service. Sometimes, Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 4 CAMHS is not the best source of therapeutic support for children who have particular needs. In these situations, the registered manager looks for alternative resources to help the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff are passionate about advocating for children. Direct work with children includes advising them of their rights and responsibilities. These are also made clear through a very readable children’s guide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

With the exception of times when they may be exposed to the incidents described below, the children receive extremely high-quality experiences in this home. The staff offer children exciting and valuable activities. Some activities help to keep children fit, while others involve them in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

None of the children in the home have reached the age where they are involved in a formal independence programme. However, all are encouraged to take part in the daily life of the home and to learn new skills, according to their abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The judgement of good has been reached because the positive outcomes for the children have been balanced with the serious incidents that have taken place. For example, some children go missing. They occasionally stay out without telling the staff where they are.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have been injured while in the community. The police had to arrest a child who was distressed and unable to contain their behaviour safely. There have been incidents in the home when staff have been hurt and the house has been badly damaged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children in the home have made good progress since their arrival. This applies even to those who have been involved in serious incidents. This is because the staff, registered manager and senior leaders respond to these incidents extremely well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager updates the children’s behaviour management plans and risk assessments after every incident. This means that they always reflect the current situation for the child. Overall, the frequency of these incidents is decreasing.

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

The staff and registered manager have a very good understanding of the dangers that face children. The registered manager makes sure that all risk assessments are extremely detailed and cover all known areas of concern.

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

One child, a long-term resident at the home, has started to go missing recently. This is a relatively new development and is a sign that the child is growing up and making friends outside the home. It is normal for children to test boundaries and copy their peers’ Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 5 behaviour, but the registered manager is concerned about this child’s vulnerability.

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

Some children have used cannabis and alcohol while missing. This places them at risk of being misunderstood, arrested, or exploited in the community. The staff respond to this by raising children’s awareness of risk. They educate them about the importance of keeping in touch while they are out. It is positive that the last time one child went missing, she returned by herself by 1 a.m. In the past, she has stayed out for much of the night. This may be a sign that she is listening to the staff’s advice.

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

During this inspection, the registered manager was trying to arrange an independent return home interview. This is the correct procedure to make sure that the child is all right and that there are no problems in the home or in the community that have led to them going missing. The placing authority did not consider that this incident met their criteria for offering an interview, so the child did not receive one within the specified timescale of 72 hours. The registered manager challenged this assertively, so no recommendation has been made. The home’s managers meet regularly with the placing authorities to promote good practice. They said that they will continue to raise this matter.

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

There was a peak in serious incidents in June and July of this year, all of which were notified to Ofsted. The staff nearly always manage serious incidents without involving the police, but there have been times when they and the children have been at risk of harm. The registered manager is very reluctant to involve the police, but they have had to be called on a small number of occasions since the last inspection. This action had the full support of the child’s social work team, because previous strategies were not helping to change their behaviour.

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

In June, another child smashed a glass dish and threatened to harm himself and the staff with the shards of glass. The registered manager made sure that, after the police had attended, an officer came to the home the following day to talk with the child. By this time, the child was in a calm frame of mind and open to the possibility of starting to build a positive relationship with the officer. This was good practice.

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

In the same month, this child hit a member of staff, causing him to lose balance and fall over the bannister around the top of the stairs. The member of staff fell several metres down the stairwell and received cuts and bruises, necessitating assessment in hospital. It is very fortunate that he was not more seriously hurt.

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

The registered manager responded immediately to review the risk assessments for the child and the home. Senior managers brought in the company’s health and safety consultant to review the incident and the premises. The registered manager identified that the office location on the landing has been a trigger for some children. This incident also took place just outside the office.

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

Although this was a serious incident, the home’s managers have responded well. They have made improvements quickly and have reviewed the layout of the home in the process. The bannisters were quickly replaced with a slightly higher structure. This is still homely and domestic in appearance. There is work currently taking place in the home to move the office to a more discreet location downstairs. There are plans to make the Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 6 present office space available as an attractive, sunny lounge for the children.

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

The registered manager communicates extremely well with placing authorities and other professionals. Regular risk management meetings help to make sure that children are supported by the best strategies.

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

For example, a risk management meeting was held in July after a child sustained a broken jaw in a fight while away from the home. The staff have demonstrated a great deal of skill and patience to help this child turn his behaviour around. He has worked hard to reduce his risk-taking behaviour over the last two months. When he does go out, he now stays in touch with the staff, so that they know he is safe. This is a really positive achievement.

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

The staff manage most of the behaviour presented by children very well. Children are encouraged to respect others and are challenged, kindly, when their behaviour is not in their best interests. The home uses a proportionate system of rewards and consequences to help children improve their behaviour.

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

When their behaviour improves, the children can enjoy increasing freedom and responsibilities. For example, several children have had friends over to the home to have sleepovers. The home has an annexe which is used for this purpose, as well as for children who are working towards independence. Several children have enjoyed having friends to stay in this useful facility.

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

The staff receive high-quality training and regular clinical consultation to promote good safeguarding practice. It is very positive that there have been no allegations since the last inspection. Children are referred to the local authority designated officer when there is a need to do so.

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

Children say that they feel safe in the home and that if they do have to be restrained, they are always helped and spoken with afterwards. All restraints have been necessary and proportionate. They are monitored very well and behaviour management strategies are adjusted as necessary. As a result, the children respond well and their behaviour is improving.

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

Although there are a large number of restraints for some children, others have had no restraints at all. One child, who has been restrained on 40 occasions since 1 February 2017, has started to learn to remove himself from the source of his distress. As a result, there has been a reduction in the intensity and duration of incidents involving this child, and a major reduction in the amount of damage done to the home.

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

The company has a very safe and efficient recruitment procedure for new staff. A sample of files was inspected earlier in the year. These were found to be of a good standard. The human resources department has introduced very thorough recruitment checks and monitoring systems. This helps to make sure that no aspect of the process is overlooked. Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has a very skilled, experienced registered manager. She holds a qualification at level 5 in leadership and management. The practice manager is also highly experienced and working towards her level 5 award. They have complementary skills and, between them, they manage the home to an exceptionally high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an excellent overview of the children’s progress. She is very much involved in their day-to-day care. The company’s electronic records system, which is accessible to placing social workers, produces reports against specific parameters. This enables managers to identify patterns and subtle progress when, subjectively, this may be obscured by recent incidents. Internal monitoring is supported by good quality independent visitor’s reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are exceptionally well supported by strong and inspirational leadership. The registered manager holds regular team meetings and encourages the staff to think about positive steps forward that the children have made. This helps to sustain the team through difficult periods when there are lots of incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home currently has some additional staff due to the closure of another service within the company. This means that children have even more opportunities to enjoy external activities and spend time with the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff confirm that they receive regular, good-quality supervision to support their practice. These meetings are well recorded and up to date. The staff and registered manager also receive regular clinical supervision. A qualified psychologist, who specialises in attachment and trauma, visits the team regularly. This helps the staff to review behavioural strategies and adjust their responses to children as the need arises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has nominated one of her team to participate in a clinical psychology research project. This will enhance the staff member’s professional development. Their involvement will ultimately benefit the rest of the team and the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff and registered manager are actively involved in practice-based research. For example, the manager has been involved with a police-led project to reduce children’s offending and criminalisation of children who are looked after. In consultation with her team, the manager devised a questionnaire that was distributed throughout the homes in the company. The aim was to gain the children’s opinions and convey the findings to the police. This was submitted to the project. When the new police protocol was issued, the manager brought this to a team meeting to discuss how it would be implemented in the home. The manager provides the police with feedback when they are involved with any child in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This project has been shortlisted for an award from the Howard League for Penal Reform. This is in relation to its initiative, launched in July 2017, to end the criminalisation of children who are in residential care. Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 8 The registered manager has also researched the quality of regulation 44 reports. Her findings have contributed to a forthcoming presentation to other registered managers at the South West Registered Managers meeting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is due to go on a planned period of absence on maternity leave from 1 December 2017. She advised Ofsted of her impending absence in good time. The company has put arrangements in place for her post to be covered while she is away. The duration of her absence is not yet known. If the temporary arrangement is likely to continue for more than 90 days, the proposed interim manager must register with Ofsted. This will not affect the registered manager’s own status when she returns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff and social work professionals responded extremely well to the Ofsted survey. There were 12 responses, which reflects their positive view of the home. The staff welcome the fact that senior managers attend team meetings, have an ‘open door’ policy and consult the staff regularly to obtain their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff confirmed that senior managers are very visible in the home. They come to birthday parties and barbecues, so they see the children socially and form a well- rounded picture of their progress. As a result, the children understand that they can speak to anyone from head office.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Other staff survey comments include: ‘Training is always up to date and safeguarding is the highest priority’ and ‘I have never worked with so many people passionate about changing young people’s lives but supporting each other as a team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A social worker said, ‘I have found the staff at the home to be very helpful, professional, child-focused and effective in moving forward a child’s care plan.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All professionals who commented were full of praise about the home. They particularly value the registered manager’s communication skills. They also appreciate the staff’s commitment and understanding of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s managers recognise the importance of encouraging children to communicate in child-friendly ways. Children’s meetings are held every two weeks. Children can participate in a creative and amusing way. They use coloured pictures to represent different topics under discussion. The children can chair the meetings and enjoy their involvement. This is exceptionally good practice, because it engages children at their own level. The senior manager is now looking into ways to help children to express their views by text or email, because they are comfortable with these forms of communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has a clear and accurate statement of purpose. This reflects the home’s day- to-day work. The registered manager updated the statement of purpose shortly before the inspection. She sent it to Ofsted so that the regulator is aware of any changes in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 9

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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: SC470479 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 42 Lytton Road, New Barnet, Barnet EN5 5BY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Kendall

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC470479 11 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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