Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 1 SC357981 Registered provider: Benecare Limited

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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 registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people live in a genuinely caring environment where they are supported by a high ratio of consistent staff who know them well.  Young people have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff, which form the basis of effective work with young people on areas which are Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 2 identified in their individual plans.  Young people report that they feel safe and valued. They approach the staff with confidence and ease.  Staff understand the risks associated with each young person, and the care that is provided minimises such risks.  Staff undertake meaningful direct work with young people, which has resulted in a reduction in risk-taking behaviours and enhanced young people’s self- esteem.  Young people are making very good progress in all aspects of their lives. Joint working with other agencies is embedded in practice and plans are devised from

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Key findings from this inspection

a joint perspective. This ensures consistency and the best possible outcomes for young people.  Young people have access to a wide variety of activities, both on and off site. This enables them to try out and experience new situations, and nurtures their particular interests and skills.  Staff value their manager, who is child-centred and supportive. They report respect for the objective and constructive guidance she gives, which staff say enhances their confidence and enthusiasm for providing the best possible service to young people.  The inspirational and proactive manager has further developed a culture which is child-centred, where staff demonstrate high aspirations for the young people, which has resulted in young people developing a positive sense of belief in themselves.

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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 manager has not ensured that all events or incidents which are a cause for concern are notified to Ofsted appropriately.  The children’s guide is not individualised and the language used is not conducive to the needs and understanding of each young person.  Recruitment processes are not consistently followed in relation to gathering all required information from referees through the verification processes.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Good 12/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 3

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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. (Regulation 32(1) (schedule 2(4))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to providing full and satisfactory response in respect of all questions asked of a referee. 10/01/2018

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered provider must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if:

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Requirement Due date

(e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to incidents where a child is taken to hospital and/or emergency medical treatment is sought. 10/01/2018

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 The children’s home must produce a children’s guide. The children’s guide must be made available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed (or on arrival at the home if their placement is made in an emergency) and must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)

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Recommendations

In particular, the children’s guide must specifically relate to the home in which the child resides, and must be written in language that is conducive to the child’s age and understanding. Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a homely domestic-style house, which is well maintained and decorated. Young people report that they are encouraged and supported to contribute their own ideas about the decorating and furnishing of the home, and in particular to personalise their own bedrooms. This results in the creation of a sense of belonging and ownership on the part of the young people, and pride in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people continue to make excellent progress, and thrive in an environment where they receive thoughtful, nurturing and consistent individualised care from staff who know them well, and demonstrate a detailed understanding of their needs. One young person said, ‘Staff know me better than I know myself and really understand me. This makes me feel important. They believe in me and help me to do things that I never thought I could.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for young people who come to the home is well thought-through. Staff devise thorough impact risk assessments and carefully balance the needs of all of the young people. This has led to more harmonious relationships between young people, which enhances their experiences of living in a group environment. One young person said, ‘We get on well most of the time. The staff help us to understand each other, and have patience when one of us is going through a rough time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff successfully support and encourage young people to participate in education. They are proactive in ensuring that provision is sourced which meets young people’s needs. Staff have high aspirations for young people, and inspire them to pursue further education opportunities which are aligned to their chosen career paths and interests. Staff demonstrate a meaningful interest in young people’s education and show creativity in the provision of educational activities and trips which nurture young people’s interests and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people have clear and thorough health plans, and staff support young people in their understanding and contributions to their plans, in addition to creating goals in relation to developing a healthy lifestyle. Staff support young people to make and attend their own health appointments, and have succeeded in building a foundation for young people to understand the importance of their own health, both now and in the future. This proactive approach has improved young people’s awareness of the importance of their own health, and has resulted in increased self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people develop positive attachments with adults who care for them. Young people’s meetings take place on a regular basis, and young people participate in the chairing of these. Young people are encouraged to exercise choice about meals and activities, and use these meetings for discussion about topics which are relevant to them. Staff encourage young people to utilise these meetings positively to explore the intricacies of group living. Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 5 Staff and managers closely evaluate young people’s progress and development, and regularly discuss and review the strategies used to meet their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work to develop young people’s independence skills in line with their age and stage of development. This work is underpinned by a high level of support and ongoing review in order that young people are able to learn these skills in a methodical way. This means that young people can successfully develop the necessary life skills to prepare them for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work sensitively and positively with families, showing recognition of the importance of positive and meaningful contact. One young person’s parent described the staff as ‘easy to talk to, and they help my child to understand that I really do care, even though we can’t live together as a family’. This results in the young person feeling valued and loved by the caring adults in his life.

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

Moves to the home are well planned, with impact assessments which form the basis of all future risk assessments. Staff actively seek information to ensure that they know what is needed to keep young people safe. Where this is not readily available from external professionals, the manager assertively seeks to obtain this information.

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

High staffing ratios enable staff to fulfil young people’s needs and support the development of positive, trusting relationships. Staff provide a high level of support and supervision of young people. They help young people to reduce their anxieties and incidents of challenging behaviour by utilising the strategies outlined in comprehensive and personalised behaviour management plans and risk assessments, which are reviewed regularly with young people to ensure their effectiveness. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in incidents of concerning behaviour. Managers monitor such behaviour efficiently and staff actions are proportionate and necessary.

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

Managers and staff are trained to recognise safeguarding issues, and a culture of reflection and learning is embedded in their practice. Staff have received enhanced training in relation to child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and gang-related activities, to ensure that their knowledge is up to date, and that they are able to recognise risks and take effective action should the need arise. Young people who previously engaged in risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing, have reduced this significantly, and in some cases this has ceased.

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

Recruitment procedures are, in general, good. However, letters from referees do not always provide the information required. This is not consistently followed up through the verification process. This is just one part of an otherwise comprehensive recruitment process and all other checks are carried out in accordance with regulations.

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

The manager works proactively with other agencies, such as the designated officer, the police and the Local Safeguarding Children Board. This results in staff receiving Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 6 appropriate training, information and advice which is up to date and in accordance with locally agreed protocols.

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

Sanctions are not commonly used, because staff have supported young people to understand and regulate their own behaviour and to consider the impact of their behaviour towards others. Staff proactively engage young people in direct work to reflect upon their behaviour and to develop effective strategies to improve this. One young person said, ‘Staff are always there when I need them. They don’t always tell me what I want to hear when I am a bit naughty, but I feel really safe with them. I know that they only tell me off because they care about me – they constantly tell me this and I believe them.’

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

Internet safety is promoted and social media use is monitored by staff when using home equipment. There are clear security systems which alert staff and young people to any concerns. This means that young people are able to use the internet safely.

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

The house is safe and secure, with staff and managers having due regard for issues of health and safety, yet maintaining a warm and homely environment. Young people also demonstrate an awareness of issues of health and safety, and take part in fire drills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 1 August 2017. At the time of the inspection, the manager has submitted her application for her registration with Ofsted. The manager has a level 5 diploma in leadership and management in health and social care. She is suitably qualified and experienced and staff describe her management as strong and inspiring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager engages well with young people and continues to take an active role in working with them. She understands young people’s needs and strengths and the progress that they have made. This underpins her effective supervision of staff members, during which staff are enabled to reflect upon their practice and relationships with young people, and the impact which these have upon young people’s safety, experience and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well staffed and resourced to meet young people’s needs. Staff retention is good and they report that they feel listened to, and are empowered to share ideas about how best to meet the needs of young people. This has resulted in consistency within the staff group and provides security and continuity to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that she meets with young people on a regular basis to obtain their views and wishes, which are incorporated into the overall operation of the home and service. One young person said, ‘This is our home and we are given a say in the decorations and furniture, the activities we do and also how the staff look after us. Staff and managers listen to our ideas. We feel like this is our home, not just somewhere we live.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 7 External monitoring visits take place on a monthly basis. The manager ensures that monitoring reports are shared with staff and that the actions which arise from these are addressed in a timely manner. The manager’s six-monthly reports reflect the views of social workers, parents and young people, which demonstrates the value and impact of stakeholder consultation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is comprehensive and has been reviewed and updated and is reflective of the aims and purpose of the home. The children’s guide is not specifically tailored to this home and is written in a manner that does not enhance young people’s understanding of the information provided about this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people are fully aware of how to make a complaint, and where appropriate or requested, the manager has been proactive in ensuring that advocacy services are available to young people.

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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: SC357981 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 113a St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks TN13 3PE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Richmond

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Inspector

Jacqueline Georghiou, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 9 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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