Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 1 SC438648 Registered provider: Benecare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 February 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are making excellent progress through the commitment and skill of highly dedicated and caring staff.  Young people with complex needs show significant improvements in all areas of their development. They are better able to manage their emotions and improve their behaviour.  Staff have developed genuinely trusting relationships with young people, which ensures that young people feel safe and secure in a stable and nurturing environment.  A culture of listening to young people is extended throughout every aspect of the care provided for them. Young people know this and this helps them to build their self-esteem.  Young people are safe due to the exceptional support and understanding. They gain insight into their own behaviour and are now taking control in order to achieve their goals and aspirations.  The manager is an inspirational leader who leads by example. He promotes a progressive and developing culture of best practice.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager’s meticulous monitoring of all aspects of the care provided mirrors his knowledge and understanding of the young people. He is highly visible and the young people know him well and trust him.  Young people’s views are important to managers and staff. Robust consultation processes ensure that young people’s voices are at the centre of the care provided.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/10/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/11/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people live in an environment which is warm and nurturing, where staff and managers have successfully created a ‘family’ atmosphere. Young people are able to build secure and trusting relationships with staff who know them well and understand them. Close, nurturing bonds between staff and young people were observed during the inspection, and young people presented as relaxed and happy. One young person said: ‘The best thing about living here is the staff. They are brilliant. They are always there to look after me, take me to school, do activities with me and help me. I love all of them.’ One social worker spoke in glowing terms about the progress made by her young person: ‘He has made amazing progress, beyond anyone’s expectations, including his own. He is really proud of himself. He has grown in confidence and is learning to understand and control his own behaviour. He now is able to reflect on how this affects

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The process for young people moving into the home is carefully and sensitively planned, ensuring that staff understand the young person and their individual needs prior to the young person coming to the home. When young people arrive, they receive a beautifully presented welcome pack, prepared by the staff and young people, which contains personalised items and is tailored to their individual likes and dislikes. They also receive a guide to the children’s home, which includes comprehensive information in an understandable and accessible format.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Behaviours resulting from the past trauma that young people have experienced are complex. The stable and highly committed staff team provides young people with consistent and high-quality care, enabling young people to make good progress: some are making exceptional progress given their complex needs. Staff receive excellent training to help them to understand young people’s behaviour. Through careful assessment, and by following comprehensive care plans, young people are helped to manage their powerful emotions and to self-regulate these feelings. Staff give young people clear and consistent messages about acceptable behaviour, helping young people to learn how to act and respond in different situations. Sanctions and consequences support positive behaviours and reparation is used in a positive way to avoid criminalising young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are allowed to be young people. Observations of young people with staff showed warm and caring interactions such as sitting together to eat, baking together, staff supporting young people with their hobbies and interests and young people being helped to manage their emotions and behaviour. One young person had his friend to visit during the inspection and the two young people were observed together laughing and playing mischievously with staff members; the young people were presenting as genuinely happy and enjoying the company of each other and of the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff afford education a high priority and have effective working relationships with education providers. One young person has been supported to return to school after Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 4 substantial absence and is making excellent progress. School attendance is excellent and daily communication between the professionals ensures a consistency of approach and security for young people. Staff make sure that they know about young people’s achievements and ensure that these are celebrated; this results in improvements to young people’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel safe and are listened to. This is evident through the carefully prepared minutes of young people’s meetings, which include feedback from each young person about how they are feeling and their wishes and views. This is presented in the form of a booklet which is accessible to the young people. Records of key-work sessions demonstrate excellent planning and are aligned to young people’s individual goals. The notes are written in a way which is likely to mean that young people will easily understand them should they wish to read their records in the future. Staff are readily available to young people. In addition, young people have access to advocates and are familiar with how to express any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate excellent attention to all aspects of young people’s health, ensuring that young people stay well and receive the health services which they require. Staff support young people to understand the importance of good health by teaching them about eating well, and by promoting personal care that is appropriate to their age and understanding. One young person has a particular interest in growing his own food and so an area of the garden has been dedicated for this purpose, which he enjoys.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are successfully supporting one young person in preparation for adulthood, helping her to make informed decisions about her lifestyle choices. This is tremendous progress for the young person, who is now successfully taking on more responsibility for herself and her actions. There has been a significant reduction in her risk-taking behaviours, and she now enjoys positive contact with her family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people experience a range of activities which are tailored to the particular interests and likes of each young person. Young people regularly engage in activities in the community and have been proactive in arranging community events which support charitable organisations. One young person organised a successful coffee morning in support of her chosen charity, for which she designed and delivered leaflets to neighbours, many of whom attended the event. Not only did this result in raising substantial funds but it also served to increase young people’s social awareness. Staff ensure that young people have regular holidays, providing memorable first experiences for some. Staff produce mementos for each young person to keep, to remind them of what they did and the fun that they had.

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

Staff and managers provide a warm and safe environment where children thrive and make excellent progress. Through consistency of care, young people have developed trusting relationships with staff who genuinely care about them. These relationships help to keep young people safe, because young people are able to communicate their feelings and fears to staff who respond appropriately. Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 5 Staff and managers understand the importance of clearly identifying areas of risk prior to young people’s admission and are extremely careful to ensure that all risks have been considered and an in-depth assessment begins before admission. This approach continues throughout each young person’s stay in the home. Effective arrangements are in place to assess the compatibility of young people who move into the home with those already living there. This carefully considered approach helps to reduce the risk of

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

inappropriate or poorly-matched placements and enhances placement stability.

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

Individualised assessments outline the risks associated with each young person and detail the measures to be used by staff to protect the young people from harm. Young people contribute to their own behaviour support plans; they know the strategies which staff will use to support their behaviour and understand why these strategies are needed. One young person prepared a presentation to staff about his understanding of his own behaviour, outlining his views about how they can help him. This helped the young person to think about his behaviour, which he is now able to self-regulate. There has been a significant reduction in the use of physical intervention. When this approach is absolutely necessary, it is carried out by staff who are well trained and confident in its use, and only to ensure young people’s safety in accordance with their plans and with regulations. Records reviewed during the inspection showed excellent reporting of

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

Safeguarding training for staff and managers is comprehensive and up to date. This includes training around child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and online safety. Staff demonstrate an exceptional understanding of safeguarding procedures. Proactive links with safeguarding agencies enhance the staff’s specialist knowledge of how to keep young people safe. Effective links with professionals within partner agencies ensure that local protocols and good practice are shared and understood.

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

Non-invasive and diligent supervision of young people ensures that they are safe, both inside and outside the home. However, staff also carefully support young people to take appropriate risks. One young person is being supported well to use public transport alone and to enjoy positive time with friends and family members. Staff are meticulous in monitoring her safety through regular phone contact, and have ensured that the young person knows exactly what to do should she feel unsafe.

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

Scrupulous attention to matters of health and safety promotes young people’s welfare and provides a safe environment for everyone. Staff undertake fire alarm checks and drills, which are monitored carefully by the manager. One young person proudly explained the procedures to be followed in case of a fire or an emergency, including the importance of these being followed very carefully in order to keep everyone safe.

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

There have been no recent incidents when young people have left the home without permission. However, there are detailed procedures and processes in place to protect young people should such an event occur. Close supervision is provided to young people when using the internet, and staff creatively support young people to understand the risks in using social media in preparation for their move towards independence. Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager who demonstrates exceptional commitment and passion and is highly ambitious for young people. He has successfully created a culture of aspiration which is evident in all aspects of the care provided to young people. The staff team reflects his calm and caring approach, creating a stable, warm and relaxed atmosphere where young people can flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive effective training and meaningful supervision, which enables them to respond well to young people’s needs and promotes young people’s well-being. The manager provides continuous support to staff through regular formal supervision and informal day-to-day support. Records of staff supervision demonstrate how staff are encouraged to reflect upon their practice and the importance of their relationships with the young people, in addition to providing targets for improvement. One staff member spoke about the excellent training that she receives, which includes core training as well as specialist training that is particular to a young person’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular staff meetings are used well to ensure that communication across the team is effective and that information is shared and discussed. The meetings include a firm focus upon the young people, providing a forum for staff to analyse young people’s behaviour and emotions. This enables staff to work closely and consistently and to devise strategies to ensure that young people receive the best individual support possible to help them to achieve positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people’s files are clear and well organised. Staff and managers are mindful that children may wish to read their records now or in the future. They ensure that information is recorded sensitively, and that it provides a clear picture of children’s time in the home. The manager has challenged one placing authority about its use of negative language when describing a child and has asked for permission for this to be redacted from the child’s records. This demonstrates that staff actively support the home’s ethos, which places young people’s current and future experiences at the centre.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is central to the placement planning process, ensuring that young people are only placed in the home when their needs can be met. The manager has declined to accept new young people where the likely impact upon others already living in the home is likely to be adverse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people know how to make a complaint and an age-appropriate children’s guide is available. One young person explained to the inspector what he could do if he was unhappy about any aspect of his care but was also keen to point out that he is very happy with the staff and with all that they do with him and for him.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An independent visitor regularly monitors practice in the home and reports are provided to Ofsted. These offer challenge to staff and managers to improve services where necessary. The manager ensures that staff incorporate any recommendations into their Inspection report children’s home: SC438648 7 practice, and the reports are used well to inform a culture of continuous improvement. The manager’s own meticulous attention to detail is reflected in his monitoring of the service and in the progress which young people make. Any shortfalls that are identified through this detailed scrutiny are acted upon in a timely way, ensuring that young people continue to benefit from high standards of care. Monitoring reports that are compiled by the manager are comprehensive and provide a clear evaluation of the service, in addition to providing an effective quality assurance process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The statement of purpose clearly outlines the purpose of the service and the way in which this is provided. The home is meeting its stated aims and objectives and is going beyond this to improve practice and to improve outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations as a result of this inspection.

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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: SC438648 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 113a St John’s 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: SC438648 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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