Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 1 SC401927

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Benecare Limited

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a limited company. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have learning disabilities. The home’s stated purpose is to provide a safe, homely environment for children with challenging behaviour, which includes children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been on extended leave since 12 December 2017.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out following the inadequate judgement made at the full inspection on 21 and 22 May 2018, after which a restriction of accommodation notice was served. Two compliance notices, in relation to safeguarding practices and leadership and management arrangements, were also issued. Three young people were living at the home at that time. A fourth had recently moved on, having been accommodated in a caravan off-site for a protracted period.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to ensure that the provider had remained compliant with the restriction of accommodation notice that expires on 28 August 2018. The inspector also examined whether the provider had met the two compliance notices that had expired.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice in respect of safeguarding had a completion date of 11 July 2018. The compliance notice in respect of leadership and management arrangements also had a completion date of 11 July 2018. The inspector examined the provider’s progress against these compliance notices to inform Ofsted’s decision on whether the restriction of accommodation notice should continue. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 2 The acting manager and the responsible individual were at the home during this monitoring visit and met with the inspector. At the time of this inspection, there were three young people living in the home. One young person’s placing authority has given notice on his placement, and the notice period has yet to expire. No young people have moved into the home since the last inspection. A tour of the premises was conducted, and relevant records examined. The provider has complied with the

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This monitoring visit

restriction of accommodation notice. The restriction notice is no longer applicable, and the home may admit children when its management consider it appropriate.

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This monitoring visit

A compliance notice was served under (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(v)(d)).

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This monitoring visit

12 (2)(a)(i)(v) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person.

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This monitoring visit

In particular, the steps required the organisation to undertake a full management investigation into the road traffic accident; produce a report of the findings to establish if the vehicle was roadworthy; whether staff had sufficient skills and training; why risk assessments were not signed and why a management investigation had not been carried out previously.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, the organisation has commissioned an independent consultant to support the acting manager to respond to the compliance notices. The inspector found evidence that the road traffic accident had been fully explored. A comprehensive investigation had been conducted. The provider has established that the vehicle was roadworthy, the staff member had sufficient skills and training, concluding that the accident was attributable, as far as they were able to ascertain, to human error. The organisation accepted that the risk assessments had not had sufficient managerial oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager was able to demonstrate the organisation’s learning. Risk assessments have been updated and are now checked by leaders and managers on a weekly basis. If agency staff are used, leaders and managers ensure that they meet with them to discuss the individual risk assessments for the young people. Furthermore, the organisation has implemented its own vehicle checks. The acting manager reported that this is providing greater oversight of vehicle safety.

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This monitoring visit

12 (2)(a)(d) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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This monitoring visit

In particular, the steps required the provider to review the management Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 3 arrangements for monitoring the domestic environment of the children’s home; explore how a chair found on the beach ended up as an item of furniture in a child’s bedroom; and bring about the necessary improvements in the home’s environment, in particular the child’s bedroom and the children’s’ bathroom.

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This monitoring visit

At this monitoring visit the inspector carried out a tour of the premises. The acting manager demonstrated that significant improvements had been made to the home. The young people’s bathroom has been completely refurbished. It now provides clean and spacious washing facilities that are suited to the young people’s needs.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager had investigated the origins of the chair. It had been purchased second-hand and has now been disposed of. The young person has chosen a new chair, which was seen in his bedroom. Work has been undertaken in team meetings, to share the acting manager’s high aspirations for the young people and ensure that no further second-hand items are purchased.

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This monitoring visit

The acting manager has implemented staff checks on the young people’s bedrooms daily. The inspector’s tour of the home revealed significant improvements to the young people’s bedrooms. New soft furnishings have been purchased, and clean and tidy bedrooms are providing a safe and well-ordered space for the young people to relax in.

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A compliance notice was served under (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)

A compliance notice issued under regulation 13 was not seen by the organisation. Because of this, it is being reissued with an extended completion date. However, some progress has been made.

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A compliance notice was served under (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)

The steps required the provider to effectively explore why the young person involved in the road traffic accident did not receive targeted support following the road traffic incident and identify the lessons learned; and to effectively explore why the follow- up motorway driving tuition did not take place for the staff member.

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A compliance notice was served under (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)

The acting manager was able to demonstrate that the driving lesson had been arranged for the staff member. Records of the deputy manager’s meeting with the staff member document her refusal to take part in the driving lesson. The acting manager has arranged for some staff training, following her review of the staff training matrix. Progress against this notice will be further tested at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/12/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 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

* 13: The leadership and management standard Regulation 13.—(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(e)) 10/09/2018

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC401927 6

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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

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC401927 7 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 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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