Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 1 SC401927 Registered provider: Benecare Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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 who have challenging behaviour, which includes children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 September 2018

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Restriction Notice – complied with and now lifted. Two compliance notices – complied with. Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2018 Full Inadequate 13/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)) 12/10/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 12/10/2018

p.3

Recommendations

 Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living at this home benefit from trusting relationships. A culture of mutual respect has been cultivated by a consistent team of staff. The staff have high aspirations for the young people. They help them to develop their identities by enabling them to make informed choices and take age-appropriate risks.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are achieving their goals. Staff have delivered care that is carefully planned to manage change. One young person was helped to move to an adult placement. The staff worked in partnership with the new carers to enable the young person to gradually build trust. This resulted in a smooth move to the new home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is positively promoted. One young person has started college. During the summer, his key worker helped him to practise the journey to college. As a result of this, Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 4 he began term positively and is enjoying making new friends and learning. Another school described a young person’s recent return as, ‘The best return [young person] has ever had, he has returned focused and ready to learn.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Specialist help is provided where necessary. The staff have a good understanding of the young people’s specific needs, including health matters. One young person is taking responsibility for his medication when at college. A risk assessment ensures that this is safely managed. However, there is no consistent system in place for monitoring the administration of ‘ pro re nata medication’ (taken when necessary) between the home and school. This has the potential for the young person being administered this medication too frequently.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have enjoyed their summer. Activities that enriched the young people’s experiences were balanced with time to relax at home. Children spoke excitedly about holidays, enjoying entertainment and trying new things. One parent described it as ‘the best summer my son has ever had’.

p.4

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

The safeguarding culture at this home is now well embedded. Staff have received safeguarding training and are clear about what to report, to whom and when. Risk assessments are individualised and clear. They provide staff with reliable strategies to follow and are frequently updated as the young people’s needs change.

p.4

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

Independence is promoted in line with individual abilities. One young person is learning independent travel skills. The staff and social worker agreed plans on how this could be achieved. The social worker said, ‘The staff know [young person’s] vulnerabilities well; their risk assessments allow him greater freedom, with built-in safeguards.’ Small steps towards achieving greater independence are celebrated. This gives the young people a sense of achievement, and encouragement to continue learning new skills.

p.4

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

Staff are attuned to the young people’s needs. They have a good understanding of their likes and dislikes. They build on their strengths to enable them to continue to grow and learn. Staff could demonstrate the young people’s progress over the summer months. However, there are no clear goals set within young people’s care plans for their continued progress and development.

p.4

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

The use of physical intervention is rare. Behaviour management strategies are well understood. As a result of this, challenging behaviour has reduced, and the young people are more able to manage their emotions. However not all behaviour reports are signed by staff in a timely manner.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is determined in her approach to improving the home. Her enthusiasm and attention are focused on her staff and the young people, who are her priority. Her nurturing approach has been a key driver for the improvements that have been achieved Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 5 at this home. Consistent managerial monitoring is driving forwards the quality of care delivered. The manager uses this, along with the independent monitoring reports, to continue to grow and develop the staff and young people.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular. The reflective style of leaders and managers enables staff to learn and develop. Safeguarding scenarios are explored during supervision to further embed the strong safeguarding culture at this home. Staff speak highly of the manager. One staff member said, ‘Staff morale is at a good level. We feel well supported and listened to; the door is always open if we need to talk.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Induction for new staff is thorough. Staff feel well prepared for their work and understand key areas for focus. A programme of training and development for staff provides them with opportunities to develop their skills. Appraisals are used effectively to further develop staff. Clear pathways to promotion enable staff to succeed: some have been promoted to senior roles.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent consultant continues to mentor the manager. He also provides a ‘listening ear’ service for the staff. This underpins the responsible individual’s focus on establishing clear whistle-blowing policies and accountability within the organisation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The physical environment of the home is well maintained. Routine servicing of equipment further ensures that the premises are safe. A recent expert fire assessment made minor recommendations that have been promptly addressed. Fire precautions are advised to all visitors and well understood by the staff. Daily handovers include any arising health and safety issues and daily room checks ensure that the home remains well maintained.

p.5

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.

p.5

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: SC401927 6

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Richmond

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Daniella Harding Patricia Clinton

p.6

Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC401927 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7