Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Milton Keynes

Inspection report children’s home: SC391379 1 SC391379 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd Interim inspection 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 private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children. The organisation also has a registered school and teachers provide education in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager since 1 December 2017. There have been three managers in the period up to this inspection. This has led to significant instability in the home and resulted in poor outcomes for some children placed since the last full inspection. Two children had been placed and subsequently moved on as staff could not meet their needs. No children were placed for a period of time until the recently appointed manager arrived at the start of November. Two children have moved into the home with a complete staff team from another home within the organisation. Two weeks into placement, the children are settling well and engaging fully in education. The requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection have not all been fully met. This is due to the change in managers and inconsistency in the running of the Inspection report children’s home: SC391379 2 home. In addition, there has not been a report forwarded to Ofsted in response to a

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager’s evaluation in line with regulation 45, and an incident of fire setting in the home was not notified to Ofsted. Pre-placement planning remains a concern. Plans do not reflect the needs of the child in relation to the others living in the home or staff skills. Impact risk assessments contain bland statements, such as ‘staff are trained in behaviour management’, rather than what specific skills and training may be needed to meet the needs of a child who has a complex history and who is subject to a deprivation of liberty order. Areas of improvement and requirements and recommendations that have been met have been met since the new manager and staff team have been in place. Care plans are clearer and link to risk assessments, which effectively show how children’s needs will be met and strategies to reduce the risk of harm. There are clear routines, and children are ready for learning and are quick to return to lessons after lunch. Weekly planners are

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

more thoughtful and detailed in the educational activities children will be involved in. Sanctions are now effective and reflective of the child’s needs. Up until the new manager came into post, the sanctions were punitive and focused on financial reparation. Internal doors are no longer locked as a matter of routine. The home manager has a focus on supporting children to learn and manage responsibility rather than locking doors to manage behaviour. The home is much cleaner and in a better state of repair since the last inspection, although there are still gaps in the kitchen work surfaces where debris and grime is collecting. The new manager has high aspirations for the children, and the staff appear confident in their roles and already have strong relationships with the children in placement. The manager is seeking to improve the home and is yet to formalise a development plan, having only been working in the home for two weeks.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC391379 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 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 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. (Regulation 12(2)(d)) Specifically, ensure that the kitchen is clean and well maintained in a manner that reduces dirt and grime buildup. 28/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14(2)(a)) Specifically, ensure that pre-placement impact assessments are completed for all young people admitted to the home and that these identify how staff can meet their needs. 28/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)(e)) 28/12/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC391379 4

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Recommendations

 The processes the registered person puts in place to enable such a review to take place, should allow for a report to be generated at least once every six months. The generated report should be sent to Ofsted and the placing local authority of all children in the home who are looked-after children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.3)

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC391379 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Church Farm House, Station Road, Aldbury, Tring HP23 5RS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Deysel

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC391379 6 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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