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

The home is owned by a private company. The statement of purpose specifies that it will provide care and accommodation for up to four children, aged between eight and 18, who have experienced multiple rejections and can display challenging behaviours, which are symptomatic of neglect, emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2018.

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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

Date of last inspection: 11 December 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/12/2018 Full Good 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure ─ that staff ─ communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(v)) 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff must that ensure the safer recruitment checks including the verification of photographic identification. 13/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person 23/08/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 4 working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(ii))

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from care delivered by staff who know them well. Relationships are built on mutual respect and develop gradually over time. As a result, the children learn to accept the care and support that staff consistently offer them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate about their work. They hold high aspirations for the children and seek ways for them to grow and develop through a range of meaningful activities. Independence is encouraged. Children are learning to shop, budget and cook meals for themselves. They delight in learning new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrivals at the home are largely well planned. However, one child who moved to the home from elsewhere in the organisation did not settle well. The registered manager was quick to identify this and worked in partnership with the placing authority to ensure that a planned move took place. This reduced the impact on the other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Advocacy for the children is a strength at this home. Staff discovered one child’s passion for working with animals and identified a potential college course and advocated strongly on her behalf to obtain the funding. They also found the relevant work experience for this course that helped the placing authority secure a place for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Specialist support is promoted. The registered manager advocated for one child to maintain support from a specialist with whom she had developed a working relationship. This is a good example of the staff ensuring that the children are provided with specialist support that meets their individual needs. Staff have also had training to enable them to meet the particular needs of the children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Departures from the home are well planned. This has enabled children leaving to benefit from gradual changes that have resulted in successful moves to their new homes. Many children keep in touch with staff, who ensure that they feel held in mind through phone calls and, in some instances, by visiting the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 5

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

An organisational focus on safeguarding has strengthened the culture at this home. Staff are familiar with the organisation’s whistleblowing policy; they know what to report, to whom and when. Records are clear, and information shared with external agencies has directly contributed to keeping children safe. Notifications made to Ofsted are accurate and relevant, but they are not always submitted in a timely manner. Such delays risk this information losing its relevance and value for its intended audience.

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

Specialist training enables staff to develop further skills. They have used it to help them to manage the complex and challenging needs of the children. Learning from critical incidents is used to inform practice. For example, staff knew that they must gather details of vehicles to pass to the police when safeguarding concerns arose for one child. Consequently, well-informed staff deliver effective safeguarding at this home.

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

Staff understand children’s behaviour well. They are attuned to their needs and adept at interpreting their wants. However, observations of staff showed that they were not always giving one child information that was suited to his particular needs. Staff repeated and rephrased requests too quickly for him to process. As a result, he was not able to respond to staff, as they were not giving him information tailored to his specific communication style.

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

The location assessment covers the local area in detail. The document is ‘live’ and demonstrates frequent updates and revised strategies that provide staff with clear guidance on how to reduce risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is dedicated to the children. Her high aspirations are shared by her staff. The child-focused approach is a team effort. Together, team members ensure that they are providing children with opportunities to grow and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported. Regular supervision and annual appraisal ensure that they are clear about their goals. Where practice has fallen short, the manager is adept at addressing concerns and utilises support plans and supervision to ensure that staff continue to develop their skills. The departure of the deputy manager has placed additional pressure on the register manager. However, she makes effective use of delegating tasks to seniors to ensure the continued smooth running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular communication with the wider network ensures that effective working practices continue. Effective information sharing results in social workers and parents being kept up to speed with the children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When complaints have been made, leaders and managers have ensured that a full investigation has taken place. Learning from complaints has resulted in additional safeguards being implemented to further secure the safety of the home, the children Inspection report children’s home: SC357981 6 and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment checks are largely followed for new staff. However, two staff members had not had their photographic identification signed as verified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The physical environment of the home is well maintained. Recent redecoration of the lounge was chosen by the children. Routine servicing of equipment further ensures that the premises are safe. Fire precautions are well understood by the children and staff. The children’s rooms are all decorated to their individual tastes and are clean and well furnished. Consequently, this home provides a safe space for the children, in which they can relax.

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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 7

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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 children’s home: SC357981 8 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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