Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 1 SC465579

p.1

Benecare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who are displaying behaviours that are symptomatic of a range of emotional difficulties linked to challenging childhood experiences. The home is operated by a private organisation. The home’s statement of purpose states that the age range of the children is between eight and 18 years old. There has been no registered manager at the home since 12 June 2019.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit on 16 July 2019 identified ongoing concerns regarding the leadership and management of the home and the protection of children. This resulted in two compliance notices being issued. These related to the protection of children, and the leadership and management of the home. A restriction of accommodation notice was also issued to prevent further admissions to the home. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to check that the provider had met the compliance notices. The responsible individual and manager were present during this monitoring visit. At the time of this inspection, there was one child living at the home. The admissions log could not be located during the visit. However, a tour of the premises confirmed that no other children were living in the home.

p.1

12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)

Risk assessments have been reviewed. Training workshops on the assessment of risk have taken place, through which managers have reassured themselves that staff can recognise risk and respond to it appropriately. However, as there is only one child in place, it remains to be tested if staff can manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming one another. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 2 Safeguarding training has been provided with managers using scenarios to test staff’s learning in team meetings and individual supervisions. Staff interviewed by the inspector demonstrated that they could identify how and when to report concerns. Staff are now familiar with the updated child protection policy. The home has undergone significant improvement and now provides a safe and homely place for children to live. However, the effectiveness of some additions such

p.1

12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)

as new window restrictors has yet to be tested. Specialist equipment such as visual and vibrating emergency warnings have been fitted, which have improved the safety for one child. This compliance notice is deemed to be met.

p.2

13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(iii)(h)

The manager has undertaken extensive supervision sessions with staff. She uses individual supervision, and team meetings, to ensure that the staff are clear about her expectations and the home’s aims and objectives. Development plans are in place for all staff, with an ongoing training plan to continue to develop staff skills. All staff have had mandatory training and training in self-harm awareness and trauma. Staff speak positively about the training and scenarios about real live incidents to have been used to further test their understanding. A proforma is in place to track staff’s development needs and highlight any concerns relating to practice, should they work in other homes. There are currently six permanent staff at this home, with recruitment continuing. The manager has reviewed the monitoring systems in use and has implemented some new processes. She has delegated weekly checks to the deputy and is able to

p.2

13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(iii)(h)

drill down to specific areas to ensure quality. Her focus has been on managing individual staff to ensure continued development and to rectify any shortfalls. She plans to further enhance the development of the home by bringing in relevant research to inform good practice. A new independent visitor is in place. However, the manager felt that the independent visitor’s report was weak and has addressed this. This compliance notice is deemed to be met.

p.2

Conclusion

The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice. The provider has taken action to meet the steps of the two compliance notices. However, not all of the actions are fully embedded. Progress against these actions will be further tested at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 3

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/03/2019 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/11/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)) 11/08/2019

p.4

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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 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; help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate

p.4

Requirement Due date

according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or 11/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 5 harmful relationship; strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour, and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; understand and communicate to children that bullying is

p.4

Requirement Due date

unacceptable; and have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them. that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)(xii)(xiii) (b)) The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which— include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 11/08/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner— children’s case records (see regulation 36). (Regulation 38(i)) 11/08/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular— provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. 11/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 6 (Regulation 33 (2)(a)(b)) 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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 11/08/2019

p.6

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.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Angela Baskerville

p.7

Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC465579 8 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8