Children's home run by Benecare Limited in Sevenoaks

Inspection report children’s home: 1225887 1 Registered provider: Benecare Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. Its statement of purpose specifies that it will provide care and accommodation for up to two children aged from eight to 18 who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since 30 June 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1225887 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no children living at the home at the time of this inspection. A new manager was appointed in October 2019. He has applied to register with Ofsted and was present during part of this inspection. The service development officer for Benecare was present throughout this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new deputy manager was employed but she resigned after one month. Recruitment is underway for a deputy home manager and residential care staff. Staff employed to work at this home are currently deployed elsewhere in the organisation. Some staff are subject to risk assessments. Their practice is being monitored through observations of their work in other homes. The manager meets with the core staff twice weekly. He is establishing a team culture through coaching and mentoring. The staff also complete routine checks and maintain the house.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Training has focused on lessons learned and how to develop positive relationships between staff and children. Reflective accounts following training show that staff have mostly made progress. However, concerns continue for some staff as their reflective accounts demonstrate that their punitive views continue. As a result, the current team requires some further work to ensure that its members can demonstrate they understand and can put into practice a positive ethos.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The statement of purpose continues to contain some overtly disciplinary language, in particular around sanctions. The safeguarding policy also lacks the quality and focus of the recently updated gross misconduct policy. As a result, these documents do not reflect the positive ways of working that the new manager and service development manager say they want to model.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new independent visitor has been visiting the home. The reports are detailed, and the new manager is finding them useful. However, actions are not always completed in a timely way. A requirement from the previous inspection regarding the regulation 45 report has not yet been met. Neither the provider nor the independent visitor were sure of the date to submit this document, despite it being clearly stated on the previous report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been redecorated and is well maintained. Development plans include new furniture and further staff training. The manager identifies that he has some more work to do to further understand the compliance history of this home. Currently, the development plans focus on staff training and recruitment in order to prepare the home to accept children. Inspection report children’s home: 1225887 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2019 Full Inadequate 21/05/2019 Full Inadequate 29/08/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1225887 4

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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 effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(e)) 13/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)) 13/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)(3))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the report must contain relevant and accurate information, including responses to significant changes at the home, Ofsted requirements and compliance notices. It should not contain generic information from the statement of purpose. 31/01/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 1225887 5

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1225887 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 children’s home: 1225887 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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