Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC067757 1 SC067757 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

This children’s home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children aged between 12 and 18 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 1 April 2019.

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Inspection date: 4 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC067757 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has maintained his focus on developing the home. He has a clear plan and is working towards achieving the aims. This is informed by regular analysis of what is happening in the home and by his attendance at multi-agency safeguarding meetings in the wider community. The manager is reflective and uses this approach when considering lessons learned. The sole recommendation from the previous inspection has been met; staff supervision records now provide an outline of the discussion alongside next steps.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from consistent staffing. The full staff team has remained relatively settled, with one new member of staff joining the team in the past six months. Shortfalls are usually covered by the home’s staff team; staff from other homes in the organisation may also provide cover, so there is limited use of agency staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some changes in the group of children who live in the home, with two moving in and one moving out since the last inspection. In one instance, the referral information from the placing authority was insufficiently detailed and the manager did not explore the gaps well enough. The staff team worked effectively and proactively with the family and other professionals to safeguard the child. This led to prompt action and highlighted the significant risks that the child was exposed to. The child left the home in an unplanned way. A child admitted in an emergency did not have an opportunity to visit or meet with staff before moving in. However, staff applied the learning from a previous experience and have been able to establish good relationships with the child in a short space of time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Plans for children, both from the local authority and in the home, do not, in all cases, link well enough to the stated purpose of the placement. Consequently, some children do not know what they and others must do to achieve the aims of the placement, for example reunification or moving to semi-independence. This also prevents children from holding others to account for how well their plan progresses.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know the children well and provide strong encouragement and support to children to achieve change, for example to improve attendance in education and in building a child’s confidence in riding a moped. Inspection report children’s home: SC067757 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2019 Full Good 22/10/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC067757 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) In particular, ensure that any gaps in a child’s referral information are explored with the local authority.  Effective care planning and strong working relationships between the staff of the home and the placing authority are essential to the success of placements. For most looked-after children, many of these planning duties fall to the placing authority. The registered person should ensure that they and their staff engage proactively with the placing authority to contribute fully to the relevant plans for

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Recommendations

the child’s care on an ongoing basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraphs 11.2 and 11.3)

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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: SC067757 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 Rudman

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Inspector

Maire Atherton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC067757 6 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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