Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 1 SC438648

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Benecare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2020.

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This monitoring visit

Following a monitoring visit on 24 June 2020, nine requirements were made. A restriction of accommodation notice was served on 2 July 2020, and a compliance notice under Regulation 12 was issued on 6 July 2020.

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This monitoring visit

A subsequent monitoring visit on 28 July 2020 found ongoing failure to achieve compliance with the notice issued under regulation 12. This resulted in a reissuing of this notice. In particular, inspectors requested that the organisation complete a full and thorough review of all staff’s skills and competencies. An additonal notice under regulation 16 was issued. This stated that the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose.

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This monitoring visit

Inspectors completed an assurance visit on 16 September 2020. This included a full review of the outstanding compliance notices. Inspectors found that leaders and managers had again failed to meet the two compliance notices that were issued from the previous monitoring inspection. Compliance notices were reissued, following the assurance visit, and the provider was informed that the restriction of accommodation served in line with these compliance notices would remain in effect until 16 December 2020. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 2 On 4 November 2020, a monitoring visit was conducted to review progress against the two compliance notices. The notice of restriction was also reviewed to ensure compliance by the provider.

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Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)

Leaders and managers have made a significant effort to improve systems in order to meet the requirements of the compliance notice under regulation 12. Leaders and managers have ensured that the skills and competencies framework for staff has been completely redeveloped. They have created a dedicated and personalised format which much better reflects the needs of children in the home.

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Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)

Staff are excited about the work they have been doing with managers on the framework and are clearly invested in it. They feel that it validates the work they are doing and sets ambitious but realistic goals for future training and development.

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Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)

Leaders and managers have used the new skills and competencies framework as a basis for reviewing all internal induction, training, supervision and appraisal systems. They have created a coherent flow and sense of continuity throughout these documents.

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Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)

This compliance notice is judged to have been met.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

Leaders and managers fully revised the statement of purpose and it is much improved. The document benefits from some significant editing and clarification. Leaders and managers now describe a model of care, the ‘Positive Relationships Model’, which is of their own design. The new model delivers a vision for the way in which staff want to deliver care. There is renewed clarity around the outcomes that staff hope to achieve for children.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

The statement of purpose lacks explicit reference to any evidence base on which the ‘Positive Relationships Model’ is founded. This is a missed opportunity to make clear how the model links to wider research or good practice. There is the potential that children, parents, social workers and other interested parties may not fully understand the home’s chosen model of care or the rationale for its introduction.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

The current registered manager has good oversight of the statement of purpose, having been the primary author of the revised version. This has given him the opportunity to make a clear personal statement about his vision for the home.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

Leaders and managers are in the process of creating a child-friendly version for current and future children accommodated at the home.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

This compliance notice is judged to have been met. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 3 The solo child in placement remains settled and is making progress towards her agreed transition plan. However, there were some concerns raised by the child about staff practice that she considered to be institutional in nature. The manager has not ensured that staff review their practice and respect the views, wishes and individual needs of children.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

Positive progress was also noted against requirements from the previous assurance visit. This has led to improved night-time risk management for children at risk of self-harm, regular, good-quality supervision for all staff, including managers, and improved health plan recording for children. As a result, the requirements in these areas are judged to have been met.

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Regulation 16 (1) (5)

No further children have been admitted to the home. The provider continues to comply with the restriction of accommodation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2019 Full Good 13/02/2018 Full Outstanding 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 4

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Recommendations

 Homes are required to develop and keep under review a “Statement of Purpose” (regulation 16 and schedule 1). The home’s Statement of Purpose should be child-focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the Quality Standards for the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, strengthen and clarify the evidence base for the proposed model of care outlined in the revised statement of purpose.  Children should be supported to express themselves as individuals and should be given an appropriate degree of freedom and choice in relation to day to day arrangements for their care, depending on their individual needs and the setting in which they are cared for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.21)

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Recommendations

In particular, address concerns raised by children about institutional practice in the environment in which they live. Work in partnership with children to create a non- institutional atmosphere that meets their individual needs.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 5

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Peter Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC438648 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 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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