Children's home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Cheltenham

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 1

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Beacon Childcare Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This private provider is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have experienced early childhood trauma and who have emotional and behavioural needs as a result of these experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous manager left in December 2020. There is a new manager in post. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for monitoring visits.

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This monitoring visit

Assurance visits have been suspended during the third national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Instead, Ofsted is undertaking monitoring inspections when needed. This monitoring inspection has been undertaken to monitor children’s welfare at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Two children live at the home. One child moved in recently. Since the interim inspection, three children have left the home. The three children who left all moved on earlier than intended. One child moved due to staff being unable to manage an escalation in the child’s behaviours. Two children, who are siblings, returned to family members following a prolonged period of staying with them and refusing to return to the home.

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This monitoring visit

At the interim inspection in March 2020, three requirements were raised. This inspection found that managers have effectively addressed these requirements. Enough staff now work in the home to care for children, staff have completed the appropriate qualification to work with children and managers ensure that accurate records about staff are kept in the home. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 2 The home has undergone refurbishment since the interim inspection. Bedrooms and communal areas have been decorated and the interior of the home presents an inviting and homely environment for children to live in. In addition, the refurbishment means that there are now appropriate sleep-in facilities for staff. Externally, work is required to provide an inviting outside space for children to use and enjoy. For example, an old mattress and broken furniture need to be removed from the side of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed refresher training in key areas, including safeguarding. All staff have up-to-date mandatory training. Further supplementary training in childhood development and attachment is planned. Access to relevant training opportunities helps staff to develop their skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the children in their care.

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This monitoring visit

Children engage with education. One child is attending school during lockdown and another is accessing his college course virtually. This child told the inspector that it has been difficult doing his course virtually but that he hopes to return to college soon. He also explained that lockdown has been okay, and that staff have done their best to help him. The child spoken to during the inspection said that he enjoys living in the home and is planning a move to semi-independence in a few months.

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This monitoring visit

One child recently moved into the home. This was an emergency move and in line with the home’s statement of purpose. However, some aspects of care planning are weak. Key safeguarding information shared with managers prior to the child’s arrival was not fully considered. As a result, managers did not ensure that they had measures in place to appropriately safeguard the child when he uses the internet. This placed him and others at potential risk of significant harm. Managers took immediate action to put some temporary safety measures in place until a more permanent solution can be implemented.

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This monitoring visit

The new manager has undertaken a review of significant incidents that have occurred at the home and recognises that not all have been notified to Ofsted as they should have been. One incident involved an allegation of assault by one child against another. This allegation has not been investigated or reported and potentially left a child vulnerable to further assaults from his peer. In addition, it was a missed opportunity to ensure that an allegation was fully investigated promptly. The manager took action during the inspection and referred the allegation appropriately, if retrospectively. The new manager has acted to ensure that staff now understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are working hard to implement new recording, reporting, and auditing systems. It is anticipated that these new systems will help to improve the quality of care delivered to children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/05/2019 Full Good 08/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe,

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that each individual child’s risk assessment includes an assessment of risk with regard to internet safety and that safeguards are implemented. In 12 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 4 addition, that allegations from children are investigated and responded to promptly. The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the admission of children to the home is fully assessed, taking into account their previous known risk and behaviours and the children already living in the home. 28 February 2021

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. This is with specific reference to the rear of building needing a refurbishment and the patio area to the side to be made a useable space for children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 5

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hazlewoods, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Ann-Cheri Callow

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Inspector

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1230415 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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