Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC412953 1 SC412953

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Benjamin UK Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned therapeutic children’s home provides care for up to four children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as good following a full inspection on 2 August 2019. The purpose of this visit was to establish the quality of care for children, as the COVID- 19 (coronavirus) pandemic restrictions have meant that the home has not been inspected for 16 months. The visit was undertaken remotely. The manager has met the requirements and recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. However, some further shortfalls were identified at this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The four children who live at the home are settled. They have lived together at the home for over a year. One child recently turned 18 and the staff are supporting him to move into independent accommodation. The staff are working with him to apply for benefits and a bank account and to access driving lessons. This support increases the child’s confidence in becoming independent.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has worked hard to ensure that the culture of the home is inclusive and participatory. The children are helped to write their own behaviour support plans and have written a children’s guide to the home. As a result, the children feel valued and have increased their self-esteem.

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This monitoring visit

Relationships between the staff and the children are strong. The staff have worked hard to support the children through the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff have been creative in devising constructive indoor activities that they can do together with the children. The children said that they like living at the home and feel very well cared for. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC412953 2 The staff receive therapeutic training and have sound knowledge of good safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has failed to evidence that staff are receiving regular supervision. There are long gaps between supervisions, which is not in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The failure to provide and record supervision means that the manager cannot easily track the staff’s performance or follow up on any actions set.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s individual risk assessments are of poor quality. The risk assessments are overly descriptive. They lack sufficient analysis, and information is held in various different documents. The staff have not reviewed the strategies in line with the children’s current risks. This has meant that some documents contain contradictory information, which could lead to staff not responding appropriately to the children’s needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/08/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good 18/12/2017 Full Good 27/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC412953 3

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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—

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risks to children are fully explored and that staff understand the strategies to reduce the risks. Ensure that the children’s records are regularly reviewed and updated in response to any changes in their care or circumstances. 15 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 15 March 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC412953 4

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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: Benjamin UK Limited

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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

Leemya McKeown, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC412953 5 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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