Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 1 SC465579

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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. The statement of purpose states that the home accommodates children between the ages of eight and 18 with emotional or challenging behaviour. The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager at the home since 12 June 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to examine the arrangements for the day-to- day management of the home and review the progress made since the last monitoring visit in November 2020. Other aspects of leadership and management, safeguarding and care planning were also examined during the inspection process.

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This monitoring visit

The inspection was conducted remotely because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The inspectors conducted video interviews with the responsible individual, interim manager and two children. Two members of staff were also spoken to during the inspection. Emails and telephone calls were received from a local authority social worker and the designated officer in the local authority. Documentary evidence, sent to the inspector, was also reviewed.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected on 9 November 2020, when a monitoring visit was undertaken. Following this visit, it was concluded that a compliance notice issued in September 2020 had been met.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has been proactive in maintaining oversight of the home while there is no registered manager. The requirement made in November 2020 regarding the quality assurance system has been met. The system now identifies shortfalls in practice effectively and monitors the actions taken to address these. The responsible individual takes account of the scrutiny and oversight by the home’s Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 2 independent visitor and closely monitors the actions taken by the interim manager to address recommendations made.

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This monitoring visit

A second requirement, regarding the need for job descriptions to specify staff members’ safeguarding responsibilities, has also been met.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has been in day-to-day charge of the home since November 2020. She has been supported by the workforce development manager and has completed a professional development programme. The interim manager stated that she will apply to register with Ofsted within the next week.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, there has been a whistle-blowing complaint made by a staff member. Senior managers undertook an investigation, but the associated report does not adequately record the process that was followed or how thoroughly the complaint was examined. No consultation took place with the designated officer in the local authority and Ofsted was not notified. Consequently, the regulator’s ability to monitor practice in the home was hindered.

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This monitoring visit

There has been an effective response to a child protection concern. Managers liaised with other professionals to ensure the best outcome for the child. Despite this good practice, one member of staff spoken to during the visit did not have a clear recollection of the details of the child’s disclosure. Therefore, she would have been unable to fully support the child if he had chosen to discuss his experiences with her.

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This monitoring visit

One child has been admitted since the last inspection. Shortfalls were identified in the impact risk assessment for this child. It does not demonstrate that consideration has been given to the potential impact on the child already accommodated, especially given that child’s vulnerability to being coerced into risk-taking behaviour. The manager was not able to give a clear account of the progress the child made on the therapeutic programme at his previous placement. Additionally, the impact risk assessment has insufficient detail about the measures that will be taken to ensure there is no inappropriate contact with children living in the adjacent children’s home.

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This monitoring visit

The staff training matrix has not been kept up to date. It does not reflect the fact that staff have completed some training in relation to caring for children who display problematic sexualised behaviour. Not all the staff members spoken to were able to confidently describe the learning from this training. This shortfall needs to be addressed, given the complexity of the needs of the children accommodated at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are making efforts to fill vacant childcare posts, but staff recruitment is an ongoing challenge. On the day of the visit, the interim manager was fulfilling the role of a childcare worker because there were insufficient staff on duty to meet children’s assessed needs. This is not suitable as an ongoing arrangement. The responsible individual stated that only two children will be accommodated at the home until there is a full complement of staff. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 3 Children have placement plans which contain comprehensive information about how to meet their day-to-day needs. The format of the plan is easy to follow and ensures that children’s views on their plans are included. The format has only recently been introduced and so the need for staff to work in line with the new plans is not yet embedded in practice. However, staff spoke positively about the improved template.

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This monitoring visit

Education arrangements demonstrate that managers have been proactive in making sure there is suitable provision for children who cannot attend school full time during the COVID-19 lockdown. Children benefit from having daily timetables to promote learning and enjoy leisure activities.

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This monitoring visit

Feedback from a local authority social worker was complimentary about the home. The two children living at the home, including one who had arrived the day before the visit, reported that they are very happy there.

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This monitoring visit

Three new requirements and two recommendations are made following this inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/01/2020 Full Good 11/03/2019 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This is with particular reference to thoroughly investigating whistle-blowing concerns, consulting relevant agencies and producing investigation reports that evidence the process followed and the outcome of the investigation. 29 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 29 March 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 5 Specifically, ensure that there are sufficient numbers of care staff on duty to ensure the staffing ratio specified in risk assessments is met.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that impact risk assessments consider the impact of a new admission on all children currently living at the home, take into account all available information regarding the new admission and contain sufficient strategies for mitigating against all identified risks. 29 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff strive to build positive relationships with children in the home and develop a culture of openness and trust that encourages them to be able to tell someone if they have concerns or worries about their safety. This is with particular reference to ensuring all staff are familiar with the details of a child’s disclosure, so they are equipped to support the child if necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.11)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff, including the

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Recommendations

home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: SC465579 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Thatch Vine Farm, Stockers Hill, Boughton- under-Blean, Faversham, Kent ME13 9AB

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Inspectors

Stephen Collett, Social Care Inspector Helen Simmons, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC465579 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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