Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Milton Keynes

Inspection report children's home: SC414738 1 SC414738 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. According to its statement of purpose, the home provides trauma-informed care for children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, through the organisation’s ‘diversion programme’ and token economy system.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC414738 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2019 Full Good 19/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 16/07/2018 Full Good 29/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC414738 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well. They are able to describe children’s individual goals and talk knowledgeably about their progress since moving in. On many occasions during the inspection, staff were seen interacting positively with the children, showing that genuine caring relationships have formed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have structured days and plans as part of their diversion activities. This keeps children occupied and engaged. During this inspection, children were busy going go-karting, shopping and being supported with health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning for the children is well thought out and clearly recorded. Contributions from the organisation’s therapy team, education providers and other involved professionals keep these plans relevant to the unique needs of each child. The children have regular opportunities to express themselves and influence their plans. These are written in a child-friendly style which lends itself to the children’s contribution. Staff can talk in detail about the children’s plans, including why they are there and their intended impact. Plans are regularly reviewed by the team. However, there is sometimes a delay in updated plans being shared with all staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from professionals is consistent and very complimentary about the staff and, particularly, the registered manager. Feedback from one child’s family member showed how the registered manager and staff have adapted their approach to support the parent’s additional needs to ensure she is kept informed of the progress of her child. The team’s commendable approach in working alongside family members is supportive of the whole family and increases the children’s chances of success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are guided effectively by the staff as they develop their identities and beliefs. When challenges arise, such as a child’s use of negative language in respect of ethnicity or sexuality, staff are united in their response to challenge and educate the child. This creates a culture of acceptance and strong self-esteem for all the children, who are encouraged to be who they want to be.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s education is of utmost importance to the staff. All children are in education and are making progress in their chosen pathways. One child has completed a course working with vehicles and has been invited back for the next academic year to continue this. The home is well equipped, with a separate room that is frequently used to support the children’s education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children are supported to move on in a planned way. Staff help the children to prepare for and manage this next step. Staff focus on practical aspects, such as the child managing their own medicines, getting to grips with new daily timetables and communicating effectively with the next caregivers to ensure a smooth move. For Inspection report children's home: SC414738 4 one child who is currently planning to move on, the staff are very mindful and supportive of the potential emotional impact of such a big step.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safety plans for the children are comprehensive and reviewed regularly. Staff follow this guidance and take prompt action when children may be at risk of harm, for example, if they go missing from home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Such guidance is underpinned by the staff’s drive to guide and educate the children about their safety. The staff’s practice is not just reactive once a situation has occurred. Children have regular meetings with their key workers to talk about how to keep safe, and to think about their decisions and the consequences of these. The use of an external professional who visited the home to talk abut the dangers of using drugs and alcohol further supports this educative approach.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are realistic about the specific risks and vulnerabilities posed to each of the children. They tailor their support to take account of each child’s personal history and previous experiences. The independent reviewing officer for one child commends the team’s approach, which demonstrates patience, understanding and perseverance with a child who is often missing from home. Risk management strategies for this child are regularly reviewed and updated. This shows that the staff team is creative and willing to try new ways and different approaches to break cycles and patterns to improve the child’s safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Records show that physical restraint is rarely used and only when it is the most appropriate measure. However, not all records show evidence of incidents being scrutinised by senior leaders. The vast majority of escalating situations are successfully defused because confident staff read developing situations well. Throughout this inspection, staff were observed talking with the children in a relaxed yet confident manner, making clear decisions about when and how to make appropriate challenges and when to let things go.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the last inspection, some children have made complaints and allegations about the staff. Although each incident has been reported to external agencies, resulting in appropriate action, a clear and direct outcome, communicated to the child, has not always occurred. This is a missed opportunity to show children that their voices are heard and taken seriously.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Health and safety matters are generally well managed. Comprehensive checks are overseen by the registered manager. However, the historic reason for restricting downstairs windows has not been reviewed. This was addressed during the inspection. Children are encouraged to clean their bedrooms and look after their living environment; this is a particular focus for those children who are preparing for adulthood. One child is making full use of the spacious garden by having his own vegetable patch. Although beautifully furnished and providing spacious accommodation, some communal areas, such as a bathroom and the kitchen, Inspection report children's home: SC414738 5 require a deep clean. This undermines the provider’s current infection control measures that are in place in response to COVID-19.

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good

Supervision arrangements by senior leaders for the registered manager do not target and support her development needs while she continues to build on her experience in the role. This is compounded by the lack of opportunities for her direct involvement with core tasks, such as staff recruitment and employment issues.

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good

These matters are routinely managed and overseen by the provider’s staff from other departments. Although matters are dealt with promptly, there are examples of processes, such as the staff disciplinary policy, not always being followed in accordance with the provider’s own procedures. In another example, relevant information about a staff member was not passed on to a future employer. The registered manager is not sufficiently included in these aspects and this limits her ability to be accountable, in accordance with her registration.

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good

Some areas of monitoring are not well developed. For example, the organisational process for holding information about incidents and safeguarding matters for all the provider’s homes takes the responsibility for monitoring this away from the registered manager. As a result, there are missed opportunities for the registered manager to scrutinise incidents in her home, such as by identifying possible patterns and trends in respect of the number of allegations that have been made by children since the last inspection. One aspect that was identified by the inspectors included the staff’s inconsistent use of the safeguarding policy, in respect of reporting any concerns they may have.

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good

The quality of the care provided for the children, however, is well monitored by the registered manager. She scrutinises care plans and the progress that the children are making. She is a problem-solver and strong role model when leading the care of the children.

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good

Staff feel supported by the registered manager. They describe supervision as regular, reflective and inclusive of learning opportunities. This gives staff continuing opportunities to grow and develop their practice.

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good

Regular communication with the children’s social workers results in a shared approach to managing risks and targeted care planning for the children. Social workers and an independent reviewing officer say they have ‘nothing but praise for the staff team’. In the event of incidents and concerns, this information is also swiftly shared with relevant professionals, including Ofsted. On some occasions, however, the action taken in response to an incident and the outcome has not always been updated to Ofsted. This omission compromises the regulator’s ability to monitor the home between inspections. Inspection report children's home: SC414738 6 The statement of purpose for the home is reviewed regularly, however, any revisions made are not always submitted to the regulator for review as is required. Inspection report children's home: SC414738 7

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vii)(e)) 4 November 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(g)(ii)(h)) 4 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 4 November 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC414738 8 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29 (4))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, provide opportunities for the registered manager to have more direct involvement with operational matters that are governed by the regulations. 3 December 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(iii)(b) 4 October 2021 Inspection report children's home: SC414738 9 The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and

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Requirement Due date

provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33 (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure the provider’s disciplinary policy and procedure are consistently applied. 4 October 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager within the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)  The registered person should ensure that the policy for the protection of children from abuse is available and explained to children and their families as well as to all staff, whatever their role. The registered person must make sure that all staff are familiar with this policy and act in accordance with it, in particular how to use it to report a concern. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.21)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and

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Recommendations

restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that a clean environment is maintained. This is with specific reference to the kitchen and a bathroom. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)

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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 Inspection report children's home: SC414738 10 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: SC414738 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Churchfarm, Station Road, Aldbury, Tring HP23 5RS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

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Inspectors

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Sophie Wood, Regulatory Inspector Manager Inspection report children's home: SC414738 12 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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