Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 1 SC067757

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Benjamin UK Ltd

Monitoring visit 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 therapeutic residential care for up to four children and young people aged 12 to 18 years who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2019.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 11 August 2021.

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This monitoring visit

A notice suspending registration was issued on 12 August 2021 due to there being a risk of harm to children. In addition, two compliance notices were issued under regulations 12 and 13, with the due date of 26 September 2021.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit took place on 13 September 2021 to review the providers compliance with the notice suspending its registration. Since that time, the provider has submitted a range of documents to Ofsted, outlining the work they have done to address the concerns identified in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Following a further monitoring visit carried out on the 20 September, a decision was made to remove the suspension notice and serve a notice to restrict accommodation in its place.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to ensure that the provider is complying with the notice restricting accommodation, to review the two compliance notices and to ensure that the other requirements have been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 2 The provider continues to comply with the notice restricting accommodation, and no children have been placed at the home since the last inspection. The house remains clean and appropriately maintained. Further improvements have also been made, including the replacement of the kitchen worktops and a fire safety audit has been carried out by an external third party.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice issued under regulation 12, which related to risk management and the condition of the home, has been met. The provider has reviewed and made significant changes to some of the processes and systems in place to safeguard children. This includes additional training for staff to ensure that risks are better managed. The provider’s senior management team were present during the monitoring visit and were able to talk through the new systems and how these are now embedded at home. A member of staff was interviewed by the inspector during the visit was also able to describe how recent improvements will be put into practice.

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This monitoring visit

In addition to this, during the visit, the responsible individual was clear that there has been widespread organisational learning which has improved their systems, processes, and training for staff. Similarly, the appointment of a new compliance manager provides a further layer of scrutiny to ensure that risks are more effectively managed in the home.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notice issued under regulation 13 has also been met. This related to using monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements to the quality of care provided at the home. The provider has put various new monitoring arrangements in place, with additional layers of accountability. For example, the admissions process, previously overseen by the registered manager, now requires the senior managers to review each stage of the referral process for new children potentially moving in. These additional checks aim to ensure that placements match children’s needs appropriately.

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This monitoring visit

The notice also required that a detailed audit of the home, staff, management and training be undertaken. This audit has led to a range of improvements being made. For example, a daily checking system has been implemented to ensure that the home remains safe and suitable for children. The organisation’s head of care has also created a detailed plan for checks that must be completed by the registered manager. These are then audited by the head of care who, in turn, is accountable to the responsible individual of the organisation. This provides additional layers of scrutiny and increases the likelihood that any shortfalls in the standards of care for children will be identified and promptly addressed.

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This monitoring visit

The remaining requirements are similarly met. There are now improved systems to manage medication and a new training provider is being sourced to further develop training in this area. Children’s diets, nutrition and healthy lifestyles are overseen by a dedicated manager. Better quality checking systems are in place to identify and Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 3 promptly address any concerns relating to children having a healthy and balanced diet.

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This monitoring visit

Staff training has taken place with regard to bullying awareness, risk management, safeguarding and behaviour management. However, during this visit, the registered manager and responsible individual were unable to provide a detailed single overview of all staff training. Instead, various certificates were shown to the inspector. The absence of a central record is a missed opportunity for senior managers, independent visitors and the new compliance manager to easily track staff training and identify who needs to be trained on what and when.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, and during the suspended and restricted periods, the staff team have worked at the organisations other children’s homes. However, their ongoing supervision has been used effectively, to reflect on and recognise the mistakes that led to the inadequate judgement in this home and subsequent enforcement action.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the responsible individual has ensured that there are clear expectations in place along with additional training and more rigorous checking systems. And while there have been no children in the home since 12 August 2021, the provider is now stating a readiness to consider children being placed.

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This monitoring visit

The home is currently subject to a restriction of accommodation. Ofsted will keep this notice under continual review. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/08/2021 Full Inadequate 04/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/08/2019 Full Good 22/10/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. This specifically refers to ensuring that there is a more effective system in place for reviewing and recording staff training. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24).

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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: SC067757 6

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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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Inspector

Pete Hylton, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC067757 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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