Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC067757 1 SC067757 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd

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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 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 9 August 2021.

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This monitoring visit

A notice suspending registration was served 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

Monitoring visits took place on 13 September 2021 and 20 September 2021. Following these visits, the suspension notice was removed and a notice restricting accommodation was served. A further monitoring visit took place on 30 September 2021, when a decision was made to remove the restriction notice. The home currently has no conditions in place regarding its registration.

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This monitoring visit

This was a monitoring visit to look at progress made in the home and at plans for children to live at the home once more.

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This monitoring visit

Although monthly independent visits have taken place, the reports from these have not been sent to Ofsted. This means that the regulator is unable to review the quality of care as required.

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This monitoring visit

The home continues to be refurbished and, during the inspection, work was under way to further improve the home. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC067757 2 The provider is also in the process of recruiting and training new staff for the home. On the whole, safer recruitment practice has been followed. However, one example showed a lack of curiosity to identify the reasons why one candidate left a previous workplace. This demonstrated a lack of scrutiny in the provider’s safer recruitment checks, meaning the member of staff has not been appropriately vetted to work with children. The manager addressed this while inspectors were on site.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has ensured that plans are in place to support the new staff team in the home. The manager has created a timetable of staff activities, an information sheet of appropriate sanctions and closer monitoring of staff training. Due to no children living in the home and staff currently working at the provider’s other homes, these systems are yet to be tested. However, the manager is positive about these changes and is of the view that these improvements will be effective.

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This monitoring visit

When speaking to the manager, there were no plans to admit children soon. The manager made clear that this would not happen until a core staff team had the appropriate skills and experience to care for a new admission. The manager also wanted to ensure that the environment was safe for children to be admitted to the home. The provider stated their intention to vary their conditions of registration to reflect this.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/08/2021 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 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that they have satisfactory information regarding the previous employment of staff. 5 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44(1) (7)(a)) 5 January 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC067757 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 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

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Amanda Harvey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC067757 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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