Children's Home run by Bethel Children’s Care Ltd in Luton

Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 1 Registered provider: Bethel Children’s Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home registered with Ofsted in August 2021. The home provides care for up to two children who need to be away from their family home or are not able to live in foster care.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home opened.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a newly registered home. Since registration, one child has moved into the home. At the point of inspection, the child had been living at the home for 10 days.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The arrival of the child was managed very well. On the day that the child moved into the home, the registered manager, deputy manager and responsible individual all met the child. He felt welcomed and his move was handled sensitively. This has helped him to settle well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Interactions between the child and the staff are warm and good humoured. These good relationships have led to the child being willing to access specific services that support his health and encourage healthy relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently enrolled in school. However, managers are working closely with the placing authority to ensure that a placement is quickly secured.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s likes and dislikes. The child is positive about the activities that he has planned. The staff have helped the child to personalise his room, creating a welcoming space that he is pleased with.

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

The child feels safe at the home because of the good relationships that he has with staff and the support that he receives. He said that he can talk to staff if he feels worried, angry or upset.

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

The staff have supported the child to behave positively since his arrival. In the short time that the child has lived at the home, there have been no physical interventions and only one sanction. The staff and manager reinforce positive behaviour and give praise.

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

The staff understand how to raise concerns. Managers ensure that staff understand the concept of whistle-blowing and the routes available to them to raise a concern. The visibility and accessibility of senior managers mean that staff know who they are and feel able to contact them if necessary.

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

The manager has not ensured that the child’s risk assessment includes all relevant information. Information that was provided by the placing authority shortly after the child moved into the home has not been added to his risk assessment. As a result, information that would be highly relevant regarding the placement of any additional child is missing from the risk assessment. Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 4

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good

Staff feel well supported by the manager. The staff describe senior managers as visible and accessible. The manager leads by example and has developed a good relationship with the child. Feedback from external professionals is positive.

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good

The responsible individual visits the home. She uses this time to monitor records and identify areas for improvement. These potential improvements are then discussed with the manager. The manager is open to challenge and is reflective. As a result, improvements are being made.

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good

The manager ensures that staff receive supervision. The manager has received supervision. Following monitoring by the responsible individual, new recording formats were introduced. Records of discussions are clear and provide a good overview.

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good

Managers have not ensured that recruitment records are sufficient. Records do not include full employment histories. Records have not been made of the verification of references. In some instances, there are no records of why staff have left previous employment with children or vulnerable adults. As a result, the provider is not doing all it should to safeguard against unsuitable people working at the home.

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good

The staff access training both virtually and in person. However, they have yet to have training in working with children who go missing. Staff were unclear about the timescales for reporting the child missing. Their answers were inconsistent with the details in the child’s plan, which itself lacked clarity. Although the manager addressed the clarity of the plan during the inspection, the lack of training risks an inconsistent and ineffective response should the child go missing. Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 5

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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)) 15 December

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and 10 December Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the procedures to be followed and their roles and responsibilities when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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 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 for children's home: 2639632 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bethel Children’s Care Limited

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Inspector

Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2639632 8 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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