Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 1 SC401927 Registered provider: Benecare Limited

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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 operated by a limited company. It provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children whose diagnoses may include autistic spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

This home has not had a registered manager since 26 May 2021.

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This monitoring visit

The overall findings at the previous monitoring visit, on 8 March 2022, failed to convince Ofsted that the provider had the capacity to take swift action to ensure children are safe. This resulted in the home’s registration being suspended and three compliance notices being issued, under regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, regulation 14, the care planning standard, and regulation 32, the fitness of workers standard.

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to review the suspension notice and actions taken to meet the steps in the three compliance notices. The inspector did not review the requirements made following the full inspection, because the date for the completion of these had not yet passed. These requirements remain. The provider has complied with the suspension notice and no children are living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has completed a comprehensive update of the admissions and care planning process. There is a new policy that supports and guides managers in their responsibilities and decision-making when moving children into the home. This also includes provision for a four-week gap between admissions to give children and staff time to build relationships and for staff to understand children’s needs. The home will no longer accept emergency or same-day admissions. The matching and Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 2 impact process is supported by updated documentation for managers to complete. This identifies clear steps for new admissions, including consideration of risk management regarding the child moving in and the children living in the home, staff training needs and communicating with the wider network of professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has undertaken a full review of all staff training, skills and competencies. Through this process, the induction for staff has been updated, providing a longer induction period. A comprehensive training matrix identifies timely refreshers of all training as well as bespoke training to meet the needs of children in the home. The admissions process has been updated and gives clear guidance to managers, to ensure staff skills and training are reviewed, identified and planned before children move into the home.

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This monitoring visit

The audit of safer recruitment processes identified that there was a significant shortfall in senior leaders and managers’ knowledge of safer recruitment processes. All staff responsible for safer recruitment have now undertaken appropriate training to ensure they are suitably trained to fulfil their recruitment responsibilities. The safer recruitment policy has been updated and provides clear strategies and guidance for staff.

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This monitoring visit

A full audit of all staff files has taken place. The responsible individual has taken action where shortfalls have been identified through this process. For example, all references have now been verified and original Disclosure and Barring Service certificates have been viewed by the organisation. All the safer recruitment records sampled at the inspection were found to meet regulatory requirements.

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This monitoring visit

There is a workforce and development plan for the home. This provides a detailed overview of staff arrangements that will be in place when the home can begin to accommodate children.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of the actions taken, the three compliance notices have been met. However, there is no identified manager or staff team in place. It is Ofsted’s view that the provider will need to safely recruit a suitably skilled manager and staff team to be able to safely care for children. Therefore, Ofsted has imposed a three-month condition of the provider’s intention to accommodate children, to enable the provider to recruit and induct a manager and staff team before they become operational. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Inadequate 06/08/2019 Full Good 29/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the manager must ensure risk assessments are accurate and that staff follow these in practice, ensuring the children’s needs are met as identified in the risk assessment. 16 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 16 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home;

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)) 16 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 5 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

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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) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d)) 16 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure the register of children is accurate and kept up to date when children move into and out of the home. 16 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 6

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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: SC401927 7

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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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Inspector

Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC401927 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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