Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 1 SC438648 Registered provider: Benecare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 15 December 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded. The care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 1 September 2021

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/09/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2019 Full Good 13/02/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 3

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inadequate

The poor practice in leadership and management, and in particular the lack of management oversight of the quality of care provided to children, has a negative impact on the welfare, safety and overall progress of children.

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inadequate

Children’s plans lack sufficient information regarding their health needs. For example, one child’s plans failed to detail the support required to be given by staff regarding his enuresis needs. Another child’s care plan failed to identify his prescribed medication. This means children’s health needs are not being met effectively.

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inadequate

Most children are accessing education. One child has a bespoke education timetable to encourage his attendance. Another child who has recently moved in has a home schooling timetable. However, the identified activities are not always undertaken due to insufficient staff being available to support the child. Therefore, children receive a mixed response from staff to support their educational needs.

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inadequate

Children in the home are generally well matched to ensure that the needs of the children living there are compatible. However, one child who recently moved into the home was not given the opportunity to meet staff or visit the home and meet the other children. This is contrary to the home’s policy with regard to admitting children.

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inadequate

Children do not live in a pleasant environment. One child has not been provided with appropriate furniture. There is a lack of individual consultation with children regarding their wishes and feelings around the decor of their bedroom. When a child has requested an item, the manager has failed to act on this.

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inadequate

Staff are nurturing to children and provide some positive experiences. Children have built relationships with staff and this has led to them making progress in some areas. For example, there has been a reduction in behavioural incidents for children.

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

The risk management plans for one child are poor. For example, due to significant concerns about a child’s safety, a court order was in place authorising staff to restrict the child’s liberty. The manager has failed to inform the staff of this and there was no clear safety plan in place to address the high level of concern for this child’s safety. Care practice was not adjusted in any way to consider the risks to this child or the impact on other children living in the home.

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

Children are not safeguarded effectively against each other. For example, one child had raised a complaint against another child about a serious safeguarding concern. Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 4 The manager was unaware of this complaint until the inspector highlighted it and has not taken effective action. Therefore, there has been no resolution for the child, leaving him at potential risk of further harm.

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

Incidents involving children are not appropriately recorded. One child required hospital treatment to remove a substance (thought to be glue) from his hands. There was no record of this incident or any record of how staff followed up to investigate this concern, and no record of any action taken prevent a re-occurrence . On the whole, staff work well with children to help them to adhere to boundaries in the home. However, when incidents do occur, staff do not reflect with children on what led to the incident and what strategies may be effective in supporting children to develop their own coping strategies in times of crisis.

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

At times, there is a lack of co-ordination between the provider and the placing authority when planning sensitive direct work with children. For example, a placing authority arranged for life-story work to be undertaken, but the provider has no feedback from these sessions. There has been no consideration of the support children may need to prepare them for this work or to support them following discussions that may be traumatic. Consequently, staff cannot plan to support children, which potentially leaves the children vulnerable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of this home are ineffective for children. The acting manager has been in post since January 2022. He has spent time building relationships with the staff team but does not demonstrate good oversight of care practice to ensure that children’s welfare is protected. For example, he was unable to provide the inspector with the children’s care history, current needs and care planning. This failure places children at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of documentation is poor. The records for children are insufficient and fail to provide information and guidance to inform staff of how to care for children effectively. In one example, the placement plan for one child fails to provide any information on his current prescribed medication. This omission has not been identified through the senior leaders or the manager’s monitoring of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Furthermore, there are widespread shortfalls in the oversight of the home by leaders and the manager. Manager’s checks are not being routinely conducted and this affects the quality of the care being provided for the children. The manager failed to respond to a child’s complaint and investigate it. This poor practice continues to leave the child at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

More widely, there is a lack of effective staff debriefing following incidents. Staff have not received regular and meaningful supervision. Staff have not therefore had time to discuss children’s significant needs and their care planning. This has also meant staff have not had opportunities to learn and develop their practice and support their well-being. Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 5 The manager has failed to consider the impact of decision-making for children by external professionals. For example, the arrangements for one child’s family contact were not appropriately risk assessed and could have placed the child at risk of harm. This was not challenged by the manager. Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 6

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure risk assessments identify known risks and there is guidance for staff to understand children’s needs and protect them from harm. 26 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 7 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on/ feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers need to ensure that there is effective monitoring and oversight of the children’s paperwork, that policy and procedures are followed, that children are advocated for and that staff receive effective supervision. 26 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 26 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 8 that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure – that arrangements are in place to - ensure the effective induction of each child into the home (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that children who move into the home are supported and inducted as per the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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In particular, that children’s records are maintained to provide up-to-date and accurate information about the child. All information and any changes should be dated and signed by the person completing them. 26 June 2022

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The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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ensure that staff— 26 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 9 understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(ix)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that children receive care and support from staff who understand their needs and that care that is relevant to their plans. Staff should understand the impact of the children’s experiences. Ensure the environment provided allows children to feel comfortable and respected.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing 26 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 10 authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is effective communication with placing authorities to ensure that children are supported to engage in life-story work.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the child’s known health needs are accurately recorded and staff are guided to manage these in a sensitive and supportive way. And that children’s medication information is available and clearly recorded in their health files. 26 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; 26 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC438648 11 an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must understand the impact of children undertaking life-story work and have guidance in place for staff to support the children. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (1)(3)) 26 June 2022

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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: SC438648 12

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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: SC438648 13 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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