Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 1 SC412953 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home offers therapeutic support, education and care for up to four children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 6 December 2021. There was an interim manager in post until the provider recruited a permanent manager for the home in June 2022.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 January 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2022 Full Good 01/08/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good 18/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, four children have moved into the home and three children have moved on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are building positive relationships with children. One child said that the staff are good, that they listen to him and he feels able to talk openly with them. Children feel listened to and understood by staff who care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have education places. One child, who recently moved into the home, does not have an education place. The manager is working with the local authority to find a suitable place. One child was waiting for her GCSE results and had applied to a college. One child was not attending education before moving to the home but is now attending an education placement linked to the home. The manager and staff understand barriers to education and are committed to helping children achieve their educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in a variety of activities. One child enjoys boxing. Children enjoy trips to theme parks, laser tag and obstacle assault course centres. Children have opportunities to pursue hobbies and experience enriching activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in weekly therapy sessions. They also have access to a qualified life-story practitioner. One child completed important life-story work. The sessions helped him to understand his background and gave him a sense of identity and the confidence to pursue his aspirations, as well as an understanding of his emotional needs. Children are helped to identify behaviours linked to difficult emotions, to feel a sense of belonging and to improve their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to spend time with family and friends. One child was on holiday with his family during the inspection and another child was spending time with her sister. The manager and staff encourage time with family members and friends who are important to the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Whenever possible, children have gradual moves into the home. Three children had planned moves into the home and one child moved into the home in an emergency. The interim manager recognised that he had not gathered sufficient information regarding the child’s education before the child moved in. Three children had abrupt endings due to safety concerns, despite staff’s best efforts to keep children safe. Children move on with memory books and retain phone contact with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The interim manager has not monitored the administration of controlled medication effectively. On several occasions, staff who are lone working have administered controlled medications without a second person to witness. Unsafe medication Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 4 administration processes could lead to mistakes and have an impact on children’s health.

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

The manager and staff have taken appropriate action to help keep children safe. Despite every effort being made to keep children safe, situations out of the staff’s control have meant that, at times, children have been exposed to risky situations. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents.

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

The interim manager managed allegations and safeguarding concerns promptly. Actions are taken to ensure that children are safeguarded and any concerns with staff conduct are addressed appropriately.

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

There have been a high number of incidents of children going missing from the home. The manager has worked closely with the police to agree effective protocols. The staff are creative and communicate well with the children. Staff go to the locations where they think a child may be. Unpressured encouragement gives children the opportunity to return to the home. The staff manage incidents well and children are offered independent return interviews.

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

There have been a few incidents of physical intervention. Staff are suitably trained. Interventions have been appropriate, proportionate and necessary. On two occasions, staff have needed additional support from the police. This was appropriate in the circumstances. Staff generally manage behaviour well and understand when police support is needed to help keep themselves and children safe.

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

Behaviour support plans give staff good guidance on proactive strategies and de- escalation techniques to help children manage difficult emotions. The plans include children’s views on how they want to be supported. Staff understand how to best support children, and the children are developing safe coping strategies.

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

The safeguarding manager escalated concerns about insufficient input from external safeguarding agencies in relation to a child’s safety. The concerns were escalated to a member of the House of Lords. As a result, a strategy meeting was held. Appropriate challenge ensures effective joined-up working, to help keep children safe.

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good

An interim manager was in post from December 2021, supported by the home’s deputy manager to enable continuous care for children. There were, however, concerns regarding effective monitoring and oversight of the home during this period. Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 5 A permanent manager has been in post since June 2022 and is applying to register with Ofsted. The manager is enrolled on a relevant level 5 diploma course. She has several years’ experience of working with children. The manager reports that she is having regular supervision and support from her managers. Staff spoke positively about the permanent manager. The staff said that she is approachable and supportive.

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good

The staff undertake a wide range of training, which includes therapeutic training. Two part-time staff hold a relevant level 3 diploma. However, none of the full-time staff currently hold a relevant level 3 qualification. The provider is supporting staff to gain this necessary qualification and enrols them promptly on the course.

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good

A review report on the quality of care provided for children has been submitted to Ofsted. However, the report does not detail how actions for development will be implemented and it does not contain sufficient feedback from other professionals. police. Consequently, opportunities have been missed to assess and evaluate the quality of care provided.

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good

The interim manager had not consistently debriefed staff following significant incidents. Insufficient details of consequences were recorded and the records were not always reviewed. Children do not always have key-work sessions following significant incidents. Opportunities for learning from incidents have been missed and there is no evaluation of consequences for effectiveness.

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good

On several occasions, the interim manager delayed notifying Ofsted of significant events. Failure to notify without delay reduces Ofsted’s ability to monitor the home effectively.

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good

The interim manager did not consistently hold supervision with staff in line with the home’s policy. Staff have not consistently had opportunities to review their development.

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good

Staff have regular access to a well-being manager. The staff have time with him to support their emotional welfare and to discuss difficult feelings following incidents. The well-being manager writes positive cards and gives vouchers to reward staff for good performance. Staff well-being is held in high regard and staff have opportunities for emotional support.

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good

An independent person reviews the home monthly. The reports are of good quality and include feedback from children, parents and professionals. The independent person makes appropriate recommendations which help to improve the quality of care that children receive.

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good

The staff and manager benefit from regular consultations with a therapist and life- story worker to discuss the children. The consultations help staff to understand the impact of trauma on children and to review children’s progress. This intervention enables staff to work in a therapeutic way to support the children. Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 6 Managers have met two of the requirements raised at the last inspection. The other two requirements have not been met, in relation to staff qualifications and the review of quality of care. Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 7

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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 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 4 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that: 30 September Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 8 incidents are monitored effectively and that records are reviewed and include debriefs with staff and any outcomes;

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Requirement Due date

staff have discussions with children following incidents and that records of consequences are detailed and reviewed for effectiveness;

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Requirement Due date

staff have regular and effective supervision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any controlled medication is administered to a child by staff and is witnessed by a second person. 18 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted without delay. 18 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report"). (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 December Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 9

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is effective care planning and explore all relevant information in relation to a child before the child moves into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)

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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: SC412953 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coach House, White House Court, Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1FD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC412953 11 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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