Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 1 SC062317 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children. The statement of purpose describes a therapeutic approach for children who have social and/or emotional difficulties. The home is one of a group of homes owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 1 October 2021.

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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 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: 15 December 2021

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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: SC062317 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/12/2021 Full Good 04/03/2020 Interim Not judged 18/03/2019 Interim Not judged 26/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, five children have moved into the home and three children have left.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carefully consider children’s moves into the home and have a clear process in place. However, on one occasion, this process was not fully followed, resulting in the staff not having all the information they needed to safely manage a child’s presenting risks. Consequently, the child was moved on from the home on the day they arrived, after causing considerable damage to the property.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The current children have close, trusting relationships with the staff and feel well cared for. Children feel valued and believe their views matter. There are regular consultations with the children regarding activities on offer, the food they eat and how to make the home better.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the active promotion of their education. Staff are familiar with the educational histories and needs of the children in the home and ensure that these are taken into consideration when key educational decisions are made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are proud of their home. They get involved in decorating and their bedrooms are neatly presented and a place where they can showcase their interests and hobbies. Children benefit from having a hot tub in the garden, where they can have fun and relax.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who has plans to move back to their family was on an extended trip with their family through the summer holidays. Staff have worked closely with the child’s social workers, foreign agencies and the family to create a safety plan for the child to go on this trip.

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

Staff are skilled at recognising the risks children face in the community. When children go missing from the home, the staff respond quickly and ensure that all appropriate agencies are informed. Despite this proactive approach, staff sometimes miss the opportunity to take learning from missing-from-care episodes, to inform future practice.

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

One child is currently presenting with an increase in concerning behaviour, which staff view as the child trying to communicate their wishes to see their siblings more regularly. Staff are sensitively supporting the child, showing care and compassion.

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

Not all children have access to an advocate, to enable them to have someone independent who can help them to express their views and wishes. Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 4 Children are encouraged to display socially acceptable behaviour. This is supported by a reward scheme. This has resulted in a reduction in the use of consequences.

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

Staff support children’s well-being. Through regular child-focused meetings and close working with the organisation’s therapy team, staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and reflect this knowledge in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that vacancies in the staff team have had no negative impact on the children’s care. The manager has carefully used consistent agency staff who know the home, the children and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of their manager and the support they receive. One new member of staff has received a well-coordinated induction and has found their initial training invaluable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervisions are regular and child-focused. Staff reflect on children’s progress and can identify areas for personal development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Each child has a strong team around them, and the manager is active in attending meetings and contributing to children’s plans. This has helped inform risk assessment plans, to help children to be able to see their families and for children to be able to make good educational progress. Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(a)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for each child to have clear plans regarding contact arrangements with their family. 14 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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 each child— 14 October 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 6 is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for each child to have access to an advocate.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should take account of information provided by return home interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: SC062317 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

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Inspector

Matt Nicholls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC062317 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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