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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 1 Registered provider: Bethel Children’s Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified the following serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Findings from the inspection

 A child was allegedly assaulted by another child at a time when staff’s supervision of children was poor.  A safety plan put in place in response to the incident was not shared with staff effectively by managers.  Information relating to the circumstances of the incident was not fully shared with children’s social workers or with Ofsted.

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The care of children

Children have made some progress and managers have made improvements in some areas since the last inspection. However, shortfalls in how effectively children are protected have meant that staff have not always kept children safe.

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The care of children

Following one behavioural incident, staff made a voice recording of a conversation with a child. The child was not aware that this was done, and this is not in line with the organisation’s policies relating to the surveillance of children. Managers failed to identify this practice and therefore did not address it with staff. Consequently, staff were not made aware that this practice is not appropriate.

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The care of children

Improvements have been made to the home’s environment. New carpets and redecoration throughout now mean that the home provides a suitable and welcoming environment for children.

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The care of children

Staff have completed work with children in relation to the risks of vaping. Children’s risk assessments clearly outline these risks and strategies to reduce them. Key-work sessions with children have been used to help educate them about the risks in this area. Children have been offered help to stop vaping.

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The care of children

Staff prioritise children’s education. They work closely with staff from children’s schools and their social workers to identify appropriate education provisions for children. One child, who had not attended school for a significant period, has recently begun attending a new school. Another child, who had previously had a long period out of education, has gradually been able to increase the amount of time that they spend at school. Improvements in children’s educational engagement help better prepare them for their futures.

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The care of children

The requirement made at the last inspection in relation to matching assessments was not reviewed on this inspection due to no children having moved to the home. It is therefore restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 3

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The safety of children

A concerning incident occurred at a time when staff’s supervision of the children was poor. The manager worked with other professionals to agree a safety plan. However, this was not communicated effectively to staff, with some staff not aware of the contents of the plan. Strategies to manage the associated risks are not included in children’s risk assessments. Information about the circumstances relating to the incident were not fully shared with the children’s social workers or Ofsted. This limits the ability of relevant professionals to fully understand how effectively risks are being managed. The shortfalls mean that children have not been adequately protected.

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The safety of children

Staff help children who self-harm. They respond to incidents in caring and nurturing ways and in line with children’s plans. Staff provide the opportunity for children to talk about how they are feeling and discuss ways to help them manage their emotions. Staff help and encourage children to access mental health services.

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The safety of children

There have not been any restraints since the last inspection. The manager has made changes to restraint forms to ensure that if incidents do occur, records of them are accurate and contain all necessary information. Changes have also been made to the way that consequences are recorded. When consequences are used, they are appropriate. The associated records include the views of children as well as the effectiveness of the intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have made improvements in some areas since the last inspection. However, some shortfalls still need to be addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers’ monitoring has failed to identify a lack of necessary information-sharing with staff. Consequently, managers were not aware of staff’s lack of understanding of risks to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Improvements have been made to how medication is stored. However, medication administration records are not always filled out consistently. Staff do not always record when children have been offered medication and it is refused. This makes it unclear as to whether medication is being offered to children in line with their prescriptions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff said that they feel well supported by managers. There has been an increase in the frequency that the home’s staff have supervision. Supervision is of good quality, with detailed discussion around children’s needs and how effectively these are being met. However, some agency staff who have been used on a regular basis have not been provided with supervision. One agency staff member was unaware of the allegation that a child had made. Failing to provide agency staff with supervision means that they are not being given the support they need to undertake their role. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/12/2021 Full Good Assurance 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;

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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

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)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(vi))(b))

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Requirement Due date

there are appropriate supervision levels for children;

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Requirement Due date

staff understand strategies to keep children safe;

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Requirement Due date

children’s risk assessments include these strategies;

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Requirement Due date

information relating to safeguarding concerns is fully shared with relevant professionals. 27 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 6 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 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that information relating to risks to children is made available to staff.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that agency staff receive supervision.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; 27 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 7 so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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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

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(d)(i) (5)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that notifications include all relevant information needed to reflect the risks to children and strategies to manage these. 27 March 2023

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c)) 27 March 2023

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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.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(i)(ii)) 27 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 8 In particular, ensure that matching assessments for children who live together are completed and kept under review.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bethel Children’s Care Limited

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Inspector

Joe Matkar-Cox, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2639632 10 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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