Esther House

Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 1 SC474150 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

The home provides therapeutic residential care for up to four children aged 12 to 18 who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The organisation also has a registered school, and teachers provide education in a bespoke classroom in the grounds of the home. Only the social care provision was inspected at this inspection. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 23 May 2018 and is suitably qualified.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2022 Full Good 06/07/2021 Full Good 09/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from trusting and positive relationships with dedicated staff who know them well. The home is a calm and nurturing environment. Staff work creatively to engage children in therapeutic support to help them to recover from previous experiences of neglect and trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school. One child has completed formal education and has been able to find some employment locally due to the home’s positive community links.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in good health and are supported by staff to attend medical appointments. The home’s manager has an empathetic and non-judgemental approach to supporting the individual health needs of children and encourages them to take responsibility for their self-care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value one-to-one time with children and know when children need this. Staff regularly engage in communal activities with children and use these moments to discuss individual situations and wider events in the world. For example, one staff member talked to a child about a prominent social media personality in relation to risks around exploitation and sexism.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

New children are welcomed in a positive way. The manager provides a welcome pack with treats and small items that will help children during this transition. Children are supported to make choices about the home’s decor and to personalise their bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children understand the impact of threats and name calling. However, the response from staff when this happens is good. They are clear about their expectations in relation to peer interactions and encourage healthy, respectful relationships. The manager positively reinforces these expectations and has taken proactive steps to improve peer relationships.

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

Risk assessments are regularly updated and these clearly identify actions to be taken to reduce possible harm and increase safety for children. Therapeutic key- work sessions support children to learn from incidents when things do not go to plan.

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

Some children use substances and are sometimes reluctant to engage with local support services to reduce their use. Despite this resistance, staff routinely educate children about the impact of substance misuse and are tactful in finding opportunities to undertake this work. Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 4 Staff manage children’s behaviour effectively and provide firm boundaries for children to follow. Children regularly seek out staff for support and advice and can pick their own key workers. Staff use well-informed strategies to resolve conflicts effectively and demonstrate good understanding of each child’s individual needs. However, the effectiveness of consequences has not been routinely reviewed.

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

There is a good safeguarding culture in the home and staff demonstrate sound knowledge and curiosity about children’s welfare when they are out in the community. Staff have developed good working relationships with local organisations and safeguarding agencies.

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

Staff follow clear missing protocols for children when they are absent from the home and respond proactively in trying to find the children. The home has ensured that the vast majority of return home interviews have been carried out, but subsequent actions are not always recorded effectively. Consequently, on some occasions, important information gathered from return home interviews may be missed. This undermines the otherwise good practice by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and demonstrates good insight into the areas for development. The deputy manager started work at the home recently and has taken steps to further increase management oversight in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from an empathetic manager who is invested in their well-being and development. Consequently, staff feel appreciated and valued and there is a positive and cohesive culture in the staff team. Staff spoke to the inspector about the sense of togetherness that they feel working as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team carefully considers when new children move into the home. They have learned from previous placement breakdowns when considering household dynamics and the suitability of children living alongside one another.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed positive relationships with all children in the home and is well regarded by them. Managers are visible and available. They lead by example, setting clear expectations for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and have access to a wide range of training opportunities to improve their learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered provider has ensured that most staff who work in the home are suitably vetted. However, the provider has not sought all necessary references about one member of staff’s work history and conduct. Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 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, The 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 registered person must ensure that —

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes —

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all staff are reviewing the effectiveness of consequences given to children. 20 November

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Requirement Due date

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;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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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) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to gather references from all appropriate previous employers when prospective employees have worked with vulnerable children. 20 November Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to understand how their interactions can impact on each other, particularly the emotional impact of negative and oppositional peer interactions. Staff should promote positive, healthy relationships that encourage children to treat each other with respect. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11)  The registered person should ensure that return home interviews are requested and recorded for all occasions when children have been reported missing from the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: SC474150 7

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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

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC474150 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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