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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and offers therapeutic support, education and care for up to four children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma that has left them vulnerable. Education is offered at a linked provision on a different site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

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

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2022 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Good 01/08/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children said that they have good relationships with staff and can talk to them if they are worried or upset. One child said, ‘It is bliss living here. I am safe and am changing my life around.’ The staff are kind, patient and nurturing with the children. One staff member said, ‘I love the children and just want them to fly.’ Children have trusted adults who they can talk to and have positive relationships with.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand barriers to education. Children who have had long periods out of education before moving to the home have tuition at the home. Staff support children in tuition sessions until they are ready for an education provision. One child spoke proudly about how she is now in a mainstream school. Another child is excited to start an apprenticeship in construction. Children are making good progress from their starting points in education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to therapists and a therapeutic life-story practitioner. One child, who recently moved into the home, said that he is looking forward to starting to work with the therapeutic life-story practitioner and has already started to build a trusting relationship with him.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have a wide range of opportunities to try new activities and experiences. These have included a high ropes course, swimming and horse riding. Three children have enjoyed an activity-based holiday in Wales. One child said, ‘It was really fun, I have never been on holiday before.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children have moved on from the home. When possible, moves are well planned. On two occasions, such planning has not been possible for safety reasons. The moves have been managed sensitively so that children can have closure and positive endings.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and spacious. Children and staff spend time in the large kitchen where they chat and make drinks together, giving the home a family feel. The home is well decorated with a good-sized garden. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and well decorated.

p.3

improvement to be good

During this inspection, a serious safeguarding concern was identified. The responsible individual acted immediately to follow safeguarding processes and refer to the appropriate professionals. While Ofsted does not have the power to Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 4 investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the provider in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been a decline in the effectiveness of safeguarding.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been several allegations at the home. The manager ensures that allegations made by children are investigated promptly and that children are kept safe. The manager informs relevant professionals about allegations.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical intervention has been used once since the last inspection. The intervention was appropriate, necessary and proportionate. The manager debriefed staff following the incident. Staff listen to the child’s views on restraint and explore safer ways for the child to express their feelings and emotions.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been several incidents of bullying between three children. The manager and staff take the incidents seriously, listen to the children and attempt to resolve the issues and keep the children safe. The staff have worked with the children to educate them about bullying. At the time of this inspection, there were no concerns about bullying at the home.

p.4

improvement to be good

There have been several missing-from-home incidents. One child went missing from the home for a prolonged period on the day that they moved in. The manager and staff took appropriate action to try and find the child. The manager worked closely with professionals and had regular strategy meetings. When the child returned to the home, they were welcomed by staff and had an independent return home interview. The child has not been missing from the home since.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced manager is working towards a relevant level 5 managerial qualification. She is supported by a competent deputy manager. Staff say that the manager is supportive and approachable and listens to them. The manager is an excellent role model for the staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is high. Staff say that they have regular supervision sessions and good- quality guidance from the manager. The staff continue to develop professionally. A social worker said that they are very happy with the care provided to their child. They said that the staff understand the child’s needs and that the manager is an excellent advocate for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds monthly child-focused meetings. Staff, therapists and teachers attend the meetings. Children’s progress is monitored well, and clear actions are set to help ensure that staff meet children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 5 The independent person’s reports are of good quality and make appropriate recommendations. These reports help the manager to make improvements to the quality of care that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has submitted their internal monitoring report to Ofsted as required. The report is generally of good quality and includes feedback from professionals, parents and children. However, the report does not evaluate feedback to look at the impact on the quality of care provided.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from good-quality face-to-face training. The staff and manager benefit from training from therapists to help them understand children’s trauma. Staff have a good knowledge of how to meet the children’s needs and they are motivated to provide good care. However, none of the full-time staff currently hold a relevant level 3 qualification. The provider supports staff to gain this necessary qualification and enrols them promptly on the course.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met four of the five requirements that were raised at the last full inspection. These relate to managerial monitoring, medication processes and notifying Ofsted of significant events promptly. One requirement is restated in respect of relevant level 3 qualifications for staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand their roles in relation to safeguarding children and act in accordance with the home’s safeguarding policies. 28 September Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated 28 March 2024

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should carry out a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The report should include evaluation of feedback. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 4, paragraph 15.2)

p.7

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 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

p.8

Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9