Children's home run by Beaufort Care Group Ltd in Barnet

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 1 SC046480

p.1

Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home can provide care for up to three children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation that operates several other homes in the area.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager in post. A new manager has been appointed and is in the process of applying to Ofsted for registration.

p.1

Inspection date: 19 September 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 19 September 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: SC046480 2

p.1

Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Overall, the home has been more settled since the last inspection. However, one child’s placement was ended as leaders had concerns regarding staff’s ability to keep the child safe. Leaders and managers have reflected on this decision, looking at lessons learned and how this reflection can be used to improve practice. This learning is captured in a detailed report with clear actions set for the development of the home. Although oversight by leaders and managers has improved, this now needs to be embedded in practice. Part of this requires leaders and managers to use the independent person’s reports more effectively and address all actions set in a timely manner.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children like living at the home and like the staff who care for them. Their day-to- day experiences have improved since one child left the home. Children take part in a range of activities of their choosing.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children feel safe at the home. Safeguarding events and missing-from-home incidents are acted on swiftly, which helps to protect children. Staff share information effectively with relevant professionals to keep children safe.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s records and written plans have improved but further improvement is needed to ensure they are of a consistently good quality. For example, although children’s needs have been identified, there is a lack of consistent information in plans. In addition, clear targets are not set for all children or the targets from their local authority review are not included in their plans.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children are making progress in their education. One child is in full-time education. The other child has a clear plan to work towards full-time education but more work is required to achieve this.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Overall, safer recruitment practices have improved. However, records of interviews require further improvement as they are not of a consistently good quality. They do not reflect the discussions held, which hampers the assessment of the evaluation to appoint an applicant.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There has been a reduction in the number of staff caring for the children. At the previous inspection, there had been 26 different staff caring for the children. Since the last inspection, 13 additional staff were used. Most of these were due to the increased staffing ratio needed for the child who has since left the home. Leaders and managers recognise that there is still work needed to ensure there is a stable Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 3 and consistent staff team, which they are striving to address through ongoing recruitment.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The quality of staff supervision has improved. Supervision is reflective and when there have been concerns regarding staff practice or allegations have been made these form part of the supervision process, which helps the member of staff concerned to reflect on and improve their practice.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Complaints are dealt with in a timely manner. However, complaint records do not consistency reflect the discussions held and provide a clear outcome of the complaint investigation.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff have a clear understanding of what constitutes a significant event, or ensure that notifications made are clearly documented and reported in a timely manner in the manager’s absence.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2023 Full Good 21/07/2021 Full Good 06/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.4

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.4

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.4

Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of 2 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 5 exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.4

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 2 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 6 research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.6

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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure children’s records are of a consistently good quality, are current, detailed and provide clear guidance for staff and include targets and goals which are also linked to the child’s local authority review decisions. In addition, these records and plans should not be written in the first person unless they are actually written by the child. 31 December

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure records of staff interviews are of a good quality, reflecting the discussion held during the interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure staff are able to complete a notification of a serious event to a good standard and that these are submitted to Ofsted in a timely manner in the manager’s absence. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2 Hollygrove Business Park, Verwood Road, Ringwood, Dorset BH24 2DB

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Amanda Goodenough

p.7

Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC046480 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.

p.7

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 .

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8