Children's home run by Benecare Limited in Sevenoaks

Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 1 Registered provider: Benecare Limited Full inspection 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 two children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 20 June 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, there have been two children living in the home.

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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 outstanding

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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: 1225887 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2022 Full Good 28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/01/2020 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care provided to children is good. The two children who live in the home are both teenagers. The staff work hard to make the children feel safe and valued. They provide a nurturing environment in which the children thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have made significant progress in all aspects of their lives. This includes their health and well-being. The staff support the children to engage in therapy. This has had a positive impact on one child’s emotional well-being. There are individualised plans in place for children, including a placement plan and 24- hour behaviour management plan. The information contained in these reports is updated regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage the children with their education and celebrate their academic achievements. One child has recently completed their GCSEs. The staff promote children’s independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and children have regular conversations. The staff listen to the children and try their best to accommodate any needs and wishes they may have, for example how they would like certain areas of the home decorated, and whether it may be possible to have a pet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and decorated to a high standard. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and full of belongings unique to them. One child said that they feel safe everywhere in this home. This had not been their experience in previous homes they lived in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children say they enjoy living in the home and feel safe. They appear happy and relaxed. Staff understand the importance of children having fulfilled lives irrespective of their additional vulnerabilities. The children are supported to engage in activities, attend school, access the community, and spend time with family and friends.

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

Keeping children safe is paramount. Both children have detailed and relevant risk assessments in place for staff to follow. These documents are updated regularly. Staff understand the complex needs of the children. They are professionally curious. They explore triggers and ways to best support children during, and after, incidents of self-injurious or other behaviours.

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

Staff are alert to the risks for one child who regularly goes missing from home. They take appropriate action to ensure that any children who go missing return safely. Staff act proactively and practically to mitigate increasingly unsafe Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 4 situations. Staff ensure that all relevant authorities are kept up to date and aware of emerging risks.

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

Children know how to make a complaint and any complaints or allegations have been followed through appropriately. The manager has kept Ofsted informed of significant incidents. There have been four incidents of physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff ensure that physical intervention is only used appropriately to safeguard the children.

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

The staff work hard to build close, supportive relationships with the children. They treat the children with warmth, patience and respect. These positive relationships provide children with a secure base. This is helped by having a stable and permanent staff team.

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

Safe recruitment of staff is a priority. There are rigorous systems in place to ensure that only suitable people, with strong suitable skills, work with the vulnerable children. The manager takes decisive and appropriate action on the rare occasion a member of staff’s practice has come into question.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The experienced manager has been in post for two years. She is a strong, empathetic leader, with a clear ethos for continuous improvement. The manager is highly ambitious for the children and ensures that they access opportunities which foster their heath, development and well-being. She shares these aspirations effectively with staff. The continual drive for improvement is woven through all aspects of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children consistently feel safe and well supported due to the high-quality care provided by staff. The manager sets these high standards and expects nothing less from the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is ‘on the ball’. She knows the children and how best to meet their complex needs. She monitors, and is extremely proud of, the progress children have made. She is a reflective practitioner and remains professionally curious. This approach benefits both the children and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are highly motivated and state they love their job. They receive regular reflective supervision and benefit from good opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff describe the manager’s support as fundamental to their enjoyment in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly regarded by external partner agencies and family members. She has been described as attuned to the children, going above and beyond in her role to both care and advocate for them. The manager believes strongly in shared effective communication across the team around the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 5 The manager is aware of the strengths and areas for development in the home. She has worked hard to build a strong staff team and invested in everyone who spends regular time in the home. She is open to advice and constantly strives for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and children, 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: 1225887 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Thatch Vine Farm, Stockers Hill, Boughton- under-Blean, Faversham, Kent ME13 9AB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Patricia Clinton

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Inspector

Jane Balfe, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1225887 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and children, 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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