Children's Home run by Beaufort Care Group Ltd in Dorset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 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

The home provides care for one child who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider which has several other homes in the area.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since 24 April 2023. At the time of this inspection, the home was not operational. No children are living in the home.

p.1

Inspection date: 19 October 2023

Judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

At the last full inspection, a compliance notice was issued under Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). This notice was reviewed at a monitoring visit on 20 September 2023 and deemed to be met.

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: 2649926 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

There have been no children living at the home since the child left on 9 September 2023. Senior leaders made the decision to close the home temporarily while investigations into staff practice were carried out and new staff, including a manager, were recruited.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

A new manager was appointed but is no longer in post. Staff have been recruited but redeployed to work in other homes. The responsible individual shared their plans for the future of the home, including their intention not to admit children into the home at this stage. The longer-term plans are not yet formally confirmed.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

In the period since the previous inspection and the monitoring visit, senior managers have investigated the practice of five members of staff. The quality of these investigations is inconsistent as they do not always evidence all actions carried out as part of the investigation. These shortfalls mean that decisions made are not consistently supported by clear evidence.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders have carried out a root cause analysis to understand the reasons for the breakdown of the child’s placement. This is a good-quality review and contains clear actions to prevent a reoccurrence of this situation. However, it is not possible to assess the effectiveness of these actions as there have been no children admitted to the home since. Senior leaders have not shared the learning from this review across the organisation, which impairs a wider learning opportunity.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

As the home is not operating, it is not possible to carry out an effective assessment of the progress made to meet the requirements set at the previous inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2023 Full Inadequate 03/05/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

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.4

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 5 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that lessons learned following practice reviews are shared to promote learning and development.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

p.5

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

p.5

Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

p.5

Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(e))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that investigations into staff practice are of a consistently good quality and include all the investigation actions and subsequent outcomes. 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Amanda Goodenough

p.6

Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2649926 7 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.6

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.7

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7