Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 1 SC412953

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Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home 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.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Inspection date: 28 November 2023

Date of last inspection: 25 September 2023

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Inspection date: 28 November 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector 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: SC412953 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

On the two occasions that children moved out of the home, the moves were managed sensitively so that children had closure and positive endings. The children have moved on with memory books that capture their time at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children who are living at the home have educational places. One child has taken their mock exams and is making good progress with education. The other child has struggled with education. Staff participate in education with the child. The manager has worked closely with the education provider and agreed to a reduced timetable. The child’s educational needs are understood by the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The experienced manager is working towards a relevant level 5 managerial qualification. A competent deputy manager supports her. Staff say that the manager is supportive and approachable.

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Findings from the inspection

A child’s social worker said that they are happy with the care provided. They said that they cannot fault the staff and manager at the home. The social worker is impressed with the communication and how proactive the manager and staff are.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager understands that it is important to learn from incidents. The manager and staff are reflective and learn from incidents. However, on two occasions, the manager has not identified that there is insufficient information in the child’s records to be able to review staff practice effectively. On one occasion, staff did not report an incident directly to managers or record the incident in line with the home’s own recording procedures. The records are not clear.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been several allegations against staff. On one occasion, managers did not notify the local authority designated officer or Ofsted of an allegation in the registered manager’s absence. Action was taken to make an appropriate referral once the manager became aware. The manager addressed this shortfall with the staff concerned.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has not met the two requirements that were raised at the last full inspection. One of the requirements, in respect of relevant level 3 qualifications for staff, could not be evaluated due to the agreed timescale to meet the requirement. One requirement in relation to safeguarding has been restated due to a further Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 3 incident. Two new requirements have been raised in relation to notifying Ofsted of concerns without delay and managerial oversight of incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

The recommendation raised at the last inspection in respect of the manager’s internal monitoring could not be tested at this inspection and is therefore restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Good 01/08/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

staff understand their roles in relation to safeguarding children and act in accordance with the home’s safeguarding policies; and 29 November Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 6 all allegations are reported to the local authority designated officer without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 29 November

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

all relevant information is recorded in relation to incidents at the home to enable a sufficient review of the incident and staff practice; and

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Requirement Due date

incidents are reported and recorded in a way that means the manager is made aware of them without delay. 29 November

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 28 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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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 an evaluation of feedback. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 4, paragraph 15.2) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC412953 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited

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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

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Assurance 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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