Children's home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 1 SC484671 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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 inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 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 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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 10/01/2022 Full Good 03/07/2019 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child said that they have good relationships with staff and can talk to them if they are worried or upset. Another child said, ‘The staff really care and go out of their way to help me. Staff take time to understand how I am feeling.’ The staff are kind, patient and nurturing with children. 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

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 to attend an education provision. Both children now attend mainstream school. The manager and staff work closely with schools to support children with their individual learning needs and attendance. Children are making progress from their starting points in education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have opportunities to try a wide range of new activities and experiences. These have included baking, swimming, day trips and horse-riding. One child said, ‘We never miss out on activities.’ The other child is training to do a sponsored run for a local animal charity. Children have baked cookies for their neighbours. Children engage in fun and enriching experiences and are encouraged to be part of the local community.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff sensitively support children to explore their cultural and religious preferences. Two children of Muslim faith have met with the local imam, explored the Quran and been able to choose how they would like to follow their religion. The manager recognised that the children needed to spend time with staff of Muslim faith to ensure that children felt listened to and understood.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Five children have moved on from the home. When possible, moves are well planned. Three children have successfully moved home to their families. Another child has been well prepared to move on to a semi-independent home. He enjoyed a leaving party with staff. On two occasions, such planning was not possible for safety reasons. The moves were managed sensitively so that children had closure and positive endings. When appropriate, staff have visited children and stayed in contact with them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from living in a spacious family-style home. There are photos of the children around the house. The large back garden provides outdoor space that the children enjoy. However, some communal walls need cleaning or repainting, the bathroom needs cleaning and part of the wall to the back exterior of the home needs repainting. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 4

p.3

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

The manager and staff take bullying incidents seriously and manage incidents well. The manager and staff are working with the children to reduce the likeliness of bullying. Children feel supported with the issue of bullying.

p.4

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

The manager and staff have acted to help keep children safe. Despite this, some situations out of the staff’s control have meant that, at times, children have been exposed to risky situations. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents. A social worker and the local authority designated officer are confident in the manager’s and staff’s ability to safeguard children.

p.4

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

Incidents of physical intervention have been appropriate, proportionate and necessary. One staff member’s physical intervention training has expired; the manager has a plan for them to refresh their training. On a few occasions, staff have needed additional support from the police. This was appropriate in the circumstances. Staff generally manage behaviour well and understand when police support is needed to help keep themselves and children safe.

p.4

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

The manager ensures that allegations made by children are investigated promptly. She informs relevant professionals, and children are kept safe. However, on one occasion, statements were taken from a child before taking advice from the local authority designated officer. Although this did not affect the outcome of the investigation, this was outside of the correct process.

p.4

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

There have been a high number of missing-from-home episodes. The staff manage these well and work closely with the police. A police officer said that they are impressed with the communication and hold the working relationship in high regard. The manager recognised that one of the children was going missing from home to spend time with friends. She worked with the child and social worker to encourage safe friendships. This has led to a notable decrease in missing-from-home incidents.

p.4

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

Following one external complaint, managers investigated promptly. They completed a lessons learned exercise and reflected on staff practice to ensure that continuous improvements can be made.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds a relevant level 5 diploma and is an excellent role model for staff. She has support from a competent deputy manager. Staff said that the managers are ‘brilliant, approachable and supportive’. The manager has high expectations of staff. Morale is high because staff are motivated to deliver good- quality care to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager holds monthly child-focused meetings, which are attended by staff, therapists and teachers. 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: SC484671 5 The manager regularly spends quality time with the children. One child said that the manager is a good listener, is calming, knows when they are upset and always has solutions.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A social worker said that the manager and staff ‘are amazing’. She said that communication is excellent and that regular multi-agency meetings ensure the child’s needs are reviewed.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake a wide range of training, which includes therapeutic training. The deputy manager holds a relevant level 3 diploma. However, none of the other full- time staff currently hold a relevant level 3 qualification, and one staff member has not achieved the qualification within the agreed time frames. The provider is supporting staff to gain this necessary qualification.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly consults with children, professionals and parents. However, she has not included the feedback in her six-monthly review of the home. There is a minimal action plan in the report.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s monthly reports are generally of good quality. However, she has not consulted with children for several months, partly due to visiting the home when children are at school. This means that children’s views have not been considered by an independent person.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel fully supported by the manager. They said that she is approachable and open to ideas. The staff are happy and fulfilled in their roles. Full-time staff receive regular supervision; however, agency staff do not. This means that opportunities for staff development may be missed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 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 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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

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)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

the independent person regularly consults with children; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the manager’s six-monthly report reflects the feedback from children, professionals and parents and includes an action plan for continuous improvements. 14 February 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff, including agency staff, receive regular supervision. 14 February 2024

p.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; 14 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 7 and promotes their welfare.

p.6

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

In particular, ensure that all staff have an appropriate level 3 diploma and that staff complete physical intervention refresher training.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, ensure that bathrooms are clean and well maintained. Ensure that the internal walls are clean, any flaking paint is addressed and exterior walls are suitably maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. In particular, they should take advice from the local authority designated officer before starting an investigation into any allegations. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4)

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: SC484671 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

Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484671 9 regulates and inspects 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

Inspectors

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

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9