Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC062317 1 SC062317 Registered provider: Benjamin UK Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were no children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since January 2024. The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 good

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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: SC062317 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Good 15/12/2021 Full Good 04/03/2020 Interim Not judged 18/03/2019 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: SC062317 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children moved to one of the organisation’s other homes in autumn 2023 so that the home could be refurbished. Children have settled well in their new home and will continue to live there.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves were well planned and carefully managed. They are enjoying larger bedrooms and increased living space. The previous registered manager and the full staff team moved to the home with them. As a result, children experienced a consistent approach from adults they were familiar with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been redecorated to a high standard. During the inspection, one of the children visited the home so they could see the changes. They spoke positively about their memories of living in the home. The manager recognises that living at the home was a positive time in children’s lives and will be arranging for all the children to visit before new children move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The organisation provides specialist support for children, such as weekly therapy and therapeutic life-story work. As a result, children receive help to improve their emotional well-being without any unnecessary delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of ensuring that children’s families are involved in their lives. Proactive steps are taken to support children to maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them.

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

Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the steps they need to take to ensure that children return safely when they go missing from the home. Responses to missing-from-care episodes are well coordinated alongside other safeguarding professionals.

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

Staff use a range of techniques to support children to learn how to manage their feelings and emotions. There is a clear focus on staff undertaking therapeutic key- work sessions and debriefs with children following incidents. This supports staff to work with children to help them understand what went wrong and reflect on how they may have responded differently.

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

Staff make appropriate use of consequences to help children learn how to make amends for their mistakes. Managers review these in a timely manner to ensure that they are proportionate to the situation and that children’s wishes and feelings have been gathered.

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

The manager has maintained an effective working relationship with the local police team. This is positive work and will provide a direct benefit to children when they Inspection report for children’s home: SC062317 4 move into the home, for example by helping to break down barriers and providing an opportunity for children to have informal conversations with police officers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is focused on ensuring a child-centred approach. They have spent time in some of the organisation’s homes as part of their induction, so they become familiar with the provider’s therapeutic model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who worked in the home before children moved out speak positively about their time there. One member of staff said, ‘I really enjoyed working in the home and would not have left if not for the move. It was always a happy environment, and children’s safety was always our priority.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been actively involved in the recruitment process for new staff, and several have already been appointed. The staff team will be complemented by existing staff within the organisation so that there is a mix of experienced staff and new staff. The manager provides opportunities for children who previously lived in the home to be involved with the recruitment process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home manager has engaged neighbours within the local community to keep them up to date about future arrangements for the home and maintain positive relationships with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC062317 5

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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: SC062317 6

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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

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC062317 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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