Children's Home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 1 Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private provider. The home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since August 2023 and is registered with Ofsted. She is currently working towards her Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management.

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: 10 October 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was suspended from 11 October 2023 until 21 December 2023. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2023 Full Inadequate 07/01/2022 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Following an inadequate judgement at the last full inspection, the home was suspended. This suspension was subsequently lifted in December 2023, and the home welcomed a new child in January 2024. The child’s transition into the home was well planned, and the child settled in quickly as a result of the warm welcome that staff provided.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming environment. The child has been encouraged to personalise their bedroom, and they have also created artwork that is displayed in the home. The child was able to bring important personal items to the home with them, and these are proudly displayed in their room. This helps the child to feel a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported the child to develop positive relationships with them. The child enjoys spending time with staff and taking part in activities. Staff consult the child and use their views when planning interesting things to do. For example, the child likes bicycle riding and suggested that bicycles should be purchased for the home. This has happened, and the child now enjoys going on long country rides with staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child now has a new education provider and is engaging well; their attendance is good, and behavioural issues at school have reduced. Staff have supported the child to explore options to complete work experience and get a part-time job, but they have also helped the child to have realistic expectations and to understand the importance of balancing any work with completing their education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s emotional needs and have supported them to find ways to manage their frustrations. Staff understand the different strategies that the child uses to self-regulate, and they encourage these. For example, a punch bag has been purchased, and the child uses this to release any angry feelings in a more appropriate and acceptable way.

p.3

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

Staff provide care that is nurturing and supportive, and this helps the child to feel safe. The child reported getting on well with staff and knowing who they can talk to if they have any concerns.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. Robust plans help staff to provide a consistent approach and manage risks. When incidents occur, these are well managed, and effective follow-up discussions take place with the child to help them understand the consequences of their actions and how to avoid further incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 4 All staff have completed training on therapeutic parenting, and there is an emphasis on managing behaviour by using praise and recognition. The home uses a restorative, ‘making it right’ approach that helps the child to reflect on their behaviours and how they can make amends. On one occasion, the child recognised the need to apologise and offered to make a hot chocolate for the manager as a way of maintaining a positive relationship after a difficult incident.

p.3

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

The home environment is safe. However, surveillance is being used when this is not assessed for risk, as required. Door chimes are in place on the child’s bedroom door when there are no risks present that would necessitate this surveillance activity. The current measures restrict the child’s privacy unnecessarily.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable manager who has been in post since before the home was suspended. The manager has led the home through a difficult period and has remained committed to providing good-quality care for any children living in the home. While the home was closed, she ensured that staff completed additional training and gained additional work experience. This upskilling enabled staff to feel more confident when a new child moved into the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home and the quality of care being provided. Monitoring systems are effective, and this has helped the manager to have a very clear understanding of the child’s progress and where further work is needed to support them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good advocate and works well with other professionals to ensure that the child’s needs are met. On one occasion, she challenged the child’s school when the behaviour system was making it difficult for the child to achieve the targets set. The issue was resolved, which has improved the child’s attitude towards school.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision for the home and has worked hard to bring the staff team together. Support from a psychology service has helped the team to develop a strong ethos, which all staff are on board with. The manager has introduced some creative ways of developing the ethos. For example, staff are encouraged to recognise when their colleagues are using therapeutic approaches effectively, and these examples are collated and celebrated in team meetings. This helps to build staff morale and helps staff to learn from each other’s practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value the support they receive from the manager. They take part in regular, good- quality supervisions and team meetings, and they feel comfortable approaching the manager for support and guidance. Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that internal door alarms are only used based on individual risk factors and are not imposed for all children. 30 May 2024

p.5

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: 2620698 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Beacon Childcare Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 28 Phoenix Business Park, Avenue Close, Birmingham B7 4NU

p.6

Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2620698 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.

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 . 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