Children's Home run by Beacon Residential Homes Ltd in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report children's home: 2726827 1 Registered provider: Beacon Residential Homes Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care for up to four children and young people from aged eight to 18 years old who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. Three children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023

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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 children's home: 2726827 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2726827 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a strong focus on promoting children’s well-being. They help children to attend therapy with the organisation’s therapist and specialist services. Staff talk with children about mental health and provide resources to children to promote good mental health. One child said that the staff have helped them a lot with managing their emotions. As a result, children have made progress with their social and emotional skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by a diverse staff team. The staff celebrate children’s cultures and beliefs. There is a good culture of acceptance and embracing differences. Staff promote diversity, and when there is intolerance they challenge this appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a broad range of experiences. Staff nurture children’s interests and they attend regular clubs such as basketball. Children have regular trips out to national museums, restaurants and to the cinema.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s independence is developing. Staff have been creative in helping children learn new skills to prepare for adulthood. Children have a budget to shop and cook meals for themselves and others. Staff have also used quizzes and games such as a ‘mortgage quiz’ to help children learn about finances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education. Children who have been out of education prior to living in the homes are now in education, this attendance is supported by staff. Staff have helped children to prepare for and sit their exams this year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Conflict between the children has been managed thoughtfully. Leaders and staff have worked hard to promote positive relationships between the children and listen to their views. Leaders regularly review children's progress and their experiences living alongside each other.

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

Staff understand the risks for children and respond well when there are concerns. There are detailed risk assessments in place to guide staff to support the children. One child said staff do a ‘too good job’ of helping them to stay safe. Staff are effective in responding to children when they are missing from home and when they self-harm.

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

Staff provide effective support to children when they are distressed. They rarely use physical interventions. When they do it is recorded clearly, and the manager scrutinises practice. Learning from incidents is included in the children’s care plans to help staff provide consistent care for children. Inspection report children's home: 2726827 4 Staff can confidently raise safeguarding concerns. When there are concerns about staff practice the manager addresses these fairly. Concerns are shared with the local authority designated officer and advice is followed. The manager helps staff learn lessons through reflection in supervision. When there are concerns about agency staff these are shared promptly with their employer.

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

Although medication systems are in place and records are clear. When children refuse medication staff do not seek medical advice in line with the homes policy. This has not impacted on children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

T he home is managed by a suitably qualified manager. Staff describe the manager as ‘positive’ and committed to developing their skills. She is child centred and advocates for the children’s wishes and views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. She is involved in the care of the children and has a deep understanding of their progress made. They use systems to monitor the quality of care and inform the development plans. The manager completes the actions set by the independent person each month. Although the independent person does not always spend time with staff and the children to seek their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work well with external agencies. Professionals report that the staff and manager are highly engaged in the care of the children. Staff communicate openly with key professionals. Staff contribute to frequent reviews related to the care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have focused on supporting staff with their well-being. They provide frequent and good quality supervision. This supervision is supplemented with further supervision with the organisation’s therapist. The therapist has helped staff gain insight into how to apply the home’s model of care into practice. As a result, staff have developed a deeper understanding of the children’s needs as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have received training to help them carry out their roles. They have had additional training in the specific needs of the children. The staff team are inexperienced and have not yet been enrolled onto or completed the required qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned. The manager carefully assesses new children considering their needs and staff skills. When children move out this is planned with the child and celebrated. One professional described the move in for their child as managed ‘gently’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children feel involved in the decisions in the home. Staff spend time with children planning their activities and talking about their week ahead. Children have personalised their bedrooms to their individual tastes and interest. Children know how to complain when they are unhappy. Leaders take complaints seriously. They investigate these sensitively and inform children of the outcomes. Inspection report children's home: 2726827 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure all staff in a care role have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that medical advice is sought when children decline to take their medication. In line with the organisation's policy. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered should ensure that the independent person makes a rigorous assessment of the home including spending time with and speaking with children and staff. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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 children's home: 2726827 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Beacon Residential Homes Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, 8-12 London Street, Southport, Merseyside PR9 0UE

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Inspectors

Mark Dawkins, social care inspector Jacob Robson, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2726827 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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