Children's home run by Beacon Childcare Ltd in Cheltenham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 1 Assurance inspection

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. One child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified and experienced manager is in post

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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 has 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: 1230415 2

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Findings 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

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The child’s experience was positive and was well planned by the manager. Another child has moved on from the home. While this happened quickly because the staff could no longer keep them safe, the child’s ending was positive. The child said goodbye to everyone at the home, and they were supported to visit their new home to meet the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Relationships in the home are positive. One child said they feel safe, and they identify staff and managers as trusted people in their life. This helps children to feel secure.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand their responsibilities to protect children. The quality of children’s plans and risk assessments is much improved. This helps staff to understand the risk that children face and manage them consistently.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents are managed well using a nurturing and therapeutic approach. The manager scrutinises all incidents to identify any learning, which is shared with staff to improve children’s experiences. Staff talk to children to help them manage their feelings and emotions. They also have important conversations with children to help them make safer life choices and take responsibility for their actions. This is proving positive as incidents have reduced.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making progress from their starting points. A strength of the home is the support given to children to gain important life skills as they prepare for adulthood. This includes preparing meals, washing their clothes and practical skills such as changing a fuse in a plug.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s cultural needs are well considered and supported. Staff care for one child’s hair particularly well. This is supporting the child to maintain their sense of identity, and the child is growing in confidence.

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Findings from the inspection

Aspects of the home environment have improved. The bathroom has been refurbished and is a lovely space for the children to use. However, more work still needs to be done to ensure that the home is a nice place for children to live. Refurbishment and repairs are ongoing, and a clear plan is in place to address the shortfalls. However, these works are not yet complete, and some areas need immediate attention. The carpet in a child’s bedroom needs to be replaced, two damp patches need to be repaired and a fence panel in the garden is broken and needs to be fixed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 3 Children rarely go missing from home. Clear protocols are in place, and when this happens, staff are proactive in searching for the child. When children return, staff talk to them about their experiences. Effective liaison with safeguarding partners, such as the police, contributes to the children’s safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Complaints are taken seriously and are responded to well. When one child complained about their peer’s behaviour towards them, their concerns were listened to and promptly addressed. Child-friendly feedback was given to the child. This shows children are listened to.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager is supported by a deputy manager. They want the best for children, and together they make an effective team. Leadership of the home is also strengthened by the appointment of a new quality manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff feel supported, and the manager ensures that staff complete all of the training that they need to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Management monitoring tools and reviewing systems are improved. There is clear evidence of thorough management oversight across all areas of the home. This helps the manager to understand the strengths of the home and areas for development and continually learn. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/01/2024 Full Good 22/02/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(iv)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the home is well maintained and is a nice place for children to live. All of the actions in the home’s environmental development plan must be completed. Two damp patches in the home must be repaired, the carpet in one child’s bedroom must be replaced and the fence panel in the garden must be fixed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 28 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 6

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Inspector

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1230415 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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