Children's home run by We Are Beams in Sevenoaks

Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 1 SC435152 Registered provider: We Are Beams

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a charity and is registered to provide short breaks for up to six children who have disabilities. There were five children having a short break at the time of the inspection. Currently, 59 children are using the service.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Good 05/04/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 30/07/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from receiving exceptional high-quality care from staff who have an in- depth understanding of their needs. Children trust the staff and accept their support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is child friendly and well equipped. Children enjoy spending time in the garden, sensory room and soft play areas and these have all been designed to provide safety and fun for children. Children’s stays are well planned, so that when they return, they can sleep in the bedroom that they are familiar with and that is equipped for their individual needs. This provides children with a sense of security and comfort.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported and encouraged to achieve goals that are important to them and that have been agreed with their parents and relevant professionals. Children receive consistent support from staff and make excellent progress, for example, in their ability to feed themselves or get dressed by themselves. All children’s achievements are celebrated, and they learn important new skills when they come to stay. For example, one child returned from their short break and told their parent that they wanted to take their medication more independently, as they do at the home. The parent is delighted with the child’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Activities promote children’s social and emotional development well. Staff provide plentiful opportunities for children to participate in activities that they find comforting and enjoyable. Staff also recognise the importance of ensuring that children have new experiences to expand their interests and learning. Staff make the most of all opportunities to offer children community-based activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are treated with dignity and respect, and their views are valued. Staff are familiar with each child’s methods of communication and enable children to influence decisions about the way that they are looked after.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Feedback from children’s parents is overwhelmingly positive about the short-break service that children receive. One parent said they know that their child is safe at the home and that they receive exceptional care. Another parent said they would be lost without the service and that it feels as though they are part of one big family.

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

Children are helped to stay safe because staff have a sound understanding of their needs and know how to protect them from harm. Careful matching takes place so that children with similar needs and interests attend the home at the same time.

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

When there are known concerns about children’s safety in other areas of their lives, staff and managers liaise closely with external safeguarding professionals and implement safety plans to protect children. Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 4 Because of the positive relationships children enjoy with staff, and how well staff know the children, incidents that require the use of physical restraint are rare. Positive behaviour is promoted by staff making good use of de-escalation techniques when they see that children are struggling and need additional support.

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

The registered manager works closely with other professionals to ensure that there is a shared understanding about children’s current vulnerabilities and risks. The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and was written in consultation with the local authority designated officer.

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

The organisation’s human resources department understands and implements safe recruitment practices. However, one recruitment record did not clearly show verification of a candidate’s reasons for leaving all previous positions involving work with children and vulnerable adults. This shortfall in recording undermines an otherwise rigorous process which ensures that only suitable adults are employed at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious and aspirational for what children can achieve. They have high expectations of staff, and this leads to an exceptional quality of care for children when they come to stay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say they have excellent support from the registered manager and they are proud to work at the home. Staff are carefully recruited to make sure that they have the skills and attitude managers are seeking. Consequently, retention rates and morale are extremely high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality supervision and appraisals. As a result, they have regular opportunities to reflect on their practice and to discuss their professional development. Supervisors encourage staff progression and carefully monitor progress toward achieving the necessary qualifications. All staff have completed the qualification within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The training offer is extensive and staff receive training that is bespoke to the needs of the children who stay at the home. For example, they are trained in how to administer insulin, epilepsy and gastrostomy feeding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent monitoring and oversight systems in place. This provides them with an exceptionally well-rounded view of the progress that children are making and the quality of care that they are receiving from staff. Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained. They must ensure that recruitment safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC435152 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Allsworth Court, 38-40 St Davids Road, Swanley, Kent BR8 7RJ

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Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC435152 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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