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

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

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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 provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Two 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 March 2025.

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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: 2726827 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/05/2024 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2726827 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to build trusting relationships and develop a sense of belonging in the home. Staff are invested in children having positive experiences and are committed to providing them with stability. This has helped children to make progress and work towards their own goals, such as joining new groups or gaining independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff devote time to children to help them with the issues they need support with. Skilled staff spend regular one-to-one time with children, providing advice, guidance and support in relation to a range of issues, such as their health, family time and peer relationships. This helps children to feel cared for and to tackle challenges in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to plan and prepare for their futures. Independence support plans assist children to build essential life skills at a pace that is right for them. This has enabled three children to move on to more independent accommodation. Staff in the home generally provide this support in line with children’s plans. However, one child who is 16 does not yet have a pathway plan or a leaving care personal adviser and managers have not provided timely challenge to the placing authority about this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to support children when they are moving on from the home, even if the circumstances of this are challenging. They help children to get to know staff in their new homes, to understand expectations and manage the practicalities of moving. Staff celebrate children’s achievements and time in the home and, where appropriate, ongoing contact helps children to know they are held in mind.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff value education and learning. Staff support children to engage with education in line with their individual plans. They are proactive in working with education staff to try and resolve difficulties when needed and engage children in alternative activities if they are not in school. This helps children to make progress with their education, such as sitting GCSE exams or working towards a return to a school setting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively consider children’s cultural needs. Children are supported to practise their faiths, where appropriate, and to understand those of others by, for example, joining them in celebrating festivals. There is a diverse staff team, which supports a culture of respect and valuing of difference. This helps children to have a positive sense of their own and other people’s identities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and child friendly. Children are helped to personalise their bedrooms and to participate in decisions about how the home is decorated and furnished. Staff take pride in children’s talents, such as crocheting and creative writing, and encourage them to display their achievements in the home. This helps children to feel a sense of ownership of their home. Inspection report for children's home: 2726827 4

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

Staff understand children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities well. They are guided by assessments and safety plans that are clear and regularly updated. This shows that children’s safety is a priority and helps ensure that staff respond effectively if children may be at risk.

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

When children go missing from home, staff are proactive in looking for them. They follow agreed protocols and liaise well with partner agencies to manage incidents and review plans. Follow-up educative work is carried out with children. This supports them to understand risks, encourages them to make safe choices and ensures that missing- from-home incidents are managed as safely as possible.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour by and between children. This is routinely acknowledged and rewarded. Staff work flexibly with other professionals and children to ensure that behaviour targets are realistic and informed by children’s views. This prompts positive relationships in the home and encourages children’s sense of responsibility.

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

There is timely and effective management oversight of incidents. Managers act quickly to review practice and provide guidance and support for staff managing challenging situations.

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

When there are concerns or allegations about staff practice, managers take prompt and appropriate action. There is timely consultation with others, such as the local authority designated officer, to inform investigations and how any risks are managed. This helps to ensure that children receive safe care.

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

Managers conduct a range of safer recruitment checks before new staff start. However, a thorough record is not kept of original copies of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates, identity documents and qualifications having been seen. Therefore, it is not always possible for the manager to verify that these checks have been completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in manager since the last inspection. The new manager is registered with Ofsted and is undertaking their level 5 qualification. They understand the service very well as they were previously the deputy manager. The registered manager has an in-depth knowledge of the children and their progress and demonstrates a firm commitment to their role. This makes them a good role model for staff and promotes a culture of high aspiration for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are well supported by managers and colleagues. They say managers are present and approachable. Staff receive regular supervision which considers their professional development, well-being and practice issues. Regular team meetings are held, as well as group supervision sessions. These are facilitated by an external specialist to help staff reflect and consider different approaches to meeting children’s needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2726827 5 Staff are required to complete a range of mandatory training to help them carry out their roles, as well as additional training in line with the specific needs of children. Managers have effective systems in place to ensure that staff are up to date with training and that they achieve the relevant qualifications. This helps children to receive care from well- informed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been several changes in the staff team since the last inspection. This has inevitably had some impact on children because agency staff have been used at times. However, managers have recruited actively, and most staffing shortfalls have been met by using staff from other homes within the organisation. This helped to provide children with consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers understand the importance of good relationships with others who are involved in children’s lives. Parents and professionals gave positive feedback about the care and protection of children and their progress. One parent and one professional provided critical feedback about some aspects of communication. This was shared with managers for them to consider.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the last inspection, managers took action that improved aspects of the monthly monitoring by the independent person, such as seeking the views of children and staff more often. Managers find the level of scrutiny and advice from the independent person helpful. They respond positively to the recommendations. On one occasion, although the independent person spoke with children, they did not visit the home, which did not allow for the level of scrutiny required. Inspection report for children's home: 2726827 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the placing authority and other relevant persons are challenged if children are not receiving the input and services they need and are entitled to. This specifically relates to seeking to ensure that all children aged 16 or over have a pathway plan and a leaving care personal adviser. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that, as part of safer recruitment checks, original copies of DBS certificates, identity documents and qualifications are seen and a clear record kept of this. The record should include which documents were seen, the date they were seen and by whom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person carries out a physical visit to the home at least once a month to inform a rigorous assessment of

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Recommendations

the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2726827 7

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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: GMR Accountants Ltd, 1st Floor 8-12 London Street, Southport PR9 0UE

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Inspector

Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2726827 8 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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