Children's Home run by Bess Solutions Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 1 Registered provider: Bess Solutions Limited

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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 is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to the child and considered their views.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and was present throughout this inspection.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has been living in the home now for a long period of time. The staff and manager have improved the environment and issues around maintenance and the need for refurbishment have been addressed. There are photos in communal spaces of staff and the child enjoying experiences together. The child has put a photo in the hallway of a relative who was important to them, which supports the child to feel like this is their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have continued to support the child to access daily education. The relationship between the child and their tutor has improved, which has led to the child gaining greater confidence and engagement in education. The child particularly enjoyed work with a creative mentor. Photos taken by the child are displayed proudly in the home and the child has achieved an award in this area. The offer of a school place for the child has been delayed and may not go ahead. The manager has made a complaint in relation to this on the child’s behalf.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the child with support with their mental health. When the child is struggling to process emotions and thoughts, staff ensure they access specialist health services. These services have worked alongside the staff to carry out tailored assessments of the child’s needs. As a result, staff have a better understanding of the child’s learning and processing needs. This has helped to tailor the care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have identified that the child needs to follow a more balanced diet and ensure that healthy food options are promoted. The child has been helped to understand how to make healthy choices and make positive decisions to support a healthier lifestyle. Staff support the child to engage in regular exercise as part of daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is being supported to spend more time with their family, which is important to them. The child is encouraged to plan family time themselves, with the manager then checking arrangements before going ahead. The child’s independence in general is developing. Staff have used incentives effectively and the child now takes pride in completing chores and cooking with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have regular, meaningful discussions to gather the child’s views, and they are encouraged to share their feelings and opinions. Discussions are well recorded and reflected on by the manager. The child has positive relationships with the staff recognises and enjoys what different staff bring to each relationship. The manager has recognised these meaningful attachments, and they are celebrated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 4

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

Staff understand and follow the child’s safety plans. Plans are up to date and are subject to review by the manager after incidents occur. The child struggles with their emotions and feelings occasionally. Staff provide consistent support to the child in helping them use more positive strategies when they are upset. This support is reinforced by up-to- date plans that guide staff practice.

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

The child is aware of how to complain and is supported to do so if they wish. The child has made complaints and was satisfied with the outcomes from these. However, there was one instance of the person subject to the complaint managing the process. This risked the process not being impartial. This did not have an impact on the child.

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

Incidents of self-injurious behaviour have occurred, and staff respond to incidents with consistency and care. The child’s safety plan is clear for staff to follow. Staff know the steps to take when the child is dysregulated and showing intent to harm themselves. Professionals and specialist health services are involved in supporting the child during crisis behaviours.

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

There have been incidents of the child going missing and staff respond to these incidents effectively. They follow the child’s protocols and procedures when attempting to locate and return the child safely. The recording of incidents of the child going missing is usually thorough. However, when recording has been poor, the manager has not identified this in their reflection and oversight. This can prevent staff developing their skills in recording of serious incidents. The child’s missing plan has not always been updated following an incident, but this has not had an impact on the child.

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

The manager ensures significant incidents are reported within the required timescales. Incidents are thoroughly reviewed and recorded. Staff are given the opportunity to reflect on incidents individually and as a group. The child is also supported to reflect on difficult situations they have been involved in. The manager shares relevant information with professionals and coordinates specialist intervention in line with the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced manager. They have improved the stability of the staff team since taking over the role and staff feel supported. There is a strong team ethos in the home and staff care about each other and support each other’s well-being. There is a very low turnover of staff in the home. Staff take pride in their work in supporting the child and have developed a better understanding of their roles and the impact they have on outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and staff report that they are positive and helpful. Meetings have a clear agenda of raising the standards of care and improving outcomes for the child. Staff are encouraged to participate in meetings and share their views. Individual supervision sessions for staff take place monthly. Sessions are supportive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 5 Senior staff in the team are delivering supervision sessions to support the manager. They have been given training to deliver this effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Systems for monitoring and oversight are in place but not always effective. Some plans relating to the child do not contain all the up-to-date information. There are occasions when recording of incidents has been poor and not highlighted when reviewed. The manager has not followed up on shortfalls in one staff member’s safe recruitment checks when reviewing their offer of employment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are receiving training that is relevant to their role and the manager has identified training that relates to the needs of the child. Staff report that they feel this has helped them understand the child’s needs better. Staff feel more equipped to care for the child because they understand the reasons behind behaviours. The staff team is supported to gain the necessary qualifications. Staff yet to complete the qualification are enrolled and making progress. There are still some gaps in staff training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager reviews the standard of care being delivered by the team. There is good evaluation from the manager, and they identify areas for development and good practice. However, there is a shortfall in gaining feedback from professionals, staff and family members. An opportunity for this to be provided anonymously was missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 6

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place that are used regularly, and that records are kept up to date. The registered person must ensure that records and safety plans for children are updated after incidents. Oversight must be used to highlight when recording of incidents has been poor so that practice can be improved.

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Requirement Due date

It also refers to the approach to staff training being subject to better planning so that gaps in training do not develop. 10 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. This also Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 7 includes ensuring that the point-in-time surveys are distributed to all relevant people so they have the opportunity to provide feedback. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without any fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Complaints should be managed in line with policy and impartially. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the

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Recommendations

quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff 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: 2652672 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bess Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 194 Narborough Road South, Leicester LE3 2LD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jason Darbyshire

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2652672 9 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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