Children's Home run by The Beeches UK limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 1 Registered provider: The Beeches UK Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home and two children have moved in. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. The inspector observed and spoke with all three children.

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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: 2755786 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek children’s views through weekly catch-up meetings. Staff have listened to children and have purchased a swimming pool and football goal for the garden. The home has a large garden. However, outdoor play equipment and furniture are in poor repair, requiring cleaning and maintenance. Staff have not maintained the interior of the home. Areas of the home are dirty and require upkeep and redecoration. On a positive note, staff have supported children to redecorate and personalise their bedrooms, providing a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children access education. One child requires support when taken to and from school and staff provide this support. This child can now read and write and enjoys writing stories and reading books. Staff have helped a child apply for college. While the child is waiting to start college, staff are providing education in the home. All children are making progress with their education. Staff support children with their physical and mental health needs. When children require specialist health support, staff help children access these services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have recognised that children need help to develop positive relationships with each other. Children now understand what bullying is. Staff are helping children develop skills to manage conflict with each other. Staff prioritise the time children spend with their families. Staff facilitate this time in the home and the community. This has helped strengthen children’s relationships with their families. One parent said, ‘My child’s voice is now being heard, and staff have pushed for family time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they know how to make a complaint and have trusted adults they can speak to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in activities. One child is a volunteer for St John Ambulance. Staff are supporting a child to experience a play date with a friend for the first time. Another child is being supported to develop independence skills. This child can now budget their money, go shopping and cook their own meals. Staff and children are planning their summer holiday. Staff allow children to have pets. Staff promote positive behaviour in the home. Children have the opportunity to earn a house bonus when they have done something well. When children require support with behaviour, the consequences used by staff are proportionate and restorative.

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

The manager has followed safer recruiting procedures when employing staff. During induction, staff complete safeguarding training. Staff understand whistle-blowing procedures and said they would feel able to raise a concern. Staff understand the children’s individual complexities. Staff have received training to meet children’s needs. Staff understand children’s past experiences and any current impact these may have. Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 4 This allows staff to understand children’s behaviour and offer a therapeutic approach. This approach supports placement stability for children.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and have created plans that help keep children safe. These plans include staff speaking to children about their needs and associated risks. Staff are good at communicating with and working alongside other agencies. One professional said, ‘Staff are fantastic and communicate well.’ When children make allegations, staff listen to them and follow safeguarding procedures. On one occasion, there was a delay in notifying relevant agencies of a concern and putting safeguards in place.

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

Staff are proactive when children go missing from the home. Staff maintain communication with the child, report them missing to the police and look for them. When children return home, staff provide a caring response. Staff ensure that children have a return home interview after an episode of going missing. Staff hold children when needed to keep the child and others safe. Staff have completed training to know how to hold children safely. Staff use de-escalation techniques before holding a child. One child said that when they are held by staff it hurts. Another child said they were bruised when staff held them.

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

Staff carry out room searches to help keep children safe. When possible, children are informed about room searches. If children are not present for room searches, staff inform children at the earliest opportunity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has experience and the relevant qualifications for the role. There are two staff vacancies. The manager does not use agency staff, preferring to ask staff to work additional hours. This means children are cared for by those who know them. The recruited staff team is diverse. This provides children with the opportunity to be cared for by those who are similar to them and to have different experiences. The manager has written a statement of purpose. However, this does not accurately reflect current staffing arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides regular team meetings. These meetings are focused on the children’s needs and improving the care provided. The manager ensures that all staff receive regular supervision. Supervision is reflective, considers the safeguarding of children and supports staff development. The manager uses research to inform team meetings and supervisions. The manager is working to develop a reflective team culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager consults monthly with children, families and professionals. The manager uses feedback from consultations to create action plans. The manager completes regular audits on children’s care records. The manager shares with staff any identified areas for improvement. The manager welcomes independent scrutiny of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 5 However, the manager does not ensure that independent visitors provide an opinion on the well-being and safeguarding of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 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 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

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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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)(b)(iii)(vii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure furnishings are well maintained, the home is clean and children are supported to keep their bedrooms clear of clutter. 31 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— 18 September 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 7 The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1) (2) (4)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all their staff have been adequately trained in the principles of restraint and any restraint techniques appropriate to the needs of the children the home is set up to care for. This includes taking account of a child’s age, understanding and size and the child’s previously sought views on the strategies used. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.57)  The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager within the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)  The registered person should ensure that any home using CCTV or other monitoring

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Recommendations

equipment has a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. The home must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is child focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care, including staffing arrangements, to meet the quality standards for the children in its care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 8

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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: 2755786 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Beeches UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: SBCH House, 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Robinson

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Inspector

Laura Copus, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2755786 10 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 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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