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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2781318 1 Registered provider: Beacon Residential Homes Ltd

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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 privately owned home provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 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

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2025

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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: 2781318 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2781318 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy supportive relationships with the staff in the home, who talk with and about them with care and respect. Staff invest time in children to offer guidance and support with things that matter to them, such as family time, peer relations, education and independence skills. This support helps children to approach challenges in their lives, pursue goals and to develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and nurture children’s individual interests, such as animal care, knitting, cycling and football. Both children are enthusiastic about pets, and the home’s range of animals has expanded to two hamsters and a rabbit. There are plans to adopt a rescue tortoise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are valued and promoted. Staff encourage children to be involved in decisions that affect them, and they consult with them about a range of issues, such as activities, food and decor. This is achieved through one-to-one time, home meetings and support to participate in meetings about them. Both children talk positively about living in the home and the support they receive from staff. They know how to raise complaints if they need to and feel they are listened to. One child described it as ‘like a family’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff support children well with education and learning. Neither child is in formal education at present. However, staff are working with them and education colleagues to explore options and progress plans. Staff encourage children to engage with alternative resources, and they provide the children with suitable activities during the school day. This support is helping both children to make progress that is relevant to them, such as obtaining a college place or a part-time job. One child said, ‘I hadn’t wanted to go to college until I came here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood and met. Staff work proactively with children to encourage attendance at routine appointments, ensure that they receive medical attention if needed and help them develop an age-appropriate level of responsibility for their well-being. Children also have access to individual emotional support from the in- house therapist if they wish. One child has been helped to resolve a long-standing health issue and another to participate in their annual health assessment for the first time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable, in good repair and furnished in a child-friendly manner. Staff help children to personalise their bedrooms in a manner of their choosing, which boosts their sense of ownership of their environment. However, some repair is needed to fencing at the side of the property, and the rear garden area would benefit from attention so that it is welcoming and can be used to the full benefit of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781318 4

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

Staff have a sound understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and a good knowledge of children’s individual vulnerabilities. They are guided by plans and risk assessments that are kept up to date, and there are effective systems for communicating changes to plans. As a result, staff respond effectively if children may be at risk, such as if they leave the home unexpectedly or there are worries about self-harm.

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

When there are allegations or complaints about staff practice, managers take these seriously. Measures are put in place to manage interim risks, and timely investigations are conducted in consultation with others, such as the local authority designated officer. Children who make allegations and staff who are the subject of them are provided with suitable support and information. Where appropriate, managers implement reparative work between staff and children. Consequently, children feel heard, and the risks of unsafe practice are reduced.

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from home since the last inspection. While children have occasionally left the home when upset, staff have responded proactively to support them and help them return, guided by clear protocols.

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

Staff take a positive approach to responding to children’s behaviour. If children are upset or showing behaviours of distress, staff work hard to help them express their feelings and to de-escalate situations. There is sensitive follow-up work with children after such incidents in order to help them reflect. Systems for encouraging and rewarding helpful behaviour and achievements are embedded and children are actively involved in creating their own targets for success. This approach is helping both children to manage difficult emotions and to make progress with their goals.

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

The quality of recording of incidents of concern has improved. Records provide a clear and detailed account of the actions of staff and there is evidence of consistent, prompt management oversight of concerns and practice. This supports clear communication, information-sharing and learning in relation to the management of challenging situations.

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

Before new permanent staff are employed, managers carry out robust checks to reduce the risk of unsafe people working with children. Improvements have been made to the recording of this since the last inspection. However, managers do not have available evidence that all relevant checks have been completed in relation to agency staff, so it is not possible for them to confirm that these have happened in line with regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably experienced and qualified manager, who has registered with Ofsted since the last inspection. The manager has a detailed knowledge of children, is aspirational for them and approaches care from a child-led perspective. The manager provides a high level of support and communication with staff, who describe them as Inspection report for children’s home: 2781318 5 helpful and responsive. This provides good role modelling for staff and underpins a positive culture for everyone in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff communicate effectively with professionals involved in children’s lives. Social care professionals provided positive feedback about care, communication and safeguarding. This approach aids successful coordinated care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The structure for staff support includes team meetings as well as reflective group supervisions led by the in-house therapist. Staff are positive about these forums and the impact of the new head of therapy on the quality of support for them. These meetings are used constructively to promote team development, reflection and understanding of the model of care. Discussions have helped to support changes that benefit children, such as an improved relationship with a member of staff for one child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive one-to-one supervision of their practice and annual appraisals to support their development, give them a space to share any concerns and address their well- being. Staff also have access to individual therapeutic supervision if needed. However, records do not provide evidence that all staff have received individual supervision at the frequency outlined in the company’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are required to complete a range of appropriate training to support them in their roles. Training is consistently attended to in forums such as supervision, team meetings and appraisals. Managers have good oversight of training and staff qualifications. This helps to ensure that children receive care from well-informed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of good community relationships. They have made constructive efforts to respond to complaints from a neighbour and have been open to advice and guidance from police on this matter. This approach has led to an improvement in the relationship with one neighbour, which has had a positive impact on children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2781318 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, homely and supportive environment for children. This includes ensuring that external areas of the home are suitably maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This includes having oversight of required employment checks for agency staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision of their practice at a frequency in line with company policy and that a record of this is kept. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2781318 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: 2781318 8 regulates 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 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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