Children's home run by We Are Beams in Sevenoaks

Inspection report children's home: SC435152 1 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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SC435152 Registered provider: We Are Beams

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Full inspection 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, 57 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: 18 February 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC435152 2 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2025 Full Outstanding 05/09/2023 Full Good 05/04/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC435152 3 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate consistently high levels of skill and sensitivity as they adapt their approach to meet the diverse needs of children throughout their stays. They observe children closely and use individual communication methods. Staff follow each child’s lead, ensuring that children feel understood and in control of their experience. This highly responsive practice enables children with very different needs and preferences to have meaningful, enjoyable and personalised short-break experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff monitor children’s progress closely. They ensure that independence skills remain central to each child’s development plan. Staff collaborate with parents to agree priorities and regularly review targets. They adjust goals to help children maintain engagement and continue to make positive progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise and champion children’s capabilities. They gently encourage children to stretch themselves and challenge the limits of their abilities. As a result, children gain confidence and broaden their experiences. They access opportunities that reduce isolation, promote social development and strengthen family relationships. Staff view the short-break service as a developmental environment that contributes positively to children’s long-term growth and life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have created a warm, child-centred environment. It is thoughtfully designed to support comfort, independence and enjoyment for all children who use the service. One communal living area contains an excess of safety signage. This takes away from the otherwise homely feel of the environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff implemented a patient and highly structured reintegration plan after a child experienced significant difficulty at home, school and in short breaks. These difficulties had resulted in increased levels of anxiety and risk. Staff collaborated closely with parents and the child to reintroduce visits at a pace that maintained safety. Their approach helped rebuild trust and confidence. This commitment ensured continuity of care and strengthened relationships. It enabled the child to make meaningful progress that may not otherwise have been possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide highly skilled and attentive care to meet children’s complex health and physical needs. They draw on specialised training in personal care, gastrostomy feeding, moving and handling, and delegated health tasks. Regular competency checks, strong partnerships with health professionals and excellent communication with parents ensure that care remains safe, consistent and responsive to emerging needs. As a result, children experience physical comfort, safety and dignity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff create meaningful developmental opportunities by tailoring sensory, tactile and leisure activities closely to children’s preferences. They use careful observation of facial expressions, physical cues and engagement levels to interpret choices and support Inspection report children's home: SC435152 4 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

autonomy. Staff balance one-to-one interaction with quiet time. This sensitive and attuned practice enables children to experience enjoyment, relaxation and choice, despite significant communication and physical limitations.

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

Staff respond promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns. Their recording is concise, comprehensive and easy to access. This ensures that all required details are consistently captured.

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

A team of designated safeguarding leads oversees safeguarding activity. They deliver training and provide regular oversight of decision ‑ making. Staff report concerns to the safeguarding lead on duty. The lead then updates the wider safeguarding team. This ensures robust scrutiny and shared accountability.

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

The manager applies allegations protocols diligently. They maintain clear records, communicate effectively with parents and safeguarding partners and ensure that all statutory notifications are made. This strengthens safeguarding practice and provides assurance that concerns are taken seriously.

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

Children have excellent relationships with staff and peers. Staff monitor interactions closely to maintain the home’s positive culture. They remain alert to subtle changes in mood or behaviour. Staff work proactively to ensure that children’s behaviours do not negatively affect others.

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

Managers plan placements six months in advance. They match children carefully by understanding their presenting behaviours, sensory needs, mobility and preferred routines. This creates compatible groups and harmonious dynamics. Children interact positively and those who prefer quieter environments have space to do so.

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

Leaders manage the presence of family relationships within the staffing structure transparently and safely. They ensure that no staff member is line ‑ managed by a relative. Clear organisational structures reduce the risk of closed cultures. Leaders discuss professional boundaries and expectations openly with staff. This promotes independence in safeguarding practice and underpins a culture of openness and accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has a strong personal and professional connection to the short-breaks service. This connection inspires his long-term commitment to improving children’s lives. Managers have a deep understanding of children’s needs and understand the value of high-quality short-break provision. This knowledge informs their approach to operational improvement. Inspection report children's home: SC435152 5 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are committed to continual service development. They strengthen systems and improve record-keeping. They also help staff develop confidence in reporting children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager places great emphasis on building strong partnerships with families and external professionals. Leaders attend multi-agency meetings and advocate for children. They work closely with social care, education and health colleagues. This maintains seamless support around each young person and strengthens trust. It also promotes a highly collaborative culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staffing is stable. Leaders cultivate a culture in which staff take pride in their work. Induction is comprehensive and training is tailored. Each staff member receives regular supervision, appraisal and wellbeing support. This includes access to external advice and counselling. This nurturing environment helps staff feel valued, confident and motivated. It also enhances the consistency and quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff describe the home as a dynamic and rewarding place to work. They report that every day brings new experiences and opportunities to support children’s growth. The strong team culture and excellent retention support consistency. Staff use supervision, training and reflective team meetings to develop practice. This stability allows children to experience a predictable, nurturing environment where trusting relationships flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel valued and well prepared to meet children’s needs. They feel confident in managing complex behaviours, safeguarding responsibilities and individual care plans. As a result, children receive care from a skilled, cohesive and responsive team. Staff adapt their approach sensitively and meet each child’s emotional, social and developmental needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders actively promote reflective practice, open dialogue and constructive challenge. They encourage staff to contribute ideas and question decisions. Staff are confident to raise concerns and to take ownership of service development. This promotes continuous improvement and directly benefits children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders develop innovative approaches to capturing children’s voices. They recognise that traditional meeting formats may not always be effective. Staff embed children’s preferences, wishes and feelings into daily practice. They use both direct communication and careful observation. Staff act on this information to refine routines, improve experiences and meet individual needs. Inspection report children's home: SC435152 6 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, for children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards, April 2015, p.15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children's home: SC435152 7 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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

Peter Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC435152 8 SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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