Children's home run by Beaufort Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 1 Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group 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 home provides care for up to 3 children. There are currently 2 children living at the home. They were both seen during the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2588486 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2025 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/04/2023 Full Inadequate 04/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about living at the home. They say that staff listen to them, take their views seriously and respond appropriately to their concerns. This helps children to feel valued and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make consistent and thoughtful efforts to engage children in activities that are enjoyable, varied and tailored to their individual interests. Children benefit from activities that support their creative and social development. One child is excited to attend a festival, while another child is regularly enjoys baking and craft activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in developing positive relationships, improving their confidence and learning to recognise and manage their own emotions. Children are observed to have good relationships with staff. The nurturing and attentive approach that staff use has undoubtedly contributed to an overall reduction in significant incidents in the home and has supported both children to make meaningful progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from clear and predictable routines, which provide stability and a sense of security. They are supported to learn independent living skills in line with their ages and stages of development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children experience difficulties engaging with education, plans are put in place to explore alternative provisions. One child has successfully completed two GCSEs and has a part-time job. Staff supported this child to independently apply and interview for this position, and the child take pride in this achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are well planned and informed by professionals who know children well. Staff make efforts to build relationships with children before they move in, by spending time together doing activities that are enjoyable, such as bowling. This helps children to settle into the home quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming, although some homely touches are missing. There are plans in place to gather the children's wishes and feelings about further decoration. Children have spacious bedrooms and various personal belongings on display. Children say that they have meaningful input into the decoration of their rooms and they are proud of their personal spaces.

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

Children are cared for by staff who know their individual needs and risks. Staff regularly engage children in meaningful conversations where they are supported to reflect on significant incidents and important events in their lives. Children are given balanced information to help them make important decisions. Staff use an approach that is caring and non-judgemental, which helps children to feel listened to and supported. Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 4 Safeguarding concerns relating to staff practice are taken seriously and addressed promptly. Referrals are made to external safeguarding agencies, including the police when required. Internal investigations are thorough, which result in robust decision- making and appropriate follow up actions with staff, including dismissal where appropriate.

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

When concerns emerge in relationships between children, there are clear conversations with children around acceptable behaviour, and meetings with social care to discuss planning and managing the behaviours. When the decision was made that 2 children cannot live alongside one another, this was actioned quickly. A child moved on from the home in a supported way.

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

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from home. Staff make good efforts to search for children and try to remain in contact with them. Staff work closely with children's family members to try to bring children home quickly and safely. Clear procedures are in place for contacting the police. However, there has been some inconsistency in the timing of these reports. While this has not placed children at significant risk, greater consistency would strengthen safeguarding practice.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been 5 incidents where holds have been used. These have been brief and proportionate to the behaviours shown. Staff routinely speak with children following incidents; however, these conversations are not consistently therapeutic or trauma informed, meaning that some opportunities to repair relationships and help children to reflect on incidents have been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have not provided effective oversight since the last inspection. When significant incidents have occurred, managers have not consistently demonstrated strong reflection on staff practice or ensured that learning is taken from incidents and embedded into wider practice. As a result, opportunities to further develop staff practice and strengthen support for children have been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings take place regularly and provide opportunities for staff to reflect on children's needs, daily routines and any safeguarding concerns. However, staff supervision has not taken place consistently and there are some gaps in staff training. This has meant that staff have not received regular opportunities to reflect on their practice and develop their skills within their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff report that they feel supported by their colleagues and speak positively about working as a close and committed team. They are proud of the children's achievements and the progress they help children to make. Staff also speak positively about the recent changes in leadership and feel confident that they can raise concerns when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External professionals praise the dedicated care that the staff team provide and recognize the progress that children make while living at the home. However, there have Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 5 been some weaknesses in communication with one external professional, which may have affected a child's ability to feel settled at school. Additionally, leaders could have done more to establish a positive working relationship with one family member. Appropriate steps have now been taken to address this, including the introduction of monthly progress reports, which have been welcomed. Parents report that children are happier, more settled and making good progress. They also value the positive relationships that are evident between children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Recent changes in management have resulted in these weaknesses being identified and addressed. Leaders have begun to implement appropriate plans to address shortfalls and improve the quality of oversight in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they have effective oversight of the service, and that there is robust analysis of staff actions following incidents to ensure that learning can be taken and embedded into future practice. 2 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that they seek to establish and maintain good working relationships with all external professionals and the parents of children in the home, and that they seek to maintain appropriate lines of communication for the benefit of children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 11, paragraph 2.2) Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 7

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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: 2588486 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Beaufort Care Group Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Hollygrove Business Park, Verwood Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 2DB

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Inspector

Minnette Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2588486 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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