Children's Home run by Benjamin UK Ltd in Bedford

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 1 SC412953

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care and support for up to 4 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Education is offered at a linked provision on a different site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has made progress. This progress has contributed to previous court- imposed restrictions on the child being lifted.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has spent time with staff, occasionally participating in activities such as going to the cinema, ice skating and completing arts and crafts. The child’s level of engagement is inconsistent, and they are spending significant amounts of time either in their room or going out to see family. Staff’s efforts to engage the child in activities when they are not with their family are limited in effectiveness.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments are well written and contain information that is helpful to staff. Managers have discussions with the child’s placing authority to share concerns. Safety planning and multi-agency meetings take place. The manager and staff have good relationships with partner agencies. They work together to identify and continue to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond appropriately when the child goes missing from the home. They understand the missing-from-care protocols. They search for the child and welcome them back warmly. Additionally, staff explore the child’s emotions and reasons for running away. This helps children to feel cared for.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff have completed training specific to meeting the child’s needs. This has helped to improve the knowledge of how to support the child effectively. Most staff are either qualified or in the process of completing the level 3 diploma within the desired timescales.

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Findings from the inspection

One child was due to move in on the day of the inspection. Leaders and managers have strengthened the matching process to help ensure that new admissions are carefully considered and well planned. Staff are consulted before any child moves in and can review multi-agency input. This increases the likelihood that staff understand presenting risks and enables the identification of potential training needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are welcomed warmly to the home, with personalised welcome movies to introduce key staff and spaces helping to create an early sense of belonging and familiarity. On arrival, each child also receives an individualised basket of comforting and practical items chosen to reflect their interests and needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 3 The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard throughout. Staff say they enjoy working in the home and that morale is high. Staff say they feel well supported by the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have their development and practice regularly reviewed through supervisions and appraisals. These do not always consider the views of children or other professionals who have worked alongside the staff member. This is a missed opportunity to inform staff development.

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Findings from the inspection

Shortfalls remain regarding leaders and managers’ use of monitoring and review systems. The 6-monthly quality of care review did not contain analysis or identified actions. This limits the potential of using the document as a continuous development aid. In addition, leaders and managers’ reviews of incidents are not analytical or evaluative, inhibiting the ability to identify patterns and trends or potential poor practice. This requirement is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/09/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 5

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 June 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 6  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and

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Recommendations

possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coach House, White House Court, Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1FD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Claudette Rudman

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Inspector

Naomi Starbuck, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC412953 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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