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

Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 1 Registered provider: The Beeches UK limited

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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 is privately operated and provides support and care for up to 6 children who may have learning difficulties and/or have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager left on 4 July 2025. A new manager has been appointed who has applied 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 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: 2745833 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2025 Full Good 08/05/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 3

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Summary of findings

Children continue to make good progress. They receive warm, nurturing and individualised care from staff who know them well. Children enjoy positive relationships with staff. They take part in activities they enjoy and are supported to engage in education. Safeguarding practice is generally effective. However, there are shortfalls in reporting safeguarding concerns to the local authority designated officer (LADO) in a timely way and notifying Ofsted. In addition, children's care plans do not consistently show how targets are monitored and evaluated. Overall, children receive good care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living at the home. During the inspection, 2 children spoke with the inspector. Children said that they are happy and feel settled and safe. Children spoke positively about staff and said that they enjoy spending time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from care that is tailored to their individual needs. Staff plan children's moves into and out of the home well. One child was supported by staff to successfully move to another home that is closer to their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in education. Staff tailor their support to meet children's individual needs. They work alongside other professionals to make sure that children receive appropriate opportunities to match their interests. One child has been supported to apply to college after a period out of education. Staff value education for children and this has a positive impact on children and their aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities that reflect their interests. They go swimming, dirt biking, trampolining, gardening and to the gym. These experiences help children to build confidence, develop new skills and enjoy positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and professionals described the positive difference that staff have made to children's lives. They said that children have become more confident, formed stronger relationships and improved emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's views influence the care they receive. Staff gather children wishes during house meetings, key-work sessions and everyday conversations. Staff adapt their communication to meet individual needs. Children who are non-verbal use communication aids to express their views and wishes. Children also enjoy living in a well-maintained home with personalised bedrooms that reflect their interests and preferences. Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 4

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

Staff understand children's individual vulnerabilities. They recognise children's triggers and use therapeutic approaches to de-escalate difficult situations. Key-work sessions help children to understand risks and learn how to keep themselves safe. Staff understand the risks of exploitation and work effectively with professionals to safeguard children.

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

Staff manage incidents effectively and adapt their approach when children need additional support. Physical interventions are used frequently, with most relating to one child. These are proportionate and in line with the child's care plan and deprivation of liberty order. Staff use de-escalation strategies before intervening physically, whenever possible. Managers review incidents with children and staff and use learning to strengthen practice. One physical intervention was not carried out in line with the training that staff received. Managers acted promptly, made a LADO referral and took appropriate safeguarding action.

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

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from the home. They follow agreed protocols and work with the police and other professionals to support children's safe return. Staff work collaboratively with the youth offending service, police and other professionals to share information, understand risk and agree strategies to keep children safe. Children are offered return home interviews.

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

Ther have been some shortfalls in safeguarding procedures. A child alleged that a member of staff had used a mobile phone while driving. The manager addressed this through supervision but did not refer the concern to LADO for independent consideration. On another occasion, a member of staff delayed reporting concerns about a colleague's conduct. Once managers became aware, they acted appropriately and made a LADO referral. However, Ofsted was not notified of this.

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

Children's care plans generally provide staff with clear guidance about children's individual needs. One child's plans had not been updated to reflect their current circumstances. However, staff understood the child's needs and continued to support them appropriately. The care plans also lack an evaluation of children's targets and do not show how progress is being monitored over time.

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

Children's day-to-day health needs are well supported. However, staff have not consistently helped children to understand the health risks associated with vaping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides clear leadership and has created a committed staff team that is focused on improving children's experiences. Staff value the support and guidance they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular supervision, team meetings and a structured induction help staff to develop the skills and confidence to meet children's individual needs. Staff also benefit from an in- Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 5 house therapist who provides advice that strengthens practice and helps staff to respond to children's emotional needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the home's strengths and areas of development. She welcomes constructive feedback and actively seeks learning opportunities. There is a culture of learning across leaders and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment practices are in place to help ensure that suitable adults are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff work effectively with families, schools and other professionals to promote children's progress. Most professionals and parents spoke positively about the home. They described staff as committed, child focused and responsive to children's needs. They said that communication is generally good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home's statement of purpose has been updated but a revised version has not been shared with the regulator. This limits oversight and means that the regulator may not have accurate and up-to-date information about how the home intends to meet children's needs and deliver care. Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home's child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(e)) 14 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children receive appropriate advice, guidance and education to promote healthy lifestyles, including information about the health risks associated with vaping and nicotine use. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 34, paragraph 7.18)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that Ofsted is provided with the most up-to-date statement of purpose whenever it is revised. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 14, paragraph 3.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 7  The registered person should that children's plans include clear, measurable goals with regular and effective evaluation of progress against targets. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 56, paragraph 11.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered persons should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare. They are also required by regulation 40 to notify placing authorities, Ofsted and other relevant persons about serious events. (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.9)

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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 for children's home: 2745833 8

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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: S B C H House, 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

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Inspector

Thembie Mzila, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2745833 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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