Children's Home run by Benecare Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 1 SC438648 Registered provider: Benecare 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

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 26 September 2024.

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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: SC438648 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2025 Full Good 27/01/2025 Full Good 11/07/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs and helps them make progress. Children experienced periods of instability, particularly when one child’s behaviour impacted another. Staff and managers took appropriate action to reduce risks and improve stability. Staff work with families, professionals and specialist services to support children’s needs.

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Summary of findings

Staff understand children’s risks and take effective action to keep them safe. Missing from home incidents reduce through targeted strategies and clear risk management. Safeguarding concerns and allegations are managed appropriately, and staff provide consistent boundaries. However, independent return home interviews were not always completed or followed up by managers.

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Summary of findings

Leaders and managers are committed to improving outcomes for children. They provide effective support, training and supervision for staff. Managers maintain strong partnerships and promote equality and inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs. Children’s assessments and plans remain up to date. Staff work closely with families and professionals. Children living at the home have mixed experiences. Children can experience long periods of positive progress. However, there are times when children become unsettled, for example when one child’s behaviour impacts another child’s stability and progress. Despite this, staff make careful decisions about children’s suitability for the home. Staff ensure that children’s individual needs and plans are reviewed following any changes in the home. This helps to reduce the impacts on other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child, who lived at the home for several years, made substantial progress from their starting point. Staff supported the child to develop independence skills. As a result, the child was able to return to live with their family. Staff gain children’s views through one- to-ones and consultations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to children and respond to their wishes and feelings whenever possible. Staff advocate for children’s needs. This helps children to understand their rights and contributes to positive day-to-day experiences. Children are supported to raise concerns and complaints. Detailed records are maintained, children’s views are considered and complaints are investigated appropriately. This helps children feel listened to and promotes their welfare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals give positive feedback about communication and partnership working with staff. A professional said staff supported a child with their education and health to meet Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 4 their needs. This demonstrates effective relationships with professionals and good access to specialist services. One child is engaging in education through tutoring. The child is proud of the work they complete in education. The child is supported to access specialist health services. The child enjoys taking part in activities arranged by staff. The child is supported to spend meaningful time with their family. As a result, the child’s needs are met holistically.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff changes can affect children’s sense of stability, but staff work hard to minimise the impact on children. When children move on, staff maintain relationships and links with them. This demonstrates that staff value children. Staff promote a sense of belonging, which continues even when children have left the home.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and take effective action to help keep them safe. There are incidents where children go missing from home. Staff respond with individualised strategies to reduce these incidents. Staff actions are successful in helping to reduce incidents of children going missing.

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

When children leave the home without permission, staff follow them where appropriate. Staff encourage children to return home and follow any guidance in children’s risk assessments. However, independent return home interviews are not always completed. The registered manager does not follow this up with relevant professionals. Therefore, children do not get a chance to discuss these incidents with an independent person.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the risks children face. Children access technology safely. Key-work sessions help children understand online safety. This helps to reduce potential harm and increase children’s awareness of risk.

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

Staff provide clear and consistent boundaries. Physical intervention is used as a last resort. Records relating to restraints are detailed including management oversight and reflection.

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

In the event of a child making an allegation about staff conduct, children and staff receive effective support. Management oversight is clear and any learning is identified and used to improve practice. Referrals are made to the local authority designated officer when required. This demonstrates that safeguarding procedures are understood and followed.

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

Children’s health and welfare needs are responded to. Children receive suitable care and attention. Medical advice and treatment are sought when necessary to safeguard children’s wellbeing.

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

Overall, safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff understand children’s risks. Staff respond appropriately to incidents and take action to protect children from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers maintain a strong focus on meeting children’s individual needs. Leaders and managers are committed to providing children with individualised care and support. The manager has a clear vision for the home. The manager demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children. Professionals and parents describe managers as caring, responsive and dedicated to meeting children’s needs. Managers have a good understanding of children’s experiences and progress. Managers are creative in accessing therapeutic support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide a supportive environment for staff. Staff receive regular supervision within required timescales. Staff training and development is reviewed by managers. There is a thorough induction programme for new staff. Staff said they are well supported by managers. Staff described the team as supportive and approachable. Staff reported that they are proud of the safe and nurturing care they provide and feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have developed positive relationships with professionals and families. Feedback from a parent was particularly positive. A parent stated that managers and staff are committed to their child’s needs. These strong relationships help to ensure that children receive coordinated support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers promote equality, diversity and inclusion. Staff support children to explore their identity and participate in cultural events. For example, children are supported to access identity-related groups. Children’s views are valued and contribute to the support they receive. This helps children develop a positive understanding of themselves and others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. They are keen to identify what is working well and where improvements are needed. There are strong levels of management support and oversight. This helped maintain stability during periods of staff change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, management oversight is not always fully effective. The manager did not escalate concerns when independent return home interviews were not completed. This was a missed opportunity to strengthen safeguarding arrangements and support risk management. Managers need to ensure that records evidence the rationale for decisions made. This is also important in relation to oversight of significant incidents by a deputy manager to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 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

Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that there is a formal escalation for the interviews for children going missing to be completed by the independent person. 9 September 2026

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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 manager should ensure that there are formal records evidencing the reasons for decision-making of the matters that are being addressed outside agreed policy. 9 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 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: SC438648 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

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Inspectors

Kerry Meller-Rayment, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Sonata Brisley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC438648 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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