Children's Home run by Keys Education Ltd in South Gloucestershire

Unique reference number SC067561 Inspection date 13/03/2012 Inspector Bridget Goddard Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/09/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

The home, run by a company, is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. Shopping and recreational facilities are within close proximity of the home and there are public transport links to a city centre. National rail links are also easily accessible.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

At the full inspection in September 2011, the home was judged as satisfactory. Four requirements and three recommendations were made at that inspection. The home is making good progress in meeting these.

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Progress

The first requirement was to promote the educational achievement of children. All young people are currently attending education. The home has been proactive in securing appropriate educational placements for young people, and has supported these placements by buying additional resources for young people. Staff have been effective in working closely with young people in using these resources. This requirement is met.

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Progress

The second requirement was to ensure that young people are provided with appropriate leisure activities and encouraged to develop leisure interests. All young people strongly prefer socialising and being with staff and friends to organised leisure pursuits. Some young people really enjoy walking around the local area with a staff member, and staff fully support and encourage this. Young people also enjoy riding bikes, and staff have supported this by buying a bike as a present. Other young people enjoy going to the cinema with friends or going to Laser Quest sessions. Staff support these activities practically and financially. The home is, therefore, supporting young people appropriately with their leisure interests and this requirement is met.

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Progress

The third requirement was to ensure that all persons employed receive appropriate supervision. The manager now has a record of supervision dates and length of sessions. Sessions are recorded and signed. All staff now receive appropriate supervision. This means that there are regular opportunities for staff to discuss practice issues. This requirement is met.

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Progress

The fourth requirement was to ensure that a personalised record of each young person's details is kept in a permanent form. Records have now been updated to reflect requirements and form an up-to-date record about young people. This requirement is met. The first recommendation related to ensuring there are agreed processes and guidance on police involvement which have been agreed with local police. There are good relationships between the home and local police. The local police visit the home informally on a regular basis and know the young people. In September 2011 a formal meeting was held between the home and the police to establish personalised strategies for each young person if they were to go missing. This means that young people's safety is better protected. This recommendation is met.

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Progress

The second recommendation was to ensure that young people who are excluded from school have access to appropriate education and training. Excluded young people receive a minimum amount of educational input, but are receiving a good amount of work-based training. This means that they are continuing to learn useful skills while excluded from school. This recommendation is met.

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Progress

The third and final recommendation concerned ensuring that a review is initiated no more than 72 hours after any emergency admission. There have not been any emergency admissions since the last inspection, but the home is well aware of the requirement to do this and plan to ensure that it happens. This means that planning can start quickly for young people placed in an emergency. This recommendation is met.

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Progress

Young people are making good progress in this home. They are ably assisted by warm and caring staff who are proud of 'their' young people and their achievements. For example, some young people are no longer involved with criminal activity and are now providing a useful and well-regarded service to the local community. Young people have personalised their rooms and are confident in expressing their general views to staff. However, there are no routine mechanisms for recording and, where appropriate, acting on young people's views about general life and activities in the home, nor on the views of those significant to them.

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Progress

Young people feel safe in this home and demonstrate this by their relaxed and friendly relationships with staff. Some young people were often missing from the home, but now this is a rare occurrence. This means that they are much better protected from significant harm. Other young people are better able to manage their own behaviour, and this means they have improved relationships both in the home and with their families or community and at school.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that children's views, wishes and feelings and those significant to them are taken into account in monitoring staff and in developing the home. (NMS 1.7)

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