Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Calderdale

Unique reference number SC001016 Inspection date 12/09/2013 Inspector Stella Henderson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/12/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately run children's home providing accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good service where young people make significant progress in a number of key areas. Young people are highly positive about their quality of care and their relationships with staff. They say that they feel safe and very well supported. Parents and professionals endorse this view.

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Overall effectiveness

The new manager has set high standards for the staff team and they have risen to these expectations. This has enabled young people to achieve excellent outcomes. Staff understand the complex needs of young people well and take full account of their individual needs. This results in highly personalised and nurturing care.

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Overall effectiveness

The well-established staff team offers young people stability, security and a chance to experience positive attachments. As a consequence young people are better able to manage emotions, relationships and set-backs. This gives them confidence to do well with their education and plan ahead for the future.

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Overall effectiveness

One requirement is set. This is to address the shortfall in ensuring that consultation with young people and others is captured and considered in the evaluation of the home's performance.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) revise the system for improving the quality of care provided at the children's home and ensure the system referred to in paragraph (1) shall provide for consultation with children accommodated at the home, their parents and placing authorities (Regulation 34)(1)(b)(3) 11/10/2013

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make significant progress in all aspects of their lives. They feel their lives have improved during their time at the home, one young person saying 'massively'. A placing social said that outcomes for their young person were, 'brilliant! They have worked magic with him!'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are given opportunities to make sense of their backgrounds, experiences and behaviours. Those who have experienced trauma and present complex and challenging behaviours grow in self-confidence. They are guided to reflect on how their choices and actions impact upon their lives. This enables young people to develop mature responses to anger, frustration and disappointment and express their feelings more positively.

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Outcomes for children and young people

This focus on young people's emotional health and well-being is a particular strength of the home. One social worker commented that; 'the staff team were more than willing to attend training session by the mental health worker to aid their understanding of the young person's journey and experiences of trauma. They now have a united parenting approach which has hugely benefited the young person'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's good physical health is also actively supported; they eat healthily and take increasing responsibility for managing their own health needs. This includes mature conversations about their sexual health needs and protection. As a result their health outcomes are much improved. Young people are also encouraged to develop self-awareness about the benefits of good personal hygiene. This helps to increase their self-esteem and self-image.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's commitment to education has enabled them to go on to further education and training, thereby substantially increasing their life chances. Their individual achievements in this respect are excellent, particularly in the light of previous adverse life experiences.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are motivated and have aspirations for their future. They voluntarily use their time during their summer holidays to attend courses to progress their education and skills. They are fully encouraged to think about their options to make realistic choices in line with their individual skills. This contributes to young people's self-confidence, self-awareness and resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have engaged well with staff and external agencies to address risk- taking and offending behaviours. Each young person's individual risks are clearly understood in this respect. Staff have extensive understanding and experience of managing such behaviours and as a result, incidents of poor behaviour have significantly reduced.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy meaningful relationships with staff which result in strong and positive attachments. Staff place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice and this is further aided by highly effective care planning, education support and behaviour management. One placing social worker commented that, 'the placement is excellent'. A young person noted that the home, 'is a real home. I am happy here'.

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Quality of care

Staff understand how young people’s challenges and experiences have impacted on them. This knowledge enables staff to more directly shape and encourage young people to better manage their behaviour. This helps young people to integrate into their local communities, gain success in education, enjoy leisure activities and explore new opportunities. One social worker said that their young person had, 'built effective social networks'.

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Quality of care

Young people have an active input into issues that affect them within the home and successfully voice their wants and needs. These include frequent key worker meetings which are particularly effective in addressing a range of issues and concerns. Young people are involved in the running of the home, making decisions about group activities and identifying their own personal interests and hobbies. These include playing football and rugby for local teams, indoor rock climbing and attending a youth club.

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Quality of care

Young people are cared for in an environment that proactively identifies, celebrates and explains diversity in society. Some examples of this are conversations between staff and young people about religion, belief, sexuality and gender. This is a strength of the home and enables young people to develop tolerance and understanding.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from highly effective working relationships between staff and professionals from social services, education, youth offending teams, health and therapeutic services. A social worker commented favourably on staff, 'working closely with the local police and youth justice team to support and implement the plan connected to the young person’s licence.'

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Quality of care

In another example, the staff team have received briefings from a link psychologist. One member of staff noted that this had made a 'massive difference' in their approach and intervention with young people. An independent reviewing officer commented that; 'the staff group have worked well with outside agencies to support the care plan and particularly our mental health team who they gain consultation from regarding the child’s mental health needs and how they might approach these'.

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Quality of care

Young people respect and feel ownership of the environment they live in, which is comfortable, well-equipped and homely. The manager and staff ensure that good relationships are maintained with neighbours and the home has a low profile in the community.

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Quality of care

Young people develop independence skills commensurate with their age and ability and play a part in completing household tasks. This includes taking increasing responsibility for decision-making and negotiation with external agencies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe and they are supported to keep safe in the community. Staff are effective at ensuring the safety of young people and implement basic safeguarding measures such as checking that friendships are suitable and making contact with parents.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Careful matching of admissions to the home adds a valuable additional element of protection for young people. One social worker commented that their young person, 'feels safe and supported in placement.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of individual risks and safeguarding issues for each young person. They manage particularly well the challenges of enabling young people to develop greater freedom and independence, while allowing for different levels of vulnerability. Staff are aided in this respect by clearly defined care plans which are regularly scrutinised, monitored and reviewed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are assisted to develop appropriate behaviour through the home’s behaviour management policy and strategies. Staff are very confident with their role of defining boundaries while maintaining high quality relationships between themselves and young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff set clear expectations, consistently reinforce and reward positive behaviour and achievements. This has resulted in demonstrable improvements in behaviour, particularly in offending behaviour. One social worker noted that the behaviour of a young person had 'significantly improved across all areas'. Sanctions are minimal, reasonable and accepted as such by young people. One young person noted that they had never seen a restraint being carried out in the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm that there is no bullying in the home and are confident that staff would address such behaviours. For example, one young person had mentioned to staff that they felt uncomfortable with an incidence of 'play-fighting'. This was addressed in a calm, measured and supportive way with the other young person concerned. This demonstrates that young people's concerns are taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that is safe and well maintained. There are established systems and structures to maintain safe practices and fulfil health and safety obligations. Environmental risk assessments are in place and these ensure the home is fully informed of potential hazards in order to reduce risks. There are safe recruitment procedures within the home.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The manager ensures the home fulfils its Statement of Purpose. He provides staff with clear expectations and leadership. This ensures that young people live in a safe environment where they are provided with excellent levels of care and support.

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Leadership and management

Staff provide a secure and structured environment for young people, taking into account their increasing need for choice and independence. They are able to do this because the staff team is stable and consistent. Staff are committed to engaging, developing and maintaining meaningful and respectful relationships with young people. These relationships are a key strength, effectively contributing to positive outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from the skills and interventions of an experienced staff team. As a result young people’s progress is clearly evident and noted by local authorities. Staff feel well supported, supervised and involved in making decisions. They receive development and training opportunities that are varied and extend their understanding and competence.

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Leadership and management

The link between practice and outcomes is reinforced in supervision and team meetings. The manager is diligent in keeping abreast with sector developments. This ensures staff keep up to date and understand the legal requirements underpinning their practice. There is a strong sense of team purpose which greatly benefits young people. Staff are fully committed to young people and maintain genuine relationships during and after placements.

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Leadership and management

Highly effective working relationships with parents and other professionals is a strength of the home. One parent commented favourably on the quality of communication with the home, as did placing social workers. One noted that, 'the staff team are confident and calm which is reflected in the atmosphere in the house. Any issues are responded to quickly and social care are informed and consulted.' Another social worker appreciated the fact that it was always either the manager or deputy manager who turned up to meetings.

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Leadership and management

Regular monitoring of the home's activities are conducted by the manager and the independent visitor. This acts as a mechanism to identify action to improve the service in the interests of young people. There is frequent consultation and feedback from young people, placing social workers and others. However these views are not an integral part of the evaluation of the service. This reduces the impact of the exercise and misses opportunities to drive forward further improvement.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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