Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC370899 Inspection date 15/01/2014 Inspector Judith Longden Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 13/12/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is one of a number of homes operated and managed by an organisation which is a national provider of care and education for young people. The home is registered to offer care and accommodation for up to three male young people who may have 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 home provides excellent care that is comprehensively planned with the full involvement of young people. Young people are engaged in the running of the home through formal and informal consultations and meetings. Young people enjoy excellent relationships with each other and with staff and there is a warm, family feel to the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are making very good progress and achieving positive outcomes in all areas, especially their education, independence skills and the development of social skills, confidence and self esteem. There is clear evidence of the impact the home has had in this progress.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are extremely satisfied with the quality of care they receive. Young people are kept safe and feel safe in the home and community. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practice. Behaviour is well managed and boundaries are consistently followed. The management of the home is very strong and the staff feel motivated and supported in their roles. Staff bring a variety of skills and experience to the home and benefit from excellent training to further enhance their skills and knowledge. No requirements or recommendations are made as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in achieving positive outcomes in all areas, especially education, independence skills and the development of skills and confidence through activities. They are supported to explore their culture and identity. One young person said, 'staff help us to understand our backgrounds.' This enables young people to feel confident in their identity and improves their self esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are involved in the planning of menus and those learning independence skills also shop for the food, prepare and cook meals. As a result they learn new skills in addition to having a diet that is healthy, balanced and varied. Healthy activities such as football and basketball promote active and healthy lifestyles for young people. Staff work with young people to understand the risks associated with smoking and drug use. Key work sessions are utilised to discuss health issues such as self harm and emotional well-being. This means young people understand the importance of a holistic healthy lifestyle and take responsibility for their own health. As a result risk taking behaviours of young people are decreasing significantly.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy a range of activities that promote their interests in sport and music. Young people have a range of musical instruments in the home and are encouraged to practice regularly. Staff say some of the young people have 'exceptional musical talent'. They have taken part in college concerts and in community events, performing live on guitar, drums and vocals. Young people who enjoy sport activities have taken part in local basketball and football teams and one young person has earned a scholarship in basketball. This means young people enjoy a variety of activities and interests, enhance their skills and develop confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are achieving good attendance and attainments in their education given their starting points. One young person has achieved a number of GCSE's and a diploma in music. Young people due to take their examinations this year have received excellent predicted grades. All young people are engaged in formal education in addition to activities such as sport and music programmes. This promotes young people's confidence and encourages them to achieve their educational potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from improved contact arrangements with their parents, family and friends. One young person has been supported to make contact with extended family who live a long way from the home. Following visits where they have been accompanied by staff they are now able to travel by train alone to spend holidays with their family. Staff work hard to establish good relationships with parents and this has enabled young people to enjoy better contact. Young people are encouraged to make and sustain appropriate friendships with their peers and staff welcome friends to the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people participate in an independence programme to learn practical skills such as shopping and cooking, budgeting and washing. They have the opportunity to participate in a short term programme as an introduction to independence before starting the full programme. In addition there is a separate living area and bedroom attached to the main home that enables one young person to explore what it is like to live alone. The young person currently living in this 'independence flat' said that it was good to have the independence but still know the staff are next door if needed. As a result, young people are supported to learn skills to help them prepare for adulthood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people are fully engaged in formulating their care plans and set objectives for their development. Activities undertaken to meet these objectives are clearly evidenced and young people comment on their own progress. This is then reviewed by their key worker and manager who also comment and new objectives are set with the young person. Young people take an active part in their reviews and one young person was told by their Independent Reviewing Officer that they should chair their own review meeting next time.

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Quality of care

Young people feel they are able to express their views and feelings at any time in addition to attending house 'get-togethers.' They say they prefer this to a more formal meeting as they can appear institutionalised. Young people discuss their views on friends leaving the home and how to support and welcome new young people. They also discuss the routines of the home, use of the car, activities they would like to do and any plans for the home. The registered provider's monthly reports are also discussed at these meetings. This means young people are actively involved in the running of the home and in their individual care.

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Quality of care

Young people are aware of the complaints procedure and are supported to raise any concerns. Complaints are well recorded and responded to in a timely manner. This means young people are aware their concerns are taken seriously.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from excellent relationships with staff and with each other. Young people say they feel very well cared for and looked after. One young person said, 'I love it here, staff are really great and I get on well with them.' Young people new to the home are made to feel welcome by staff and the other young people and are supported to understand how the home operates. This means staff and young people work together to provide a positive, nurturing and supportive environment.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from excellent health care plans that focus on meeting their holistic health needs. Health care objectives are set and reviewed with young people to ensure their health needs are met. Young people have access to various medical professionals including a psychotherapist. This ensures young people receive support and develop confidence in their emotional well-being. Some young people are able to self-medicate and those who require assistance with their medication are supported by staff who are trained in the administration and recording of medication. Young people are supported to explore health topics such as relationships, sexual health, self-harm, smoking and alcohol consumption. Healthy living, diet and exercise is encouraged. As a result the physical, emotional and psychological health of young people is promoted.

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Quality of care

Staff have high aspirations for all young people and encourage them in their education and additional learning opportunities such as work experience and training programmes. Staff with experience of working within education help young people to obtain bursaries and identify suitable college placements. Staff work closely with parents to support them to attend school and college parent evenings. As a result young people are supported to achieve their educational potential. A social worker stated, 'staff have encouraged the young person with their learning objectives and attended all educational meetings. This has been an excellent placement.'

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Quality of care

Young people live in a well designed and safe home that provides ample space for shared activities and quiet areas for young people to be on their own. The home is well decorated and maintained and is close to transport links to access local towns providing a range of opportunities for young people.

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Quality of care

Staff support and encourage young people to engage in a wide range of leisure pursuits that are both enjoyable and challenging. This includes activities in the home such as playing musical instruments and film making with the computer and camera. Young people also access community clubs and activities such as football and youth club. Some young people simply enjoy being able to socialise with their friends either in the home or local community. As a result, young people are developing social skills and participating in a variety of enjoyable activities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are supported to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Staff implement a proactive behaviour management strategy based on establishing sound relationships with young people in a framework of safe and consistent boundaries and expectations. Staff are trained in behaviour management and are aware of various techniques to de-escalate incidents. There have been very few incidents and only two requiring physical intervention in the last year. These have been well recorded and staff and young people benefit from debriefs of incidents. Good use is made of mediation to repair relationships. As a result young people learn from incidents and their behaviour continues to improve.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour and progress is rewarded. For example, one young person had maintained a repayment scheme for a mobile phone without any issues, they had evidenced that they could save and manage their money well so the final payment was waived. Consequences for negative behaviour are fair and reasonable, discussed with young people and reviewed by the manager. Good use is made of financial reparation as a consequence and the manager is looking at ways to implement other forms of reparation such as helping to repair damage. As a result, consequences are effective and young people are able to learn from their actions. The home has good policies and procedures for safeguarding practices in respect of child protection, handling allegations, recruitment and young people's risk assessments. These are implemented by a knowledgeable and experienced staff team. Staff are trained in safeguarding and are clear on their role in the safeguarding

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Safeguarding children and young people

process. Young people are protected from unsuitable people gaining employment by a good recruitment process for core staff and agency staff. Visitors to the home are asked to sign in and identification is checked. This further ensures young people are protected from significant harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from very detailed risk assessments that are updated regularly following any incidents or concerns. Positive updates are also included which identify progress young people make. For example, one risk assessment that initially identified risks associated with weapons has been updated regularly to evidence that there are no longer any concerns or risks in this area. This means young people are able to move on from old behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a variety of risk assessments for the building and equipment. Health and safety checks are completed as required to ensure the building is safe. Young people and staff take part in regular fire drills. This means young people know how to evacuate safely.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected when they are absent from the home. The home is currently using a neighbouring local authority protocol which is similar to their own. This is because the police are in the process of revising the local protocol. Young people have individual risk assessments identifying triggers for absence and how to manage incidents. Young people are responded to positively on return and discuss the reasons for their absence with staff. This has led to a reduction in absence from the home. A young person said, 'I used to go missing a lot but staff supported me to look at what I was doing and I don't do it anymore.'

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Young people live in a home that has demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care and welfare of young people. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection and no shortfalls have been identified as a result of this inspection. One social worker said, 'this is one of the best homes I have had the pleasure of working with.'

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Leadership and management

The home is provided by an organisation with a number of homes in the area and managed by a qualified and skilled manager. Staff are inspired and motivated to continue to improve the service delivered to young people. The manager understands the strengths and areas for development for the home and has a good development plan in place. There has been one complaint from a young person and one from a placing authority. These have been addressed swiftly and effectively by the manager. It was found that the complaint from the placing authority had, in fact, been a request for further information rather than a complaint. The home has established good relationships with the neighbours and received compliments about the behaviour of young people. Some young people have helped the neighbours with gardening and received a grate of soft drinks as a thank you for this work.

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Leadership and management

The home has a good Statement of Purpose and young person's guide. This ensures staff and young people are clear about the aims of the home and the service and facilities provided.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive excellent care from a motivated staff team with a variety of skills, interests, experience and qualifications. Staff are confident in their colleagues and feel supported by each other and the manager. The staff rota ensures young people's needs are met through the provision of sufficient staffing.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive a comprehensive induction and continue to develop their knowledge and skills through a wide range of external and internal training opportunities. Staff say the training is of good quality and relevant to their day-to-day work. In addition, staff with additional responsibilities such as shift co-ordinator are supported to develop new skills to enable them to perform effectively in their role. This means staff improve their competency and ensure young people's needs continue to be met.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive good quality and regular supervision and feel supported by the manager. All staff receive annual appraisals. Regular team meetings are held to discuss good practice and raise any issues or concerns. Staff also benefit from support provided by the psychotherapist. This enables staff to understand the emotional health of young people.

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Leadership and management

The home implements a range of rigorous monitoring activities to examine the quality of the service provided, the progress of young people and ensure young people are kept safe. The registered provider undertakes visits to the home in accordance with regulations and carries out checks to ensure the welfare of young people is monitored. The reports from these visits are discussed with young people. This enables them to contribute to the actions to improve the home and make additional recommendations. Any shortfalls or issues raised by the registered provider have been addressed promptly by the manager. The manager monitors records kept by the home and consults with young people to identify any concerns, patterns or trends. These are discussed in team meetings and action is taken to address them. Monitoring reports are completed regularly and forwarded to Ofsted as required. All significant events relating to the protection of young people in the

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Leadership and management

home are notified as appropriate and actions taken as required. As a result the welfare and protection of young people is effectively monitored.

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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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