Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Windsor and Maidenhead

Unique reference number SC438624 Inspection date 22/01/2014 Inspector Maire Atherton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 23/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned home is run by a large nationwide provider. It is registered for up to two children with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last full inspection in July 2013 this home was judged to be good and this has been maintained. The requirement and recommendation from the last inspection has been met. There are three recommendations as a result of this inspection.

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Progress

There is now a robust exploration and recording of any gaps in employment as part of the recruitment procedure. Newly appointed staff begin and complete the induction standards within the recommended timescales.

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Progress

The established staff team have continued to demonstrate considerable skill and resilience in maintaining relationships with young people with very challenging behaviour. Staff meet the escalation in the frequency and severity of this behaviour with a measured and reflective approach. In addition staff implement numerous and varied strategies to reduce the challenging behaviour, some of which are successful. They adopt a proportionate use of consequences, both positive and negative, and physical interventions to effect change. Not all the sanctions entries are sufficiently clear about the how long a sanction was in place, for example for how many nights a television was removed from a bedroom. Young people's transitions, both into and from the home have been achieved positively, with good supporting communication between placements. Young people say that the introductions to the home are good and that they are given written

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Progress

information. Young people are clear that their opinions are sought and valued and that things happen as a result of what they say. For example information about monitoring visitors is now included in the young people's guide. Young people exercise choice and independence in relation to buying clothes but personal requisites are included in the general shopping, thus missing an opportunity for young people to practice independence skills from early on in their placement.

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Progress

Staff training on issues that directly relate to the needs of the young people placed is informing their practice to good effect. Further targeted training is scheduled in the light of potential placements.

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Progress

The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home through robust monitoring and evaluation of day-to-day practice and regular reviews. This includes consultation with young people, their parents, social workers and other involved professionals. This information is spread over three lengthy and detailed management monitoring documents which do not cross reference. This serves to dilute the information and significantly weakens the evidence of progress and development in the home. There is a lack of focus on the future developments for the home.

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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 the length of time of a sanction is clearly understood (NMS 3.8)  ensure that children exercise choice and independence in the personal requisites that they buy (NMS 2.5)  ensure that the registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home, either identifying any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service, or confirming the continuation of the home's current operation and resource (NMS 15.2)

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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.

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