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

Unique reference number SC454901 Inspection date 05/02/2014 Inspector Judith Longden Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 12/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children’s home offers care for up to five young people with emotional and/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 good progress .

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Progress

This home was judged as adequate at the last full inspection in June 2013. Since that time the home has demonstrated improvement in the quality of care and the outcomes for young people. The home has addressed and met the three requirements and four recommendations made at the previous inspection. As a result the management of the home, safety and welfare of young people has improved.

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Progress

A requirement was made to ensure all significant events are notified to Ofsted as required. These are now submitted promptly for all relevant events. This means the regulator is able to review the welfare and safety of young people in a timely manner.

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Progress

The home was required to ensure staff receive appropriate and regular supervision. The home has revised its supervision policy and as a result staff receive supervision and support, as required, to enable them to provide a good service to young people.

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Progress

A further requirement was made in relation to the quality of care plans and ensuring all information relating to young people is kept up to date. Staff are aware of the importance of accurate record keeping and seniors responsible for each shift ensure the records are up to date with all relevant information. Entries in care records are legible and clearly expressed which meets a recommendation made at the last inspection. As a result, records and plans evidence any changes and reflect the daily care provided.

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Progress

A recommendation was made to ensure young people comment on sanctions or consequences for negative behaviour. The consequences log evidences where young people have expressed their views on the relevance and effectiveness of a sanction. In addition, key-work sessions are utilised to discuss behaviour and identify the consequences which are most effective. Staff are quite creative in the use of consequences. For example, where a young person spat a sweet at a member of staff they undertook a piece of written work on understanding respect for others. This means young people are able to learn from their actions. Staff continue to develop their practice by reviewing and discussing consequences in team meetings.

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Progress

A recommendation was made to ensure all maintenance issues are dealt with in a timely manner. A number of repairs have been made to the property and the home has been redecorated. Young people have been fully involved in the re-decoration programme including learning how to hang wallpaper. This means the home is well maintained and the environment provides a homely feel.

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Progress

The final recommendation was in relation to the role of shift leader. All staff responsible for the co-ordination of a shift now have substantial experience of working in this home. The staff team have become more experienced and have completed a range of training and development opportunities. The operations manager said, 'it now feels like a solid team.' This means young people's needs are met by a sufficiently experienced staff team.

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Progress

The Registered Manager is temporarily absent from the home. Their absence was notified to Ofsted as required. Currently the deputy manager is fulfilling the role of home manager with extensive support from the operations manager and senior team. This means the interim management arrangements are robust and the welfare and safety of young people is monitored.

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Progress

Staff and managers have identified the learning from a recent period of negative behaviour. Incidents were well managed at the time and staff are more aware of the conflicts and tensions of group living for some young people. This means there is more thought given to admissions and planning of placements. As a result behaviour has improved.

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Progress

Staff work hard to protect young people as far as possible when they go missing. A range of risk assessments are in place that highlight triggers for absence and the particular vulnerabilities of young people. Clear and accurate records of absence are maintained and young people discuss their absence with staff on their return to enable them to understand the reasons for their absence and keep them safe. Staff are also proactive in addressing absence and the risks of going missing. Good use is made of key-work for individual work with young people and they also discuss the issues as a group in house meetings. This means young people understand the risks and how to keep themselves safe.

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Progress

The home has made good progress in relation to young people's education. All young people are engaged in education including attendance at an educational farm. Young people who have difficulty reading are encouraged to learn to read through different media such as mobile phones as well as reading books. This supports the individual with their learning and encourages them to reach their educational potential.

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Progress

No requirements or recommendations are made as a result of this inspection.

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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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