Children's Home run by Keys Education Ltd in Herefordshire

Unique reference number SC062074 Inspection date 11/03/2014 Inspector Michael Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 19/09/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This privately-owned home is registered to accommodate up to four young people. The home can look after young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.3

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.

p.3

Progress

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

p.3

Progress

In September 2013 the full inspection of the home judged its overall effectiveness to be good; outcomes for young people and the quality of care were also judged to be good. It recommended the Registered Manager should take account of two recommendations. This inspection found that since then the manager has addressed both recommendations and overall has maintained good outcomes for young people and good quality of care.

p.3

Progress

In response to previous recommendations, the Registered Manager immediately further improved the quality of care by ensuring that there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and young people are familiar with and have successfully practised, including at night time, so they know what to do in an emergency, such as a fire. They have also ensured that staff entries in young people's case records are always legible, clearly expressed, non-stigmatising and distinguish as far as possible between fact, opinion and third party information. The inspector found this to be the case in recent key worker records for one young person, which included a discussion with them immediately after their admission about the home's fire procedures. Since the last inspection, Ofsted has received a copy of the report reviewing the quality of care at the home over the six months from May to October 2013. It reports on the matters required to be monitored by the Registered Manager and provides a

p.3

Progress

positive overview of the home and does not identify any issues of concern. The manager is next going to review the quality of care for the period from November 2013 to April 2014. Together with the monthly registered provider visits to the home, reports of which have been sent to Ofsted every month, this monitoring and reporting provides proper oversight of the home. Whenever possible it includes consultation with young people accommodated in the home, their parents and social workers, and staff.

p.4

Progress

Since the last inspection, as required, Ofsted and other relevant authorities have been notified about a number of significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home. Appropriate action has been taken following each event. None of the incidents have raised concerns for Ofsted about the home's continued compliance with The Children's Homes Regulations. The home refers any safeguarding concerns to their local multi-agency safeguarding hub and if they decide to instigate a child protection enquiry the home then notifies Ofsted as required. Significant events are often connected with young people's emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Progress

Since the last inspection, the home has also received a number of complaints from young people, although none since the end of January 2014. These complaints have been taken seriously and promptly investigated. Young people have been kept informed of progress regarding their complaint and have been asked if they are satisfied with the outcome of the complaint investigation. For example, one young person agreed to complain again if they did not feel the behaviour of another young person, that they had become tired of, had stopped. Complaints are externally monitored each month by the registered provider visitor.

p.4

Progress

At the time of this inspection, the home was especially focused on working together with other professionals to increase one young person's school attendance, in line with their wishes, and continuing to support another young person to positively express their individual identity.

p.4

Progress

When asked what they thought about the home, a young person who had only been in placement for a month commented, 'It's alright to be fair and the staff are alright', which they went on to explain was a positive statement from them.

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5