Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC450994 Inspector Rosemary Dancer Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Direct Care Limited Registered person address Direct Care Ltd PO Box 52 Peterborough PE8 9AZ

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Responsible individual Nigel Taylor Registered manager Joanna Claire Payne Date of last inspection 20/01/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 21/08/2014

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last inspection carried out on 20 January 2014 there were five requirements and three recommendations made. A further two requirements were made following a visit carried out on 19 February 2014. This visit was made following Ofsted receiving a notification that indicated that young people may be at risk. The visit found that there were no shortfalls in relation to staff's safeguarding practice and the appropriate procedures had been followed. However, this visit found that recruitment checks on agency staff working in the home were not robust. The two requirements made relating to this have been fully addressed and the home now keeps full information to demonstrate agency staff's suitability to work with young people. Four requirements made at the full inspection in January 2014 have been met. Recording of restraints is clearer and provides a good picture of the events. There has also been the introduction of a briefing, by someone not involved in the

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This inspection

incident; this ensures a more objective view is gained about the situation and an opportunity to see if it could have been handled differently. The arrangements for recording the administration of medication have been improved. This means that staff are assured that young people have taken the medication they require. The arrangements for the storage and use of cleaning substances have been tightened up and this means that young people do not have access to them. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is notified of any significant events and this means that Ofsted is able to assess that the action needed to safeguard young people has been taken.

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This inspection

The one requirement not met relates to a lack of consultation, by the independent visitor, with relevant people. This means that their views about the quality of care are not used to inform the monitoring process. Recommendations met have led to improvements in the external appearance of the home and all areas required are now monitored by the independent visitor. However, visitors are not always signing out of the home and this could mean in an emergency these people are not accounted for easily; this recommendation has been repeated. 3 of 6 Young people living in this home continue to make progress. Young people who have moved in to live in the home since the last inspection have settled well. Compatibility and risk assessments have been carried out and implemented to ensure that the staff can meet all of the young people's needs and keep them safe.

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This inspection

Staff have developed supportive relationships with young people and challenge them appropriately. Key work sessions support young people to reflect on their behaviour and to develop more appropriate coping strategies. The staff have links to external agencies that support young people to learn about issues that impact on their well- being, for example, their sexual health. The company also has the services of a therapist who supports young people with issues troubling them; she is also available to staff for consultation. Through this work the manager and staff work in an informed way with young people because they understand their needs and behaviour in the context of events that have happened to them. The work carried out with young people has led to a recent decrease in risky behaviour, such as being missing from care.

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This inspection

Young people take part in community activities such as visiting theme parks and eating out. Horse riding is another favourite pastime for some. These activities help young people to exercise, integrate into the community, try out new things and have fun with staff.

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This inspection

Young people enjoy contact with their families and other people significant to them and the home supports the development of relationships between young people and their families. For example, the company's therapist works with parents as well as young people to promote the development of supportive relationships. These relationships will be important to young people as they move into independent living.

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This inspection

The manager monitors the matters required on a monthly basis. However, the reports made following the monitoring activities are not evaluative and do not show areas that require development. This means that this system has a limited focus on driving improvement.

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This inspection

Staff are supported well through regular supervision and the home is fully staffed. Some new members of staff have been recruited and are going through a planned induction process. There is a full range of mandatory training that staff attend and additional training is organised in relation to young people's specific needs. This equips the staff well to meet young people's needs.

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This inspection

The home is situated in a pleasant rural area that is a short distance to local amenities. The home is adequately maintained and provides young people with a homely environment. Young people take pride in their rooms which they personalise to their own tastes. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by an independent provider. It is registered for four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD).

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2014 Full adequate 03/04/2013 Interim good progress 27/11/2012 Full adequate

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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) ensure the person carrying out the visit interviews, in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home (Regulation 33 (8) (a)) 01/10/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 is focused on improving the quality of care provided in the children’s home. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b)) 01/10/2014

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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 all staff's work is consistent with regulations, national minimum standa 5 of 6 and the homes' policies and procedures; specifically ensuring visitors are signed in and out of the home. (NMS 21.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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