Children's Home run by Keys Education Ltd in Shropshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager and staff team work effectively together and are passionate and committed in prioritising the needs of young people. Staff share a committed and consistent approach and manage conflict well.  Relationships between staff and parents are open and honest and communication is transparent. This has improved family contact and developed strong family bonds.  Partnership working provides young people with access to services required to meet their individual needs.  Staff have good knowledge and understanding of how to keep young people safe. They respond well to missing from home and bullying behaviour with consistent strategies.  Staff care passionately about young people and provide warmth and nurture to help them develop into mature, responsible individuals.  Young people understand how to complain and do so confidently. The manger responds to and takes seriously any complaints received.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 There are areas identified for improvement: these relate to safety within the environment.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home which provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home’s Statement of Purpose indicates that the age range will be between 10 and 17 years of age.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Good

Young people recognise the good progress they make. For example, school attendance has improved. Some young people who were home tutored are now attending part-time education. A young person confirmed this by saying: ‘I am better at managing my behaviour; my education attendance is better.’ One parent commented, ‘he is doing really well’. Young people experience high quality care from skilled and qualified staff. One said: ‘there is not one staff here that does not actually care.’ A parent also confirmed this and said: ‘the manager is brilliant and the staff are fantastic.’

p.5

Good

Relationships between young people and staff are good. They trust staff and know they have their best interest at heart. For example, staff support them through difficult times and help them to manage their behaviour. This helps them to tolerate each other and resolves conflict. A young person said, ‘this is a good place to live when there is no kicking off.’ Staff are dedicated and passionate and deliver care with respect and dignity, while keeping a sense of humour. As a result, young people feel listened to, valued and cared for. A young person confirmed this and said: ‘we know they care because they are always welcoming and encouraging; they give us praise when we are doing well’.

p.5

Good

Young people’s health is good. They make use of external health services to improve their emotional, physical and psychological well-being. A young person said, ‘my self-harm has reduced’. Another said: ‘I have a drug councillor and access to the child and adolescent mental health service; they stopped me ending my life’.

p.5

Good

Advocacy services provide young people with a voice. They access them freely. This helps them to promote their views and wishes. Staff encourage young people to engage in house meetings, reviews and key working sessions. As a result, contact arrangements, education attendance, and bullying have improved. A young person said: ‘I asked for money for bedside tables and CD racks; I have put posters up in my room; I like the wallpaper even if it is old fashioned’.

p.5

Good

Not all young people have had well planned transition arrangements. Although the manager has made requests for up-to-date plans, there has been a delay from a local authority in providing Pathway Plans. This means young people are not able to prepare for leaving care as well as they could. This affects behaviour and causes anxiety. The manager has not requested a review of the care plan for one young person following significant changes in his behaviour. Young people who have left care often call and keep in touch. This confirms they know there is always someone available for them.

p.5

Good

Contact arrangements for some young people have improved. A staff member commented, ‘he has overnight stays with mom now’. Life story work helps young people to understand their life journey and their identity. As a result, young people become more confident about themselves. Staff support young people who live away from home to have contact with their family and friends. This means they can continue to enjoy time together that strengthens bonds.

p.6

Good

Young people manage their complex and challenging behaviour, helped by well- planned risk management and behaviour plans. A young person said, ‘I am better at managing my anger’. They understand the plans because they are involved in making them. This helps staff identify triggers and responses to challenging behaviour. As a result, incidents for some young people have decreased. A staff member said: ‘I went through his plan to look for what triggers behaviour; he tells us not to be in his face as this helps; seen a massive improvement and less bullying’.

p.6

Good

Staffs manage bullying well and encourage young people to take responsibility for their actions. House meetings provide young people the opportunity to discuss conflict. A young person said: ‘I have had experiences of bullying but staff stand in between us and keep us safe; we have meetings to address problems in the home’.

p.6

Good

Young people know how to complain and do so when they feel unsafe. The manager addresses complaints fairly and provides a written response to all parties. As a result, young people are safe and protected.

p.6

Good

There is a low level of physical intervention used to manage young people’s behaviour. Staffs rarely use restraint, although trained. They use de-escalation to help young people manage their anger. Sanctions help young people to take responsibility for their behaviour. A young person said, ‘they are in place; I think they work’. The home works well with the local police. They assist when behaviour is ‘high risk’. They know the young people well and often pop in for a chat when passing. This helps young people form positive relationships with local services.

p.6

Good

Some young people benefit from active support from other agencies that provide advice and support in specialist areas. For example, drug and alcohol misuse: this aids their protection. Young people who go missing from home return safely. Joint protocols with the police are in place to protect them. A staff member said, ‘we look for them and call the police’. An independent person completes a return home interview. This helps to understand the triggers and reason for going missing.

p.7

Good

Staff complete regular fire drills and tests to ensure they are all clear about what to do in an emergency. Some elements of the environment are not sufficiently risk assessed. For example, a washing line presents a hazard. Young people who self- harm may use this as a ligature. Young people use the summerhouse for recreational use, but materials are stored on the floor presenting a tripping hazard.

p.7

Good

The Registered Manager has managed this home since February 2015. He has a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in health and social care for children and young people and is currently undertaking the level 5 Diploma in management. He has substantial relevant experience of previous managerial positions in residential childcare. A qualified and stable staff team support the manager to deliver good quality care. A staff member said, ‘I feel I have sufficient training that helps me to do my job’.

p.7

Good

The manager and staff build positive relationships with external professionals including the police. An officer said, ‘clear and detailed information is shared with me about young people’. This helps to improve community relationships. For example, some members of the community have raised concerns about the home to the police. They have supported the home and the neighbours to form better relationships.

p.7

Good

There is a strong emphasis on delivering good care. The team continually strive to provide the best outcomes for young people. They know the ethos of the home, as detailed in the Statement of Purpose. Staff confirm this and say young people now ‘see us as part of his family’. The manager has a clear understanding of the needs of young people and their achievements from their starting points. He said: ‘we have an honest ethos and hope for them to progress; they achieve better education, develop coping methods and are more reflective’. Young people are happy with the management of the home. A young person said, ‘he looks after us and manages the home well’.

p.7

Good

Staffs receive good quality supervision and appraisals that provide them with the support and training required to deliver their role. The staff speak highly of the manager and feel well supported. A staff member said, ‘the manager is doing everything to help us’.

p.8

Good

The home is effectively monitored internally and externally to improve the quality of care and development of the service. The manager has changed his way of monitoring records to improve his review of the quality of care. For example, he signs records on a monthly basis and collects information using a front sheet on each file, this then forms the basis for his review. Although the Regulation 45 report is not yet due to Ofsted, the manager is making good progress in developing it.

p.8

Good

The manager provides challenge where necessary, for example, linking with advocate and child and adolescent mental health services to provide a cross-remit approach. This has enabled young people to have continuity of services while living away from home.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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