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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Adequate at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. The manager and staff spoke with passion and insight about meeting the needs of young people. There is a determination to improve the quality of the service offered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are able to make complaints and raise issues. The manager has introduced a new complaints procedure as well as a grumbles log. Staff and young people are aware of these. When young people raise concerns, the manager addresses them thoroughly. This helps young people feel that they are able to talk to staff about things that concern them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people who have left the service have done so in a planned manner. The staff work with placing authorities and future placements to ensure a smooth transition. The management team have improved their approach to capturing information relating to new residents. Placement admissions now result in the formulation of a transition plan. The manager completes an impact risk assessment prior to young people moving in. As a result, placements are stable and young people benefit from the consistency that arises.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager completes internal monitoring reports and submits these in a timely manner. An independent person visits the home each month. They submit reports that offer challenge to the service. However, the reports do not consistently capture the views of families. This means that feedback from families is limited.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is working in partnership with external agencies to safeguard and support young people. The manager is attending local community meetings. There are effective relationships with the local multi-agency safeguarding hub. External organisations work with staff and young people to increase their awareness of substance misuse and child sexual exploitation (CSE).

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people rarely go missing from the home. When they do, the staff actively search for them, in partnership with the police. Staff maintain clear records of the action they have taken in relation to young people going missing. The staff offer the young people access to an independent person after a missing incident. However, when return interviews have taken place the home does not receive a copy of them. The learning from those interviews is therefore missing. Consequently, the service is lacking potentially key information when responding to missing incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people have decreased their risk taking behaviours since coming to the home. Young people originally considered to be at high risk of CSE are now thought to be at lower risk. A police sergeant said: ‘I can’t be sure what it is they do but whatever it is, it is reducing the risks.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who came to the home with a history of going missing have had very few or no missing incidents. A social worker said: ‘She has made tremendous progress. Risks have significantly decreased in relation to missing episodes, alcohol use, defiance and aggression and there have not been any new CSE concerns.’

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by an independent provider. It is registered to care for four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/08/2014 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. This is with particular regard to seeking the views of families. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.5) Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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