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

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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:

 Young people make good progress in comparison to their previous circumstances. The home’s supportive environment enables them to build on the positive steps they make.  The staff team ensure that they reliably meet individual needs and work towards the goals and aims identified for young people.  Care and support is planned, coordinated and delivered effectively which is described by a professionals as being ‘really good.’  Staff practice and routines are adapted and adjusted quickly in response to changing needs, which makes the service very responsive to individual requirements.  Young people feel respected, safe and secure in the home and with the people who look after them.  Young people’s views, wishes and feelings are central to how the home operates which helps shape the way staff organise themselves on a day-to- day basis.  Young people feel valued and involved because of the positive and nurturing

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The children's home provision is good because:

relationships they have with staff.  Young people are very positive about how they are encouraged and supported to engage in new hobbies and interests.  There are a couple of practice shortfalls. These include quality assurance and staff not having access to written guidance, advice or policy about the use of e-cigarettes by young people.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that if the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report details of the conflict of interest and the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit (Regulation 44(6)(a)(b)) 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children (Regulation 45(2)(a)(b)(c)) 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 30/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that, in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home, children are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well- being. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change behaviours in key areas of health and well-being. This relates to the use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking tobacco and the lack of formal written guidance to staff about this matter. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 35 paragraph 7.18)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is owned by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

07/06/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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people living in the home are

Young people are supported and helped to make good progress in their lives. Staff are knowledgeable and aware of young people’s backgrounds and family histories. This helps them learn about the progress that each individual needs to make in order to improve their life chances and future opportunities. Key areas of need are prioritised that relate to personal safety, education, behaviour and relationships. Building young people’s emotional well-being, self-esteem and confidence are part of the home’s integrated approach to care, education and therapy.

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people living in the home are

Young people with significant offending backgrounds, histories of risk taking and anti-social behaviour are able to make positive changes in their lives. Young people are receiving the right help and support that creates opportunities to do things differently. Although young people can still present some risks to themselves and others, the negative and damaging impact of their behaviours are reducing.

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people living in the home are

Educational arrangements are working well in comparison to previous attendance and attainment. Young people with very mixed experiences of school are supported and encouraged to engage in timetables that are matched to individualised plans and aims. Some young people are making better progress than others but this is closely monitored. The home’s staff work consistently with teachers to help young people stay on track and focus on what can be achieved before they leave school. Successes however small are valued and celebrated which helps create a positive environment for young people’s continuing development and learning.

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people living in the home are

Young people are involved in daily discussions with staff about how they want to spend their leisure time. Choice and variety are encouraged and when young people express an interest in doing something new this is supported. Because of this, young people’s free time is enriched as their enthusiasm and interest in a particular hobby is nurtured and encouraged. Young people express high praise for staff who have helped and encouraged them. They know how to make a complaint if needed and are confident about being able to resolve any worries that they may have.

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people living in the home are

Staff are positive role models who promote and encourage a greater understanding of individual differences and positive life styles. Young people are able to develop their own friendships and social networks in readiness for growing older and leaving care. Staff promote the use of free time away from the home as a way of increasing personal responsibility and independence. Young people are comfortable and very familiar with the home’s routines and domestic arrangements. Staff encourage participation in domestic life that helps young people practice and learn skills relating to independence. Family contact is supported and arranged in consultation with young people and family members. Staff are well aware of specific restrictions regarding contact and follow agreed plans approved by placing social workers. Staff ensure that young people’s experiences are positive when contact occurs as they understand the importance

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people living in the home are

placed on these arrangements. Placing social workers highlight the strong commitment shown by the team to facilitate and support contact.

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people living in the home are

Young people’s health needs are being consistently met because they are supported to access relevant services when needed. Young people are encouraged and guided to learn about health related matters such as diet and exercise, personal relationships and emotional well-being. Staff regularly discuss matters relating to health risks such as smoking so young people can be informed about the choices they make. Where young people express a will to stop smoking this is fully supported and encouraged. Young people are helped to engage in ‘quit programmes’, some young people have resorted to using e-cigarettes. Currently, this alternative is not underpinned by any organisational policy or practice guidance to staff. In the absence of this, young people’s good health may not be fully supported in these circumstances.

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people living in the home are

Young people are provided with living accommodation that is comfortable, clean and tidy. They are able to choose new colour schemes and furniture for their bedrooms, which gives them an increased sense of ownership and belonging. Staff continue to ensure that there are good routines in place that enable young people to access local shops and services to reduce the impact of the home being in a rural location. The registered manager has completed a location risk assessment, which confirms that the home is situated in a low risk area.

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people are helped and protected

The home has a good focus on safeguarding and protection matters with clear guidance that is communicated effectively to promote the safety of everyone. Young people receive the necessary levels of support and supervision from competent well trained staff. Young people are actively encouraged to improve their awareness and understanding around keeping themselves safe. All staff received child protection training. Safeguarding is a frequent topic of conversation in team meetings, staff handovers and one-to-one discussions. This helps to strengthen and maintain the home's responses to any safeguarding or child protection concerns. Young people know that staff care about them and that their safety and well-being is always a priority.

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people are helped and protected

Staff work effectively and in partnership with other agencies and professionals to ensure safeguarding procedures are followed. This includes missing from care events although these circumstances rarely occur despite young people having significant histories of behaving in this way previously. Young people say they feel safe in the home and with the staff who look after them.

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people are helped and protected

Staff view young people positively and there is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the home. Young people are encouraged and supported to manage all their relationships positively. Staff are trained in the use of behaviour management strategies and physical interventions. Staff practice is guided by a range of assessments, which effectively communicate essential information about how to help each young person with their behaviour. Physical restraint is hardly ever used. Where young people struggle with their behaviour and relationships, staff intervene in a way that offers young people opportunities to learn from their experiences. Great care and attention is taken by staff to develop supportive, individual programmes that motivate young people to improve their behaviour. This includes gaining rewards and praise in recognition for good or improving behaviour.

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people are helped and protected

Staff promote young people’s on-going protection by undertaking regular fire drills and tests of fire prevention equipment. Regular monitoring of all matters relating to health and safety are carried out consistently including assessments of leisure activities. Health and safety risk assessments are regularly reviewed and internal checks are consistently undertaken in order to maintain the overall safety of young people and staff. The home employs a safe recruitment procedure that ensures young people are looked after by staff who have been appropriately checked and vetted before they start work in the home.

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leaders and managers

The home is managed by an experienced person who has just been registered by Ofsted. The registered manager is currently in the process of gaining the necessary level five qualification that is required for the role. The post holder also manages another registered children's home, which is situated nearby. The manager’s time is shared between both homes depending on the needs, demands and circumstances of each service.

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leaders and managers

Young people benefit from living in a home that provides good quality care and focused support. The registered manager and staff team clearly concentrate on following each young person's individual plan of care and risk assessments. Staff rotas are flexible enough to ensure that the changing needs and circumstances of each young person are consistently met. Where staffing adjustments are necessary, the registered manager works hard to minimise the impact of any changes experienced by young people. This is because there is a strong commitment to provide consistent care that helps maintain young people’s attachments and relationships with their immediate carers.

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leaders and managers

Young people’s placement stability and continued good progress are frequently tracked and evaluated to ensure placement aims and objectives are achieved. This is done in a variety of ways, which are effective in practice such as well-structured staff handovers, team meetings, through to more formal care plan reviews. Placing social workers and families are kept up to date with young people’s progress and daily events. This is part of the home’s wider approach of working in partnership with those who are involved in the care of young people. Professionals are very positive about the way in which the home communicates and keeps them up-to- date with key information.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has a good range of systems in place to ensure on-going monitoring informs improvement and development. There is a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Although quality assurance routines are wide ranging they do not fully capture the feedback received from professionals, staff or young people about the service. Monitoring routines are not used to evidence the actions taken as a result of this information being received. Although consultation with young people is high and the service is being shaped around their needs this is not necessarily evidenced through the formal quality assurance processes as required.

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leaders and managers

Although monthly monitoring visits show a level of scrutiny that helps the service maintain standards, these visits are not being completed by a person who is independent. This is because the person who carries out these visits has other operational responsibilities within the organisation. Although this has been acknowledged by the provider organisation, proposed changes to address this matter are not yet operational. Currently, the central aim of the independent visitor role is undermined because the services that young people are using are not being scrutinised impartiality.

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leaders and managers

Staff feel very supported in the work they do with young people. They are able to discuss their work with the registered manager and supervisors when needed, and in more formal supervision meetings that are planned in advance. They attend training to ensure their core skills and knowledge are kept up to date in addition to training that is more specific to young people’s needs. Over half the team hold the necessary level three qualification with others currently studying to achieve this.

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leaders and managers

Staff and managers ensure records are kept up to date, stored securely and fully contribute to an understanding of a young person’s life. Significant events that occur and relate to young people’s safety are shared with the appropriate agencies and detail the events and actions taken to safeguard and protect.

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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

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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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