Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Southampton

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:

 Young people make good progress while living in the home. Areas of note include increased attendance at school; engagement in community activities; reduction in negative behaviour and a reduced need for 2:1 staffing.  While living in the home, young people develop socially and learn skills for independence, such as cooking and household chores. Young people learn how to share their home with others and spend time away from their families.  Behaviour has improved for most young people living in the home. Staff are skilled in managing unwanted behaviour while increasing more socially acceptable behaviour. In-house plans focus on continuing to develop positive skills and behaviour, rather than focusing on negative attributes.  Social workers are positive about the home and progress young people make. They are complimentary of staff and their commitment to those they care for. Staff liaison with social work teams is also noted as a strength.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have a good understanding of young people’s needs and are genuinely committed to improving their outcomes during their time in the home. They understand individual communication styles, including subtle changes in facial expressions and pitch in order to respond to young people swiftly.  Young people are safe in the home, however there are some areas which require improvement, and most requirements and recommendations set are within this area. The Registered Manager recognises the shortfalls and is working to rectify them with immediate effect.

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the cleanliness and safety of the environment, the registered provider must ensure that -

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child's health.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to fixing shed windows, refurbishing the toilet, removing popped balls in the garden, removal of lockable stair gate and general cleanliness of the home. 15 Jan 2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure all staff employed in the home have full and satisfactory information available in the respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2, specifically a full employment history and satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment. (Regulation 32(3)(d)) 15 Jan 2016

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that where any measure of control, discipline or restraint is used, a records detailing the measure is made. This relates to clearly indicating the length of a sanction and gaining young people's views on the effectiveness of the measure, no matter what their communication style. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(c)) 15 Jan 2016

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Recommendations

 ensure each child's day to day health and well-being needs are met. Staff should work to make the children's home an environment that supports children's physical, mental and emotional health. This relates to focusing on emotional well-being rather than protecting staff from allegations of abuse (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 33, paragraph 7.3)  ensure that while assessing young people as being suitable for the home, that their needs are considered in line with others already resident in the home. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. There are four other homes within the Southampton area. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 5 children and young people with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/01/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/12/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Young people make good progress while living the home. They form positive bonds with staff who are invested in their progress. Relationships are warm, and staff take time to communicate with each young person on a range of topics they enjoy. Observations show young people are comfortable with staff and are happy to have them in their presence. They approach them when they need something or just to have company. On return from education, all are given time and space to relax and transition to the next part of their day. They are able to choose activities, and good staffing levels allow them to be flexible in their options.

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good

Young people’s needs are mostly held at the centre of all practice. Social workers are complimentary of the home and staff. Comments include: ‘young people have made significant strides in attending education’; ‘they have progressed more than if they had remained with family’; ‘despite being an adult they feel it is the place to currently best meet their needs’; and even commenting ‘hats off to staff’.

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good

Young people have the opportunity to share their views and ideas through individual and group sessions. Staff are skilled in communicating with individuals and understanding their differing communication styles. They note subtle changes in demeanour, facial expressions and pitch and take time to determine what young people are communicating to them. Young people make daily choices, such as activities and meals and other more permanent decisions such as the décor of their bedrooms. They know how to complain and who to complain to and staff are genuinely concerned for their happiness and well-being.

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good

All young people attend formal education programmes. Staff liaise with schools to ensure consistency across settings and to share how best to meet individual need and streamline targets and goals. Young people engage in a range of socially and emotionally stimulating activities in the home, with staff or when appropriate, alone in the community. In addition they are supported to understand healthy lifestyles and what this means for them, and to gain skills for independence. Individuals have the opportunity to cook meals for themselves and learn tasks such as household chores and self-care. When able, they learn how to keep themselves physically and emotionally healthy, with close liaison from child and adolescent mental services (CAMHS) and adult mental health staff.

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good

Young people are treated with dignity and respect. Those who have displayed inappropriate or concerning behaviours are supported to seek other ways to explore this. Care plans are explicitly clear and demonstrate how to care for individuals as part of a group, while maintaining their individuality. For example highlighting clothes and music they like as well as cartoon characters they identify with. As a result, young people learn to develop a positive self-view and understanding of who they are. Young people are supported to maintain regular contact with their family and significant adults in their lives. Staff engage parents effectively to ensure contact is appropriate and beneficial for young people, including supporting them to make tough decisions as to whether they are in the best interest of their child.

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requires improvement

Young people are safe in the home and their demeanour shows they are comfortable with staff and can approach them. Staff are confident in processes to follow should they be worried for a young person’s safety or welfare. They feel well trained to recognise the indicators of abuse and neglect, and they understand the vulnerability of the young people in their care.

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requires improvement

Young people are supervised at all times in an unobtrusive manner. As a result, they are at less risk of sexual exploitation, radicalisation and from harm by each other. Incidents where individuals have contacted each other via the internet or there is suspicion that one may have exerted their power over another have been managed robustly yet sensitively, to ensure those involved understand the risk their behaviour may cause. Young people who display self-injurious behaviour gain the support they need through staff’s joint working with CAMHS, the social worker and education staff. Effective plans ensure they are supported to perform several short tasks to distract them from injuring themselves further. As a precaution, body maps are completed to identify the injuries, and unexplained marks and bruises are investigated. The home, along with the placing authority have recently recognised this this was being done over frequently for one young person, which is

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requires improvement

not in the individual’s best interests, on the assumption that this protected staff from allegations. However the practice is continuing.

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requires improvement

The home works closely with the local authority and safeguarding professionals if there are concerns or incidents. Appropriate action has been taken in response to incidents and complaints. Staff have managed some incidents poorly, highlighting a lack of understanding or training. The manager has responded swiftly with staff training plans, but these incidents were avoidable.

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requires improvement

Young people very rarely go missing from the home. Should this happen, staff are aware of procedures to follow. The home liaises closely with neighbourhood police officers in order to share the needs of their young people, but also what could be deemed as inappropriate obsessions, should members of the community raise concerns to them. As a result, young people are further protected from harm.

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requires improvement

Pre-placement planning is strong and any issues or behaviours that place individuals at risk are effectively managed. Pre-placement risk assessments are thorough, but do not identify their needs in line with others placed in the home. Other risk assessments allow young people the opportunity to take age-appropriate risks.

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requires improvement

The home’s positive approach to behaviour management focuses on positive reinforcement. Behaviour plans indicate how to respond to unwanted behaviours, but also how to further develop positive behaviours. Staff support young people to work through anxieties from one activity to the next. Restraint is only used when necessary and sanctions implemented in a manner individuals can relate to. Sanctions do not always clearly indicate the length of measure will be imposed for. Additionally, young people’s views are not consistently recorded.

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requires improvement

Young people are protected from avoidable hazards through regular checks of the fire alarm and firefighting equipment. The building is physically safe and secure, although a lockable gate at the top of the stairs needs to be adjusted in order for individuals to have access to the whole house. Pre-employment checks for staff are robust, although one file did not detail a full employment history and satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment.

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good

The home is effectively run by a qualified Registered Manager who has been in post since June 2014. He has a good understanding of the strengths and weakness within the home and wider organisation. He aims to continuously improve the service provided. Young people are central to all practice within the home, and staffing levels reflect the needs of individual’s and allow them to spend time in the community.

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good

The home is mostly well maintained and decorated. However, some areas during the inspection required cleaning, with some staff being more attune to this than others. While there was no immediate risk to young people, the Perspex shed window was cracked, one toilet required refurbishment and burst balls were across the garden. This led to an unhomely feel in parts.

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good

External monitoring by the independent visitor is of good quality and provides suitable challenge to the leaders and managers in the home. Additionally, the Registered Manager’s regular evaluation of the care and systems in the home, provides a sound level of oversite, and informs the development plan. The Registered Manager recognises the shortfalls identified during this inspection, and is working to rectify them with immediate effect. The homes Statement of Purpose reflects the service provided, and staff have a sound understanding of the homes ethos.

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good

The experienced and enthusiastic staff team care for the young people to a good standard. They say they are well trained and have the specific skills required to meet the needs of those they care for. Training opportunities are varied and include workshops and on line courses. Staff benefit from regular supervisions. Some staff recognise this has not taken place monthly, but are confident they can approach the manager at any time. Staff say they work well as a team and support each other effectively. Issues within the large staff team are managed well and staff feel they can mostly challenge each other.

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good

The home continually monitors young people’s progress and evaluates the continued appropriateness of their placements. They are confident in recognising when they cannot meet an individual’s needs, and support the placing authority in identifying an appropriate future placement. They also challenge the placing authority should they feel they are moving a young person and they do not deem it to be in their best interest. Further, staff within the home form particularly strong relationships with parents, family and partner agencies to ensure consistency in care and care planning.

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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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