Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Cambridgeshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the registered manager has resigned. A registration application is in process for the current acting manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home offers care to young people who, due to experiencing early life trauma, present with highly complex behaviour. These presenting behaviours place young people at significant risk of harm to themselves and others. In order for young people to flourish, good matching is required. However, the home’s lack of a robust referral and impact assessment results in unsuitable placements. Managers do not effectively consider the presenting behaviours of a potential new resident alongside those already in placement nor the impact this may have on all young people. This has resulted in young people becoming increasingly unsafe as their high risk behaviour escalates in frequency and severity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection the home has declined in its presentation. High levels of disruption have contributed to significant damage to fixtures and fittings, shortfalls in decoration and a lack of soft furnishings. This has resulted in young people not living in a homely environment. Their surroundings do not provide them with a welcoming and comfortable home life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For some young people, the impact of living with disrupting and distressing behaviours has a negative impact on other areas of life. Late night and early morning disturbances have resulted in some young people experiencing broken sleep. This has resulted in them being frequently late for education and having to make time up in order to stay on top of studies. Other young people have not made progress as emotional instability has impacted on their wellbeing. Staff are unable to effectively support them to manage their own feelings and behaviours and risk taking behaviours increase.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person experienced a good planned transition out of the home and successfully returned to family. However, in more recent times poor matching has led to the inappropriate placement of young people, resulting in a more immediate ending to their placement. Young people moving into the home are already disadvantaged and this preventable disruption only serves to add to their emotional and personal instability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A largely inexperienced staff team deliver the care to the highly complex young people in placement. The majority of the team have been in post for less than one year and many have no previous experience of working with children in care. Some staff have not received appropriate training to enhance their knowledge, understanding and competence whilst working with this particularly vulnerable group of young people. As such, the staff team are unable to fulfil and deliver care as identified and promoted within the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people placed present with high levels of self-harm. These frequent occurrences require some level of medical intervention. Yet, too frequently the nominated first aider on shift is a member of staff without a first aid qualification. The home therefore does not safeguard young people’s health and welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recording of significant incidents, including the frequent occurrences of self- harm, harm caused to others and disruptive behaviours, lack any review or evaluation by managers. Having no evaluative oversight means that, for example, identifiable triggers that initiate negative behaviours for a young person or the strategies that may help them to self-regulate are missed. The lack of monitoring and evaluation results in little or no insight into the effectiveness or quality of care delivered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some positive developments since the last inspection. Following previous requirements and recommendations, the home has an up to date statement of purpose. One resident worked alongside the manager in updating the home’s children’s guide. This is now an engaging, young person friendly document, which offers any new young person an effective guide, clearly setting out how the home operates and what young people can expect.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was instrumental in securing an expert assessment for one young person. A specific diagnosed disability has resulted in the young person’s planned placement in a specialist provision, which is more likely to meet her highly complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has continued to have good attendance at school and receives support with additional tuition as she nears completing final exams.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team are committed and to want to make a positive difference to the lives of young people. The acting manager recognises and appreciates the team’s perseverance. She recognises the areas for the home’s development and has plans to address these. She is driven to strive for a safe, happy place for young people to live where a competent and enthusiastic staff team meets their needs.

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Information about this children's home

A private company owns this children’s home. It is registered to offer care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties between the ages of 11–17 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/02/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

29/01/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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

14: The care planning standard: In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that: (2) (a) children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care, as set out in the home's statement of purpose. 10/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that: (2) (c) (i) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification, with specific regard to the nominated first aider being suitably qualified in first aid (Regulation 31 (2) (a)) 10/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must: (2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 01/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard: In order to meet this standard the registered person must: (2) (a) understand and apply the home's statement of purpose. 10/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that staff: (2) (b) (ii) (iv) protect and promote each child's welfare and provide personal care that meets each child's needs as recorded in the child's relevant plan, taking into account the child's background. 10/02/2016 6: The quality and purpose of care standard: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that: (3) (c) (i) care is delivered by a person who has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. 01/04/2016

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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

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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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