Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This service continues to deliver excellent care to young people. No young people have left or moved into the home. The current group of young people have remained stable in their placements. However, there is limited evidence to support overall service improvement since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress in many areas of their lives. Education and training remain a high priority for the registered manager and staff. One young person has recently made excellent progress moving from a special educational needs school into mainstream education. At times, she found this move challenging but, to her credit, she worked hard and is now settled. Good attendance and commitment to learning is well supported by staff has led to continued progress for this young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff meet the health needs of young people. Young people have access to primary health care professionals including doctors, opticians and dentists. Annual health assessments are regularly completed and any actions are addressed fully. Some young people have used drugs and this continues to be an area of concern. Young people have placed themselves in vulnerable situations and made unwise decisions. In response, the registered manager and staff have acted quickly, ensuring young people have received the specialist and tailored support they need. Staff have completed individual work with young people and worked hard to divert young people away from these behaviours. Staff members have received appropriate training. As a result, they are aware of the signs and symptoms of drug use; they remain vigilant and determined to keep young people safe. Strong progress has been made in decreasing the number of drug related incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people go missing, staff are proactive; they follow the young people or look for them and try to persuade them to return home. Staff members, when following young people who have left the home without authority, quickly call for assistance from police when required. The staff are aware of the risks to young people who go missing. They make strenuous efforts to reduce the missing from care episodes. Relationships with the local police are well developed and focussed on the needs of young people and keeping them safe. As a result, the risk to young people that go missing is tackled rigorously.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour improves because of clear boundaries implemented by staff. Young people have bespoke behaviour management plans in place that are regularly reviewed and updated. This helps young people to understand what is acceptable in relation to their behaviour. Physical intervention is rare. On occasions when these interventions have taken place, they are proportionate and carried out in accordance with procedures. Restraint practice is carefully monitored and evaluated by the registered manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good relationships exist between the staff and young people. Young people are well cared for by staff members who know them well. The young people have their strengths promoted; they are encouraged to take up hobbies and interests. Staff demonstrate that they are proud of the young people’s abilities and achievements. A young person stated, ‘staff listen, treat everyone equally, and try and make compromises. They try and make things happen if possible’. Consequently young people have well established relationships with staff they can talk to and trust.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people know how to complain and they have adults to turn to if they are worried. Young people benefit from regular contact with advocates and social workers. They meet together for weekly meetings were things important to them are discussed, such as healthy eating, activities and plans for special occasions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported through effective partnership working between agencies. Regular meetings take place, reviewing the young people’s care and placement plans. The views of all agencies involved with the young person are taken into account and plans updated accordingly. Placement plans for young people sometimes lack sufficient detail regarding risks and how the risks are to be managed on a day-to-day basis. This does not currently affect the safety of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff team utilise team meetings, shift handover meetings and individual supervision sessions to develop a reflective approach to practice. They are considering their approaches to caring for the young people and continually developing their practice. This leads to a positive and thoughtful culture in the home. However, the registered manager has not ensured that staff making written entries into young people’s case records consistently sign these records. Consequently, the ability of managers and independent agencies to review, monitor and evaluate practice is limited.

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people, females with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and managed privately and provides services to local authorities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/03/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2014 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

The registered person must maintain records (''case records'') for each child which-are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(c)) 25/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 39, paragraph 9.5).

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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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