Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some management changes since the last inspection. The home previously had two Registered Managers and two deputies. One of the Registered Manager’s has resigned and a deputy has been promoted internally to manage another home. Despite these recent changes, the service continues to be led by a suitably qualified, experienced and dedicated Registered Manager. He is fully supported by the existing deputy and is in the process of recruiting a second. Without doubt, the young people’s welfare and safety is at the centre of the manager’s and teams practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s needs are fully understood and appropriately addressed by a committed and knowledgeable team. All staff have recently attended specific training on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and safer medication practice. The manager has also made links with a local sexual health clinic where training for both him and the team has been arranged. As a result, the team is fully equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to support young people’s full range of needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements have been made in compatibility and matching assessments. The home’s impact assessments now provide a comprehensive evaluation of all young people’s needs, which is undertaken prior to any young person moving in. This ensures that any potential impact or conflicting vulnerability is identified and planned for from the start, which in turn, increases compatibility and placement stability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection. He has settled extremely well and is making measurable progress. Like the other young people living in the home, he now attends full-time education and is making impressive progress. He recently passed his level 1 Maths exam despite him previously missing a significant amount of his education. This clearly evidences the effectiveness of the improved impact assessment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to build positive and trusting relationships with staff and each other. They are genuinely listened to and valued by all of the team. Pro- active behaviour management strategies that focus on encouraging good behaviour through incentives and rewards are working. This was demonstrated in young people’s numerous certificates displayed on the office wall, including a medal for taking part in a charity fun run at Christmas. Furthermore, staff have not needed to physically restrain a young person for quite some time. This is a huge achievement and supports continuous improvements in young people’s behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff’s robust safeguarding practice is improving young people’s welfare and safety. Excellent partnership working with the police, social workers and specialist child sexual exploitation (CSE) teams is reducing risk and increasing young people’s safety. The noticeable decrease in missing from home episodes and reduction in CSE confirms this. A well-trained team, who have recently undertaken refresher training on safeguarding, CSE, e-safety, and ‘legal highs’/drugs, is managing risk appropriately. Furthermore, through consistent staff and therapeutic support, young people are addressing their difficult emotions and are learning how to deal with them in a safer way. This has led to a reduction in a young person’s self- harming.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is maintained to a high standard and all health and safety checks are undertaken regularly. The house has recently undergone complete redecoration and this makes the environment feel welcoming, well-cared for and homely.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home provides care and accommodation for up-to four young people with emotional and behavioural needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/03/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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