Children's home run by Keys Specialist Residential Children‟s Services Ltd in Tewkesbury

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

This home was last inspected in August 2015 and was judged to be good. Six requirements were made at this time. Three of these six requirements have been met. The home’s statement of purpose has been updated and a new manager has been appointed. Furthermore, there is now a better response to recommendations from the monthly independent visitor to the home. However, there is also a failure to meet three requirements from the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager for over six months. A manager was appointed in October 2015. The new manager is working hard to reinstall a sense of routine and expectation into the home following periods of unstable management. However, staff continuity has not improved. During December 2015 and January 2016, several shifts were covered by agency and relief staff. The organisation acknowledges that there has been shortfalls in providing a stable and familiar staff team. This period of staffing inconsistency has also coincided with an increase to young people’s challenging behaviour. Therefore, there has been some impact to young people that can be attributed to the lack of stability in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff are appropriately checked prior to their employment starting at the home. Similar checks are made on agency and temporary members of staff. The last inspection highlighted that not all staff receive appropriate supervision. Most of the home’s staff now receive supervision although this remains irregular. However, the newly appointed manager has not been formally supervised since commencing their role in October 2015. This shortfall has the potential to negatively impact on young people as the manager’s practice is not reviewed or assessed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to this inspection, Ofsted received concerns relating to staffing numbers and the suitability of staff training. This inspection has found that there have been occasions where staff numbers have not been sufficient. There have been occasions where only one member of staff has been on duty. This represents a potential risk to young people as individual support cannot be offered to young people where this is required. The organisation is actively recruiting to vacant staffing posts and are reviewing staffing levels. The manager is in the process of changing the staff structure in the home so that further consistency can be achieved. However, there have been periods on the home’s rotas where it is not clear who has worked at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint is used for only for appropriate reasons and young people are debriefed following these incidents. Similarly, sanctions are only used where necessary and as a means to encouraging positive behaviour. There have been no incidents of young people going missing or complaints from young people since the last inspection. Where serious incidents occur in the home, the staff team ensure that appropriate actions are taken to protect young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make progress in their educational and vocational studies. Regular school and college attendance is supported and there has been marked improvements in some instances. For example, where young people were not previously attending educational provision, they now do so with success. A teacher commented that a young person is, ‘now in a routine and making some progress.’ Where young people are approaching adulthood, they are supported in maintaining part time work, college and being ready for the next stage of their lives. This ensures that young people are able to make positive transitions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is in the process of being redecorated and repaired following some periods of extended damage to the environment. The organisation has ensured that this is given priority. Young people are encouraged to keep their bedrooms tidy and make a positive contribution to maintaining a homely environment. The home is becoming more settled and consequentially, young people are starting to take pride in the home. For example, young people are looking forward to their friends coming to visit. Young people are also actively involved in choosing décor for the home. This helps young people to develop a sense of belonging to the home which further promotes their emotional stability and security. Young people expressed no concerns about the home during the inspection. Although disrupted by periods of staffing inconsistency, young people are now developing positive attachments with the staff team in the home. A young person commented that,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of this inspection, the home is judged to have declined in effectiveness. Three requirements have been repeated from the previous inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This service is a privately owned children's home registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people of either gender with emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. Placements are made on a medium or long-term basis. Education can be provided on site at the service's registered school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management quality standard the registered person must— (2)(1)

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Requirement Due date

(e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4) (b)(c)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)(b)) 31/03/2016

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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

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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