Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement 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

The home has sustained effectiveness as a number of requirements were made at the previous inspection in May 2015. The registered manager has addressed the majority of these. However a number of shortfalls were identified during the course of the inspection that results in three requirements being made. It is to be noted that while these shortfalls affect the young people’s outcomes, they do not impact on the young people’s safety and the staff maintain very positive relationships with the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection there have been a number of changes to the group of young people living at the home. One young person has subsequently moved from the home in a well-supported and planned manner. Records indicate that this move had a very positive outcome for this young person. A young person that has recently moved in to the home has been supported to settle and enjoy their experience in the home by staff that are warm, caring and considerate in their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Unfortunately, it was noted during the course of the inspection that the manager has been unsuccessful, despite extensive attempts, to secure all the necessary local authority documentation for some young people. For those young people that do not have up to date and current care plans in place, the manager has been swift to address this and produced her own plans and risk assessments. However, a lack of supporting information from the local authority impacts on the quality of care planning and outcomes for some of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For instance some young people are not in receipt of, or engaging in any formal education. Records indicate that staff work very hard to engage the young people with their education. They provide copious amounts of activities and learning opportunities, and while some young people refuse to attend school, it is noteworthy that staff are proactive and extremely supportive. Nevertheless, two requirements are made to ensure all necessary documentation is in place to support the improvement of the young people’s educational outcomes. Following the previous inspection there had been a number of missing from home episodes, which were linked to a young person that has subsequently moved on from the home. Records show how staff are proactive in trying to locate and safely return young people to the home; and independent return home interviews follow each reported episode. There have been no further episodes of young people

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Given individual starting points young people are making very good progress in respect of reducing incidents of challenging and confrontational behaviour. For example sanctions are rarely used and when they are young people report they are ‘fair’. During the course of the inspection staff demonstrated skills in negotiation and communication, supporting the young people sympathetically and compassionately with their requests. These skills and core qualities mean that young people are learning to compromise and develop patience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to take responsibility for their own health. Those that are developing independence skills are preparing and cooking meals that are balanced and nutritious. All young people access a range of medical services to ensure they remain in good health. There are no recorded concerns in relation to the young people’s current health.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is managed by a registered manager who is experienced and skilled in working with staff. She leads positively and proactively, delegating tasks for example, supervision to her senior members of staff. In doing so she is able to review and monitor the home, and all notifiable incidents are shared and responded to in a timely manner. Detailed Regulation 44 reports completed by a qualified independent person are used by the manager to inform and underpin the manager’s Regulation 45 report. However, the manager uses a range of tools to collate data and this results in the information being located in a number of places. This leads to inefficiencies in reviewing the information. A requirement is made to ensure that the manager demonstrates more effective means of reviewing and evaluating the young people’s outcomes and the development of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All staff routinely receive a good range of training that includes safeguarding, CSE and first aid. However, it was noted that some staff have yet to complete training in equality and diversity. Further discussions with the manager concluded that staff would also benefit from receiving training to support young people understanding their identity and those with attachment difficulties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people live in a home that is a warm and safe environment, it is well maintained. At the previous inspection it was noted that a food store cupboard was locked and young people didn’t have access. Since then this has been addressed and the cupboard is now used for household maintenance items only. Young people have access to all food items and prepare and cook meals independently of staff.

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Information about this children's home

This home is one of a number of homes operated and managed by an organisation which is a national provider of care and education for young people. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for no more than three young people who may have behavioural or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/05/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

18/09/2014 CH - Interim Sustained 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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff -

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Requirement Due date

Seek to involve each child’s placing authority in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. In particular ensure that all care plans and review documents are located within the children's home. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)) 29/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress to achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child overcome any such barriers; help each child understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and return to school as soon as possible; help each child who is above compulsory school age to

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Requirement Due date

participate in further education, education or employment; help each child attend education or training in accordance with the 29/04/2016 expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(viii)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that in particular, requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (2)(h)) 29/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person must ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. This relates in particular to ensuring staff access training to support their understanding of equality, diversity and identity. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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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