Children's home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Birmingham

inspection

This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. As a result compliance notices were served and requirements made.

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Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 This home was subject to a full inspection in May 2016. At that inspection, widespread concerns were identified. This resulted in an inadequate inspection judgement. This inspection has identified that steps have been taken to address the shortfalls and issues relating to poor practice. Leaders and managers acknowledge that more improvements are required for them to be in a position to offer good or outstanding care.  Leaders and managers have acknowledged that, in order for them to make significant progress, they have to tackle a culture that has developed in relation to poor practice standards. Leaders and managers are committed to tackling this practice head-on and ensuring that training is provided to support better care practice.  The previous registered manager is no longer employed by the organisation. The interim arrangements that have been put in place have been positive and effective. These arrangements are not available in the longer term. There is

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

currently no clear contingency plan in place to secure a manager to take this service forward.

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The children’s home strengths

 The interim manager has been effective and decisive in her work to move this service forward. Poor practice is recognised without delay and action is taken to address it.  The interim manager has brought a level of order to the home that was not present at the last inspection. Staff and children are clear about expectations on them. This has resulted in a reduction in challenging and dangerous incidents.  The employment of a new and experienced senior leader has resulted in a high level of scrutiny and appropriate challenge. The impact of this can already be seen. He has identified areas of practice that require immediate attention to improve the quality of care and outcomes for children.  The staff team reports feeling supported and clear about what is expected of them. They feel more in control of the home. This has resulted in staff feeling happier and motivated to come to work. Children are receiving a more

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that the staff: (a)(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm (a)(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. In particular, staff should be fully aware of the indicators linked to exploitation, and, when children have been missing from home ensure that they are afforded a return interview with an independent person. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that: (1)(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential (1)(b) promotes their welfare. In particular the registered person must: (2)(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose and ensure that practice is sustained over time (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In particular, training needs to be provided to ensure that all staff are able to recognise safeguarding concerns and poor practice to support risk reduction for children. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet to meet this requirement, the registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if: (a) there is no registered manager in respect of the home and 30 September (b)(iii) the registered provider is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. In particular, the registered provider must ensure that sound contingency plans are in place where the registered manager is not in day-to-day control of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural issues. The home is part of a large national company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12 February 2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Good progress has been made since the last inspection. It is evident that the team members are working together and are implementing a more consistent and safer approach to care. Young people are clearer about expectations on them. As a result, relationships between young people and the staff are progressing more positively. Young people report that the care that they now receive has appropriate boundaries and they feel happier with the rules that are now in place. There are still minor inconsistencies between the staff’s implementation of rules. This has resulted in some minor incidents. Not all children are attending education. Managers are working to try to identify alternative provision and approaches to education in a bid to motivate and engage young people who have been out of mainstream education for a number of years. Others are doing really well, and have clear plans and aspirations about their

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Requires improvement

futures. Young people are encouraged to access healthcare as and when they need it. One young person was supported to access some healthcare during the inspection, due to them hurting their foot the previous day. Others are offered support with emotional difficulties from specialist agencies. As a result, young people experience relatively good health. Significant decorative improvements have been made to the home since the last inspection. The home is inviting and provides young people with a calm and relaxing space to enjoy. Additional communal space has been provided that supports opportunities for good discussions and social time. Young people really like this. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

Concerns relating to poor practice remain as issues within the home. However, poor practice has been identified early and has been effectively addressed. Where concerning practice could have an impact on the safety of young people, robust action has been taken to ensure that children are safe while further investigative steps are taken. The acting manager demonstrates that she has oversight of worrying and concerning behaviours displayed by young people, and takes action to try to reduce the risks. For one young person, this resulted in the placement being terminated. The manager identified that due to the town centre location and associated risks, they could not keep the young person safe. Safeguarding concerns have been identified and escalated appropriately, and in a timely way, since the last inspection. During the inspection, concerns for one young person significantly increased following a room search and swift action was

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Requires improvement

taken to try to reduce the risks. Searches of young people’s rooms are undertaken when there is a safeguarding concern. This practice is avoided unless deemed absolutely necessary. During the inspection, a room search took place and further evidence of possible exploitation of one young person was found. As a result of this, the police were called to assist in supporting the home to secure the safety of the young person. Not all risks associated with young people are known and understood by the adults who care for them. Gaps in knowledge remain, resulting in a reliance on the acting manager to identify and act upon safeguarding concerns. There are plans in place that aim to reduce the risk of harm to young people. For example, one young person’s care plan was changed to ensure that they are not provided with enough cash to enable them to purchase drugs, following an increased concern in this area. The staff demonstrated that this part of the plan was being enforced.

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Requires improvement

When young people have gone missing from home, staff have actively searched for them to support early and safe return home. There is a clear plan in place to ensure that well-coordinated responses are provided constantly. Young people are aware that staff will search for them and try to establish contact with them. Young people have not always been afforded an interview when they have been missing from home, and this prevents them from having an independent person to talk to should they have any worries or concerns relating to the home. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

All the requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Some minor issues with documentation have been identified but these are not currently having an impact on the care of young people. The acting manager has been successful in bringing the team together and ensuring that practice has improved. The team reports a significant improvement since the last inspection. They feel supported and motivated to support the young people to make progress. One member of staff stated, ‘The manager has helped me get my mojo back. I lost it somewhere along the way.’ Another said, ‘I lost my way, and now I feel motivated again and I am proud of what I do.’ Staff are receiving regular supervision from the acting manager. There is evidence that these sessions allow for reflective practice and appropriate challenge. Staff are positive about the changes that have been made to the home and appreciate the guidance they have been offered since the last inspection. They report that they

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Requires improvement

now have clearer direction and understand what is expected of them. The home does not currently have a permanent manager in post. The acting manager has demonstrated that they have the skills and experience to motivate the team and address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. This manager is not available long term to the home. This will mean a further change for young people and staff who have experienced much change within their leadership and management team. Leaders and managers do not have a clear contingency plan in place. Leaders and managers have identified that, in order for the staff to be in a position to deliver good or outstanding care, further training is required. They state that the work that has started in terms of improvement since the last inspection now needs to be built upon to ensure that poor practice is significantly reduced. Leaders and managers have ensured that all staff working in the home have the training

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Requires improvement

required to ensure that they can safely and effectively manage challenging incidents. This now needs to be built upon.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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