Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Windsor and Maidenhead

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The young people enjoy living in the home and speak positively about their relationships with the staff. Their views are valued by the staff.  The young people are provided with good-quality care and kept extremely safe by the extensive management overview.  Good-quality planning is undertaken by the staff, allowing young people to progress. All documentation is up to date and signed.  The staff are nurturing in their approach and have developed good relationships with the young people.  The staff use a therapist effectively to assist in developing their practice, resulting in improved emotional well-being for some young people.  Young people are motivated to attend education and pursue their aspirations. Quality alternative services are offered for those who are not in full-time education.  The safeguarding practices of the staff are exceptional in keeping the young people safe while engaging with professionals.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 A new manager has been registered, and this change has not affected the quality of care being delivered to young people.  The monitoring of the home is sound. The internal and external monitoring of the home successfully identifies strengths and areas of improvement.  There were two requirements made that have been accepted by the management, and their implementation is underway. 

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that 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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure that staff— (2)(b)(ix) make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6(2)(b)(ix) 01/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the positive relationship standard, the registered provider must ensure that staff— (2)(a)(xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11(2)(a)(xi) 01/12/2016

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/12/2014 Full Good

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Good

Good-quality planning is taking place for the young people by the staff. Up-to-date care plans determine how the emotional and behavioural needs of the young people will be met. The care plans are individualised, reviewed regularly and reflect the progress that young people make. The previous recommendation made, to sign and date all documentation for the young people, has been met.

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Good

The young people are provided with opportunities to express themselves freely regarding their placement. Weekly house meetings ensure that the young people’s views are obtained and integrated into daily decisions, when appropriate. The young people demonstrated that they understand their rights and the proper channels for lodging a complaint, if one is needed.

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Good

Positive relationships are developing between the young people and the staff. The staff were observed to be nurturing, while attempting to establish the correct guidance and boundaries for the young people. On inspection, numerous positive interactions were observed between the staff and young people.

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Good

Young people are encouraged to attend education. Some are enrolled in college and engaging in courses that suit their talents. The young people receive well- organised support if they are not in full-time education. Some young people aspire to attend mainstream education and are provided with one-to-one tuition and alternative forms of education, with which they willingly engage. A young person requested extra tuition over the summer to help him to meet his educational goals.

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Good

The young people have their health needs met to a good standard. Routine appointments with the dentist, general practitioner and optician are scheduled and attended, in line with the local authority health assessment.

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Good

Young people may exhibit complex emotional needs and they benefit from the staff having access to a therapist. This has been a useful tool in assisting the staff to develop successful strategies to engage with young people. The staff have effectively incorporated suggestions by the therapist which have improved their engagement with a young person.

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Good

The current level of supervision provided to the young people is very high. Some young people spend less than an hour a week outside the home without staff. This prevents them from achieving any real degree of independence or managing age- appropriate risks. When spoken to, the young people complained about the low level of free time that they receive. They viewed this issue as the one thing that they do not like about the home. One young person said, ‘We are supposed to live in a homely environment, but are not being provided with the chances that kids who are not in care have.’ The manager accepted the criticism and advised that the free time that they receive will be reviewed.

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Good

On one occasion, a young person newly admitted to the home displayed challenging behaviour, primarily because of the lack of free time. The staff member unnecessarily called the police. This was precipitous and risked criminalising the young person, when thoughtful support could have contained the situation.

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Outstanding

The young people expressed that they ‘feel safe’. The staff understand the risks associated with the young people and have a good awareness of safeguarding matters, such as missing from care and child sexual exploitation. The staff are provided with a broad range of training. The training provides them with the strategies to assist in managing the behaviours of the young people.

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Outstanding

The safeguarding policies are up to date, clear and comprehensive. There are separate policies for child sexual exploitation, missing from care and radicalisation. Each policy offers consistent advice and guidance to the staff when dealing with child protection matters for the young people. A high level of management overview ensures that all matters are passed to the designated officer for consultation and further action, if needed.

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Outstanding

The management team actively follows up any allegations against a member of staff until there is a formal resolution. These matters are handled confidentially, with the safety of the young people at the forefront, while ensuring that the member of staff understands the process.

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Outstanding

There have been incidents of young people going missing that have tested the staff’s response. The staff, on these occasions, were noted as being effective, based upon their ability to work in partnership with the local authority and the police while trying to protect the young people.

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Outstanding

The young people who may be at risk of child sexual exploitation develop an awareness of the matter by attending an eight-week course with the local youth service. The course covers a wide variety of safeguarding issues that a young person may be exposed to, including how to use social media safely.

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Outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been a small number of physical interventions, used by the staff as a last resort to keep the young people safe. The management reviews all the incidents to ensure that they are documented correctly. The staff have established an excellent working relationship with the local police. The neighbourhood officer wrote: ‘I have always found the staff to be professional and friendly. They have always listened to my concerns and we have held joint training programmes to develop both police and the house staff. They are very good at safeguarding and have, in my experience, a very good influence on the lives of the young people whom they care for.’

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Outstanding

Management successfully employs new staff who are deemed appropriate to work with the young people. Since the last inspection, one new member of the staff team has been safely recruited through a process that consisted of a detailed interview, verification of references and experience, and an exploration of their background.

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Outstanding

The atmosphere of the home adds to the safety of the young people. The home is maintained to a high standard, evidenced by the recent redecoration of several areas of the home, including the exterior. The staff ensure that they keep the environment risk-free by performing all health and safety checks in a timely manner. Fire safety and other household checks are conducted at frequent intervals. Repairs are undertaken promptly, when needed, as observed during the inspection.

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Outstanding

The leadership and management of the home have some exceptional attributes. The deputy manager was promoted to manager and has successfully completed the registration process. She has demonstrated that she has the knowledge and understanding to manage the home successfully, and the level of service to the young people was sustained through this transition. The manager has just started her management qualification course. She anticipates completing it next year.

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Outstanding

The manager is well liked by the young people and the staff. The young people describe her as caring. A young person said, ‘She is the best manager that I have encountered since I have been in care; she really does care.’ The staff describe the manager as ‘hands on’ and appreciate that she does not have the responsibility of managing two homes, as did the previous manager. The increased availability of the manager was highlighted by the staff as the greatest area of improvement.

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Outstanding

The core members of the management team are actively involved in the care of the young people. The head of care routinely visits the home and engages with the young people. The management continues to make quality day-to-day decisions regarding the young people. A placing social worker wrote, ‘The manager, in particular, has demonstrated a commitment to adapting care plans to promote increased awareness about appropriate responses to the young person’s demanding needs.’

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Outstanding

The statement of purpose has been updated, reflecting the ethos of the home and the new management arrangements. The children’s guide is made available to the young people. It clearly outlines the service in language readily understood by them.

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Outstanding

The internal and external monitoring of the home is excellent. The independent visitor’s monthly reports are informative and truly reflect the daily functioning of the home, while offering advice on areas of improvement. Annual reports are completed with consistency. The strengths and areas of improvement are appropriately identified, resulting in a detailed development plan.

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Outstanding

There is a diverse staff team in place, consisting of male and female staff from diverse backgrounds with different levels of experience. The majority of the staff are qualified and have been in post for several years. They willingly support each other, while being committed to the young people.

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Outstanding

Training for the staff is up to date. The staff feel fully supported in their duties, citing attendance at team meetings and regular supervision as key elements that have developed their practice. All the staff spoken to during the inspection expressed a positive view of the support that they receive and opportunities for development. Recently, three members of staff were promoted to senior positions on the team in acknowledgement of their skills in working with the young people.

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Outstanding

Numerous professionals made positive comments regarding the links that have been established with the staff working in the home. The professionals praised the managers and the staff for working effectively with them on behalf of the young people. A community warden for the local authority in which the home is located expressed that the local authority is very pleased with the functioning of the home. He said: ‘Very good relationships have been established with the staff. There are no concerns over reaching staff when needed, as lines of communication have improved significantly. There are no reports of antisocial behaviour and the house has integrated into the community without issues.’

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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’. 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 looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 0300 123 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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