Children's Home run by Keys Stepping Stones Limited in Tameside

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . A period of stability and calm has resulted in children feeling settled and relaxed in the home. This has enabled them to make good progress against their individual starting points. Children report that they feel safe and secure and that they feel listened to when they confide in the adults in their home. Children identify some of their individual achievements that they have made while living at the home, such as learning to swim, and they were pleased to share these during this inspection. The management team is sensitive and acutely aware of the need to match children’s needs and placements carefully. Managers assess the needs of children who might join the home alongside the impact that their moving in may have on those children already living in the home, before they accept any new children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This considered approach ensures that children’s needs are compatible, it limits the possibility for disruption and disturbances for those living in the home and it ensures that the manager and staff have the skills and knowledge to meet those children’s need effectively at the point of their admission. The manager has a good understanding of children’s individual needs and he is proactive in ensuring that children receive the services and support that they require quickly. Most children access a suitable education provision and make good progress against their individual targets and goals. The manager is fully aware of the range of education services and provisions that are available. He uses his knowledge of these services well to secure appropriate education provision for children joining the home who do not have a suitable education placement. This knowledge and these effective working relationships have assisted the manager in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

identifying adequate interim arrangements quickly so that children can receive some formal education provision via a home tutor, while more suitable and permanent arrangements are identified. The manager is committed, proactive and persistent in his approach to pursuing a suitable full-time education provision for one child whose placing local authority has failed to ensure that a suitable full-time education provision is in place, despite the child joining the home in August 2016. Professionals and parents acknowledge the dedication and commitments of the manager and staff in working collaboratively with them and their children. Professionals have attributed the progress that children make to the support that they receive from the staff. One professional wrote, ‘I have found the staff and the placement to be very positive and supportive for [name]. Over a relatively short period of time, a good working relationship has been established and maintained,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and [name] is doing well.’ Children now benefit from high levels of safety as all staff have received suitable safeguarding training so they are clear about their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Collaborative and effective working relationships with placing authorities, schools and the designated officer ensure that any allegations or complaints are shared, investigated and managed well by the manager and staff. Consequently, children’s safety is promoted, as safeguarding agencies can fully investigate any concerns and disclosures promptly. Staff identify the triggers that lead some children to engage in self-harming behaviours, and the staff manage children effectively during times of heightened anxiety and distress. The staff increase the level of their support and supervision to children during these times and seek out additional services and support from either their in-house clinical team, if this has been commissioned for the child, or

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

from the local children and adolescent mental health teams, if this has not. Through individual key-working sessions, staff sensitively support children to identify more appropriate coping strategies to manage their feelings. This joined-up working and these effective strategies mean that children are receiving the specialist support and services that they need so they can manage their emotional responses more appropriately and safely. Consequently, these incidents are reducing in frequency. Behaviour management techniques, which are considered thoughtfully, supported by input from the home’s clinical therapist, are applied effectively. The manager’s detailed insight into children’s behaviours and his good level of analysis ensure that appropriate and effective strategies can be applied. These techniques and the positive and nurturing relationships that have been sustained between the staff and children have been effective in reducing the numbers of significant incidents for

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

some children. When children are unable to regulate their emotional responses effectively, staff intervene sensitively and appropriately to prevent children or themselves from being hurt. Staff are trained adequately and understand that these physical interventions are used as a last resort. This was evident during the inspection when the manager calmly and effectively de-escalated a situation for one child. Systems have improved, to ensure that these incidents are evaluated by the manager, and processes are in place to ensure that independent oversight is obtained when the manager has been involved in these holds. However, the systems are not robust enough to ensure that the manager reviews and evaluates these incidents systematically within the required timeframe. The leadership and management arrangements are effective. The manager has high expectations for the children and he commands the staff to consistently

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

deliver a good standard of care. The manager and staff are clear about children’s aims and objectives and have realistic plans in place to accomplish these. This is achieved, as the dedicated and committed staff team remains consistent in its ways of working with children. Staff are dedicated and committed to providing a high standard of care to children. They speak affectionately of all the children and understand their needs and vulnerabilities well. Staff work well with children, their families and partner agencies to ensure that children are given positive experiences so that they can continue to grow and flourish. The manager has demonstrated his commitment to improving the experiences and services that he and the staff team provide to the children. The manager uses the internal and improved external monitoring systems effectively to continue to develop and review his systems and processes in the home. Thus, he is fully aware

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of the home’s strengths and areas for continued development. Furthermore, the manager has taken suitable action to address all the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. Two of the requirements and three of the recommendations relate to staff qualifications, supervision and training. These have all been addressed appropriately. For example, the manager has now devised and implements the workforce development plan in his management, monitoring and support of his staff team. Thus, the monitoring, training and supervision arrangements for the staff have improved. Consequently, two members of the care staff have successfully completed their required qualifications. Furthermore, new staff receive more support and supervision, necessary training that they require and the opportunity to complete the required qualifications sooner, so that they can achieve these within the prescribed timeframe.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home enlists the support of a clinical care team in its delivery of care to children and young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/11/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

20/01/2015 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) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and ‘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

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint, the registered person or authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 25/11/2016

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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 that 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 whom 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 ‘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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