Children's home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Rossendale

last inspection

The home was issued with two compliance notices following the inadequate inspection on 12 July 2016. These notices were judged as successfully addressed at a subsequent monitoring visit on 9 August 2016.

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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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because:

 A young person who is above compulsory school age is not engaged in purposeful training, employment or education.  A young person does not attend his health appointments as required. Staff do not help him well enough to prepare for living by himself nor do they address his underlying significant issues.  Safeguarding allegations against staff that are reported to the designated officer are not routinely investigated to an acceptable standard.  There has not been a registered manager in post for four months. A permanent manager started in post on 3 October 2016. Ofsted has not received his application to become registered at the time of this inspection.  A staff member who has been employed by the company for over two years has not completed the necessary professional childcare qualification within the required time.

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The children’s home’s strengths

 The interim manager addressed all of the requirements made at the previous full inspection.  The young people feel safe living at the home. Incidents of threatening behaviour and bullying have ceased. Young people have reduced their misuse of illegal substances, smoking and going missing.  Young people’s behaviour has greatly improved. They are calmer and more respectful to staff.  There is a full core staff team in place. Agency staff use has decreased.  The interim manager provided effective leadership. She addressed issues with staff members’ performance and provided stability to a previously demoralised staff team.

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality of care standard, the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who: (1)(a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (b) ensure that staff: (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure: (1) that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff: (ix) help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person must ensure that: (1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being 31/12/2016 (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff help each child to: (iii) take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs, and (c) that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require.

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

(1) In order to meet this requirement, the registered person must prepare and implement a policy which: (b) sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained: (a) the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’) (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. (5) The relevant date is: (a) in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home, or (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. 31/12/2016

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of a large number of services operated and managed by a national provider of care and education for young people. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/07/2016 Full Inadequate 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Requires improvement 02/12/2014 Full Adequate

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Requires improvement

The employment and training opportunities for a young person require improvement. A young person who is above compulsory school age is not engaged in purposeful training, employment or education. He has lived at the home for over two years and has missed a lot of education throughout this time. The young person did briefly have a part-time job after leaving school. However, he has chosen not to continue with this. Consequently, the young person is not being equipped well enough for supporting himself in the future.

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Requires improvement

Staff do not adequately support a young person’s health needs. He refuses to attend routine appointments with the dentist and optician. Staff identify that the young person requires support and/or specialist intervention to help him with his confidence. However, there are no plans in place to address this. As a result, the young person finds it difficult to engage with new people, which limits his opportunities.

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Requires improvement

All young people have a local authority pathway plan and the home’s care plans are up to date. Staff have clear guidance on how to support young people who may drink energy drinks, smoke and those who misuse substances. Staff use one-to-one discussions effectively to talk about these issues. As a result, young people have decreased their use of tobacco and illegal substances. Also, staff no longer provide young people with energy drinks unnecessarily.

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Requires improvement

Staff provide effective support to a young person who is in a personal relationship to ensure that he is supported with his feelings and his relationships with others.

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Requires improvement

The environment has been maintained and resourced to an improved standard since the previous inspection. Damage is repaired promptly and young people have been bought mountain bikes. Young people can access food that is now stored in the kitchen rather than locked away in the office. One young person is now on an independence training plan and looks after all of his own food.

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Requires improvement

One young person’s attendance at school is very good. He responds well to incentives to help him attend and is supported effectively by staff while he is at school. Staff are proactive in engaging young people in activities. They take young people mountain-biking and swimming, and arrange for them to meet up with their friends. Young people are happier living at the home than at the time of the previous inspection. They do not raise any concerns about their safety and one states that: ‘It’s all right now.’

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Requires improvement

Investigations into allegations of abuse by staff require improvement. For one occasion, there are no details held of the discussion with staff members and how the outcome was reached. On another occasion, a staff member was dismissed for other issues before an investigation took place about a reported allegation. Therefore, not all investigations are managed in a transparent or appropriate manner.

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Requires improvement

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from the home since the previous inspection. The dynamics between the young people are much improved since the third young person moved out. Bullying is not raised as a concern by either young person. Staff take effective measures to combat negative behaviour between young people. This has been addressed through restorative meetings and group discussions. As a result, young people feel safer.

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Requires improvement

The behaviour management plans for young people are good. Young people respond well to the boundaries, expectations and incentives used by the interim manager. Staff are also clear of the guidelines for young people and feel supported by the interim manager. As a result, young people’s behaviour has improved and their demeanour is much calmer.

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Requires improvement

There have been three physical interventions since the monitoring visit and none for the last month. The interim manager ensures that young people and staff are spoken with following each measure, which ensures that the effectiveness of the intervention is reviewed and alternative strategies are discussed. This has enabled a reduction in the use of restraint.

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Requires improvement

Recruitment processes for new staff are good. This includes thorough checks on individuals who have been recruited from other European Union countries. The necessary physical and environmental checks of the home are conducted at appropriate timescales. Young people’s medication is stored securely and administered safely. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement, because there is not a registered manager in charge of the home. Two interim managers have been appointed in the meantime and both have managed the home to good effect. A new permanent manager has now been appointed, but has yet to submit his application to register with Ofsted.

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Requires improvement

A staff member who was employed prior to 1 April 2014 has not completed the required professional childcare qualification. This was a requirement from the previous inspection that the manager has until 31 December 2016 to resolve. The interim manager has offered the staff member adequate support and the operations manager is now considering the next steps.

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Requires improvement

The interim manager has addressed all of the requirements made at the previous inspection whose expiry date preceded this visit. She has led the staff team effectively and built a good understanding with young people. Consequently, staff morale is improved and young people are more respectful.

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Requires improvement

Young people are now supported by a group of staff who are familiar to them and provide them with a core team. New staff have been recruited and there has been a significant reduction in the use of agency staff.

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Requires improvement

Young people are supported by staff who receive training that is specific to their needs. Staff have been provided with counter-bullying training, behaviour management training and training to support young people who have autism or attention deficit disorder. Staff are provided with effective, professional, regular supervision, where issues with their practice are addressed and opportunities for professional development are discussed.

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Requires improvement

The interim manager can demonstrate that the home is allocated sufficient money to meet the young people’s needs and to resource the home. Extra funds are allocated for expensive, beneficial activities by the company and placing authority.

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Requires improvement

The interim manager records all complaints received and responds to them well. As a result, lessons are learned to review and improve staff’s practice. Independent monitoring takes place monthly. The interim manager ensures that the visits are put to good use and all actions are promptly acted on.

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Requires improvement

The interim manager has notified Ofsted and the placing authority of all significant events that have occurred. This ensures that all parties are well informed of events at the home. Concerns raised by a social worker with the manager were swiftly rectified and the social worker was satisfied with the response.

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Requires improvement

The interim manager has provided a well-needed period of stability to the home, young people and staff team. This has resulted in improved outcomes for the young people. She can demonstrate that during the previous three months young people’s experiences have greatly improved.

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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

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

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