Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people make exceptional progress through the consistent application by staff of a research-led therapeutic approach to their care. Extremely high- quality care and support are provided for young people.  Young people form very warm and caring relationships with staff, who are patient and insightful. Young people value staff’s opinions and listen to them.  Young people thrive at this home. They have positive experiences and achieve improved outcomes across different aspects of their development and welfare.  Staff utilise their knowledge and understanding of positive and proactive behaviour support. This enables young people to manage their anxiety and frustration. This approach has been productive in significantly reducing the need for restraint and sanctions.  Staff are persistent and resourceful, encouraging young people to engage in education, activities, and health and personal care. Young people’s

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

educational attainment is celebrated, and they receive excellent support and access to education.  Young people’s individual interests are encouraged and broadened. Recent activities include swimming, pampering sessions and trips out shopping or to the cinema. Young people are trying new opportunities, which widens their social experiences.  Staff monitor young people’s physical health needs and emotional well- being, and support them to obtain specialist advice, when necessary. The organisation provides therapeutic support through access to a child psychotherapist.  Supervision to safeguard young people is meticulous. Staff are sufficient in number and they achieve successful monitoring of young people in a non- invasive style.  Monitoring systems are rigorous, driving improvement and maintaining consistently high standards of care. The registered manager’s dedication, through thoughtful leadership and successful role modelling, is mirrored in

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned. The primary focus is to develop individual opportunities for young people in education, personal development and family contact (if applicable and appropriate) through a structured approach via the whole staff team, as written in the home’s statement of purpose document.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2015 Full Good 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/10/2014 Full Good -

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Outstanding

Young people living in the home make rapid and exceptional progress. Their families collectively commented very positively on how well young people are doing at the home. Individually, they said:

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Outstanding

‘The home is brilliant. The staff provide consistent boundaries and are firm but fair. I feel that she has reached a very positive time in her life in such a short period of time, and the change is absolutely unbelievable.’

p.5

Outstanding

‘I have no issues at all with the home. The manager and staff go out of their way to support him very well. They advocate and challenge decisions extremely well, so that his education is not disrupted.’

p.5

Outstanding

‘She has come on so much and is very settled now. I feel that staff are very supportive, not only to her but also to me as well.’

p.5

Outstanding

‘The home is wonderful. She has responded remarkably well, staff are very helpful, and I would like to say that I would recommend this home 100%, as it has been a very positive outcome for her.’

p.5

Outstanding

This positive progress is achieved from young people’s starting points at the home as careful consideration is given to assessing young people’s referral information alongside how compatible they are with each other. Also, should a placement of a young person be made in an emergency, the management team has robust systems in place to ensure that all of their information is available to staff so that young people’s needs can be met. This ensures that arrangements are in place to achieve positive outcomes in relation to young people’s health and education.

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Outstanding

The support of young people’s identity is exceptional. They undertake life-story work through therapeutic sessions with a qualified and professional psychotherapist. As a result, their emotional, social and psychological well-being is identified and addressed. Young people contribute to the ‘all about me’ booklet that encourages them to ask questions to make sense of who they are and to consider their personal journey. They have memory boxes which build up and show a timeline of their experiences in the home. This will assist them to reflect back on their life and memories as they grow older and move on from the home.

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Outstanding

Excellent attention to all aspects of health means that young people are in good physical health and attend all of their necessary health appointments, as and when they need them. Annual medical, dental and optician checks are clearly recorded on young people’s case files. This allows staff to monitor and support the young people’s health needs.

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Outstanding

Currently, three of the four young people are attending school or college, have excellent attendance and have made very good progress from their starting points. The young people had variable school experiences prior to living at the home and have demonstrated a commitment to learning and achieving which is celebrated with them by the staff. One young person has successfully completed all of her GCSE exams.

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Outstanding

Staff support young people effectively who experience difficulties in school. One young person is receiving education at the home until a suitable education provision is identified. The management team and staff act as any reasonable parent would. They challenge decisions and advocate for young people. As a result, progress is made when working with relevant agencies to ensure that an appropriate school placement is found to meet the young person’s specific needs. The management team and staff work proactively with the virtual head to ensure that young people’s education is not overly disrupted and that they continue to learn.

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Outstanding

Staff listen to young people and it is evident in the records kept in the home that young people’s views matter. Their ideas, wishes and feelings influence decision making, including the decoration and personalisation of their bedrooms, the meals that they eat, the activities that they undertake, the staff who are employed to care for them and their future placement plans. The children’s guide, produced in consultation with young people, ensures that young people know how to seek advocacy services and whom they can make a complaint to.

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Outstanding

Collectively, young people said that there are no issues between anyone in the home and that they had no concerns about the care that they receive in the home. Individually, they said:

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Outstanding

‘It is because of the staff, how much I have changed. I really like it here and I am doing well.’

p.6

Outstanding

‘Although it’s not good living such a long way from home, I do get to see my family. The staff here do support me well and I have no issues about the home. We all get on well with each other.’

p.6

Outstanding

‘I get to go out and do lots of fun things. Staff are great.’

p.6

Outstanding

Young people engage in suitable activities, and this is an integral part of the home’s therapeutic approach. These are often led by young people in their chosen interests, for example going to a drama group and swimming, having pampering sessions and trips to local leisure facilities. Young people have arrangements to stay overnight at friends’ homes and their friends are welcome to visit the home. They enjoy annual holidays abroad with the staff or are supported to go on holiday with their families.

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Outstanding

Carefully planned and agreed arrangements are in place for young people to visit their family or for their family to visit them. This ensures that young people who live a long way from their home are able to maintain positive contact with their family. Staff support these arrangements to enable young people to maintain their cultural and linguistic background.

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Outstanding

As young people approach adulthood, they are encouraged to acquire independence and daily living skills. They develop and improve their personal care routines and practical daily living skills. Independence plans and key-work sessions reinforce young people’s progress and belief in themselves, and they gradually take responsibility in all areas of their lives at a pace and level appropriate to their stage of development.

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Outstanding

The management team and staff continue to support young people and their family or carers after they have moved on from the home. This sustains relationships effectively and contributes to the success of young people’s next placement. One young person has written to staff saying, ‘When I lived at the home, we had great times, which has helped me and I will never forget the support that you gave me. Leaving the home was hard, as I had so much respect for everyone, and this is something that I had never had before in my life.’ Another said, ‘Thank you for all of your support and well wishes. I will always remember my time with you all.’

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Outstanding

Staff safeguarding training is up to date and includes training around child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and online safety. Staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of safeguarding procedures, equipping them effectively should they encounter any safeguarding concern. Safeguarding policies and procedures are up to date. The designated safeguarding officer provides advice and information, as required. There have been no notifiable safeguarding concerns or allegations.

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Outstanding

The home has a very good track record in identifying and assessing young people’s risks. Preventable measures are in place which young people understand and respond well to. Care plans and risk assessments demonstrate that staff fully understand the risks that each young person faces. While being able to monitor young people in a non-invasive way, staff also support young people to take age- appropriate risks. These highly individualised strategies guide staff in providing effective interventions and protection for the young people. Young people engage in key-work sessions that play an important part in addressing identified risks and particular needs. These are frequent and are linked to up-to-date key worker action plans, ensuring that the focus remains on specific areas of young people’s development. The management team monitors records of key-work sessions to confirm that young people are receiving the level of support

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Outstanding

and guidance necessary to meet the targets set in their action plans. As a result, change is embedded and young people develop well and become increasingly safe.

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Outstanding

Police community support officers (PCSOs) visit the home regularly. This enables young people to develop a positive understanding of police services. A PCSO said: ‘The staff are very responsive when I am making enquiries. As a PCSO for the police, the staff and myself have such a good relationship, where we are transparent and work in the best interests of the young people.’ Young people have visited the police museum, and this strengthens their trust in the services that the police provide. PCSOs also provide individual advice for young people. They helped one young person to understand that physical violence could be an offence, and that being criminalised could have a negative impact on their future. This has supported the development of her continued positive behaviour.

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Outstanding

Although the current young people are not absent and do not go missing from the home, staff demonstrate considerable knowledge of the procedures that they would follow. They have been proactive on previous occasions when young people have been absent or missing. Staff follow them, call them, search the local area and contact known addresses. Staff work effectively with the police to ensure young people’s safe return to the home. Arrangements are in place for young people to have a return home interview. This contributes to the management team’s analysis of young people’s patterns and trends. These arrangements have been effective in reducing young people’s missing from home incidents.

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Outstanding

Staff are insightful and appreciate that young people’s behaviour can often reflect the confusion and trauma of their chaotic previous lives. Young people are supported through therapy with how to manage their emotions in a time of crisis. There is a focus on positive reinforcement and reward, rather than a punitive approach. This has been successful and the young people are very settled at the home. Physical intervention is very rarely used, and then only as a last resort. After it has been used, young people and staff are debriefed and reflect on incidents, all of which is appropriately recorded.

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Outstanding

Robust recruitment systems are in place to safeguard young people from having unsuitable adults working with them. All checks on prospective employees are undertaken before they commence work in the home. These systems are evident within the staff files kept in the home.

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Outstanding

The management team and staff complete health and safety checks in the home, in line with organisational requirements. Environmental and equipment checks ensure that there are no risks to young people, staff or visitors. All young people are involved in regular fire drills, promoting their vigilance and safety. The home is very well maintained, comfortable and furnished to a high standard. There is ample space both to afford young people privacy, and for them to meet with their family and friends. All visitors to the home are required to produce evidence of their identity and sign in. Young people are further protected, as they are not left alone with visitors to the home.

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Outstanding

The registered manager has extensive experience and qualifications in the health and social care sectors. The last 16 years she has spent managing homes that support and promote the development of young people in a residential setting. With the support of an experienced deputy, together they form a management team that demonstrates exceptional commitment, positive role modelling and support to young people and staff.

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Outstanding

A full, permanent staff team is highly trained to meet the needs of the young people. Staff have completed their level 3 diploma for residential childcare. A new staff member is on course and within timescales to complete their level 3 diploma. The home promotes staff development through thorough induction and training opportunities, and senior staff undertake specialised leadership training, including the level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Outstanding

Collectively, staff feel that they are supported to enhance their skills and knowledge through supervision, team meetings and appraisals. They clearly demonstrate their enthusiasm and are proud of the work that they complete and the progress that young people make at the home. Individually, they said:

p.9

Outstanding

‘All young people are encouraged to be individual and have their own beliefs. Staff encourage all young people to follow their own ambitions and support them to reach their own goals.’

p.9

Outstanding

‘The induction that I received when I came to work at the home left me knowledgeable and confident, to assist me in supporting the young people in the home.’

p.9

Outstanding

‘My supervision is a great help to me, enabling me to express my progress and any part of my job that I may be weak in. Also, my manager can help me to improve my skills, and praises me for the progress that I am making.’

p.9

Outstanding

‘My appraisal works on my strengths and what I can improve on in the future.’ Such comments clearly evidence the support that staff feel that they are afforded and how they prioritise the needs of the young people. Ongoing reflection and review mean that progress is maximised, as targets are identified and plans swiftly put in place. When there are identified shortfalls, for example when a new young person joins the home, the management team and staff are proactive in ensuring that all of the relevant information is available to them by liaising with the relevant professionals in order to ensure that the necessary support and services are in place for young people. Consequently, young people have the relevant support and are helped to progress from their starting point in the home.

p.9

Outstanding

Social workers are positive in their feedback about the home and about their relationships with the management team and staff. They acknowledge and appreciate the genuine efforts of staff to work together and agree strategies to promote young people’s well-being and progression. The home establishes constructive relationships with all professionals involved with young people. A social worker commented: ‘Communication is excellent. The young person is given ample opportunities to explore her culture and identity. I am provided with weekly detailed reports, and the team is excellent. The staff are consistent, which I think has been very positive for the young person.’

p.10

Outstanding

This collaborative working is outlined in the home’s statement of purpose document. The management team and staff are clear about the aims and objectives outlined in this document. They understand the therapeutic model of care. This promotes a coherent staff approach and provides young people with consistent boundaries.

p.10

Outstanding

The independent person’s monthly monitoring reports provide a clear judgement on whether young people are effectively safeguarded and how the conduct of the home promotes their well-being. The registered manager welcomes the close scrutiny and critical insight by the independent person into all aspects of the service that the home provides. Alongside her own evaluative monitoring of the home and the administration systems completed by staff, the registered manager uses this information to inform her development plans.

p.10

Outstanding

This thorough process of identifying and acting on suggestions in order to make and sustain improvement has contributed to the experiences and high standards of care that young people receive in the home. The management team and staff are committed to maintaining high standards, addressing weaknesses and improving outcomes for the young people, all of which is detailed and regularly reviewed in the home’s development plans.

p.10

Outstanding

No requirements or recommendations are made from this inspection.

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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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