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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, one requirement and one recommendation were made. The recommendation has been met, but the requirement remains unmet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement that is unmet relates to staffing levels in the home. The staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of the two young people who currently live here. However, the home is registered to accommodate three young people. The registered manager is clear that should a third young person move in they would need three additional staff to meet the statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three young people have left the home, two in planned moves to be nearer to their families. The third young person was moved because of challenging behaviours and insufficient numbers of permanent staff. The registered manager has reflected on that period and recognises the weaknesses related to staffing. The registered manager notified Ofsted of this situation and since mid-August the situation has improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For a month during the summer, the home experienced an unsettled period and an increase in incidents between young people. This situation has been resolved as only two young people are now living here and there is an effective staff team which can meet their needs. The registered manager has reviewed the admission process to ensure that only young people whose needs can be met are admitted to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort with young people to keep them safe. When it has been used, it is appropriate. Records relating to physical interventions and incidents do not always clearly describe the young person’s behaviours effectively. Some descriptions are ambiguous and as a result, do not help managers to monitor these incidents effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment records require improvement to ensure that they clearly document recruitment decisions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor visits regularly, but their report does not always evaluate the work undertaken by the home. This is a missed opportunity to help develop the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since July, the home has become settled. Young people, both prior to this time and since, are making progress. There has been a reduction in risk-taking behaviours, including going missing and incidents of self-harm. One young person has attended training with the staff team on keeping safe from child sexual exploitation. She said that she found this really useful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have formed good relationships with the young people. This has enabled them to support one young person through a difficult court case as well as helping her to understand her history.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are skilled at advocating for young people. They support them to express their views and feelings to other adults who work with them. This includes helping a young person to tell their placing authority that they wish to stay at the home rather than move to a foster placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person did not have a current placement plan or care plan from their placing authority. Staff at the home have raised this with the social worker, but the documents were not forthcoming. The registered manager has responded determinedly and escalated this concern to the authority’s commissioning team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people living at the home are in full-time education. The staff team has worked together with the virtual school headteacher and college staff to support young people in their education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is very clear on his role and responsibilities towards the young people and the staff team. He challenges other professionals effectively, as necessary.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private national provider of education and social care for children and young people. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is situated in a very rural location, and one car is provided. Young people can attend education within the company school or via external provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/10/2015 Full Good 29/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/05/2014 Full Adequate

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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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard in relation to sufficiency of staffing to meet the statement of purpose, the registered person should: (2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 16/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

(4) The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether: (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. In particular, ensure that reports evaluate the work undertaken in the home. 16/12/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  As set out in regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. In particular, the record of staff interviews should include an explanation of the scoring system used to decide whether to employ or not. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1).  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, records of incidents and or restraints should not use vague

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Recommendations

language but clearly describe the young person’s behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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 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 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

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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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