Children's home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Birmingham

Inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean that children and young

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The children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 Leaders and managers have failed to identify safeguarding concerns stemming from incidents involving young people. The significance of incidents is not always understood. Appropriate agencies are not always informed of concerns that occur in the community. As a result, risks for young people are not fully understood or responded to.  Young people are not cared for in a consistent way that promotes their safety and well-being. There have been two serious incidents in the home in which the actions that staff have taken resulted in young people being left at serious risk of harm.  Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that they fully understand the needs of the young people and how these needs could best be met. A lack of effective oversight or tracking of concerning behaviours results in a lack of risk reduction.

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The children’s home strengths

 Young people report that they like living in this home. They said that they have good relationships with some of the staff. This was observed during the inspection. In particular, one member of staff demonstrated a naturally nurturing and caring approach to the care she provided. Young people appreciate this approach to their care.  The home is set in a rural and tranquil area, and the decor in the main shared living spaces reflects the home’s setting. Artwork completed by one young person is on display, and they were very proud to show inspectors their work. Young people like their home.

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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 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 (1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who: (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: (a) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff: (i) understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; (ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect; (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare

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Requirement Due date

the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 25/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

7: The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard (1) The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who: (a) develop positive relationships with them; (b) engage with them; and 25/01/2017 (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (a) ensure that staff: (i) ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare; (ii) help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; (iii) help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and (v) help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will

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Requirement Due date

be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited; (e) ensure that the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practicable, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child.

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard In order to meet this standard, the registered person must ensure: (2)(a) that staff (viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non- attendance and return to school as soon as possible. 25/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

10: The health and well-being standard (1) The health and well-being standard is that: (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; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: 25/01/2017 (a) that staff help each child to: (i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well- being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; (iii) take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and (iv) understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-

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Requirement Due date

being; (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

11: the positive relationship standard (1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on: (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff: (i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those

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Requirement Due date

expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (vi) help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate 25/01/2017 according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful; (vii) help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship; (viii) strive to gain each child’s respect and trust; (ix) understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same; (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or

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Requirement Due date

potentially violent behaviour by children; (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff: (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 25/01/2017 (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s

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Requirement Due date

child protection policies; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and (e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that: (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of 25/01/2017 care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child

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Requirement Due date

and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on: (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

33: Employment of staff In order to meet this requirement: (1) The registered person must: (a) ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; (b) ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation; (4) ensure that all employees: (a) undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. 25/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to two children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a large national organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Inadequate

Despite there being very clear and comprehensive direction in care planning documentation in respect of some presenting behaviours, staff are not always following it as expected. As a result, young people are not always receiving a consistent approach to their care. There is a lack of direction for staff in respect of the management and reduction of risks of young people’s self-harm. This results in a lack of consistency and some poor practice. For example, one young person is frequently in their room without adequate monitoring, despite this being a clear indicator of risk for them. At times, the registered manager and staff demonstrate a reluctance to implement the house rules for fear of the consequence of challenge. This means that, at times, young people have the balance of power in the home as staff step back and allow the presenting behaviours to continue. Not all young people are provided with nurturing and comfortable bedrooms. One

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Inadequate

young person’s bedroom presented as dishevelled and with stains on the carpet and a general lack of care. This has been a feature in recent inspections. There are no effective strategies in place to support one young person with issues about their weight. During their time living in this home, they have put on excessive weight, and this has now become a serious issue that has not been addressed. Not all young people’s health needs have been tracked or understood. One young person has been receiving medication since moving to this home. Staff are unsure of the rationale for this medication. No questions have been raised or requests made to review the medication. Not all young people are receiving education in line with legislation. One young person is currently receiving three and a half hours’ formal tutoring a week. The manager has failed to address this in a robust or timely way. Some staff working at this home have a natural nurturing approach to the care that

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Inadequate

they provide. They really think about the needs of the young people and take steps to ensure that they are well cared for. For example, one staff member was taking extra care preparing dinner to ensure that vegetables were in the sauce in a way that would encourage young people to eat them. Young people appreciated this approach to care. The therapeutic work that takes place in the home is key to young people making progress. Weekly sessions allow young people to consider their thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a safe and confidential space and support them in making emotional progress. This intervention is used to inform the care that young people receive. It is disappointing that the therapist is not always provided with key information about the young people, which would further enrich this process.

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Inadequate

There have been two occasions when a young person in the home has been left in a situation of significant risk. Both of these incidents lasted for a long period of time and the risk was not managed effectively by staff. The actions of staff during these incidents increased and unnecessarily prolonged the risks to young people. The registered manager has failed to identify and act upon indictors of risk and vulnerabilities in relation to exploitation following incidents. As a result, one young person’s risks in terms of exploitation are not fully understood. The approach to care does not support risk reduction. Access to the internet is not effectively monitored, despite this being a risk for young people. A recent decision has been reached to allow young people to have almost unlimited access to the wifi in the home, which allows them to use smartphones without any oversight or monitoring. Young people were left alone during the inspection while the staff on duty attended

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Inadequate

a meeting in a closed room. Staff failed to consider the presenting risks and concerns that had emerged during the morning and to respond accordingly. There has been one occasion when crucial information has not been passed to staff from an education provision. There is no evidence that the managers at the home challenged this lack of information being provided. The arrangements in place in respect of safer recruitment are not robust. There are shortfalls in respect of one member of staff who has been recently employed by the organisation. The files available to inspectors raised a number of areas of concern. In addition, this member of staff has not undertaken key safeguarding training. Judgement grade

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Inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that all the requirements made at the last inspection have been met. The current management arrangements in the home have failed to demonstrate effective leadership. Leaders and managers have failed to have robust oversight of incidents in the home. There is a lack of effective monitoring and review systems to support continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. As a result, staff have made assumptions about the risk for one young person that are not accurate. Leaders and managers have failed to identify and act upon poor and unacceptable practice in the home. For example, when risks to one young person were increased significantly, staff failed to respond as expected or to monitor the young person appropriately. As a result, the young person was left at significant risk of harm over a long period of time. These responses have not been addressed by the registered

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Inadequate

manager. The organisational response to supporting staff in dealing with significant incidents is not always expedited in a timely way. For example, one dangerous incident was allowed to continue for over eight hours before support arrived at the home and the dangerous situation was made safe. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that staff are provided with regular and meaningful supervision in line with company policy. There is a lack of reflection and professional challenge in supervision. As a result, some issues of poor or concerning practice have not been addressed.

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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 that 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 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 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, 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

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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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