Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Cambridgeshire

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 judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met three of the five requirements raised at the last inspection. The outstanding two requirements are restated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has not fully met the requirement relating to the design and furnishings of the home. The garden area has overgrown weeds and bushes. It is not adequately fenced as both sides are accessible from the front. There is building work taking place adjacent to the property with vehicles accessing the shared drive area on a regular basis, this also presents a risk. The outside garden space does not provide the children with a safe enclosed space or the privacy that they need.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has not met the requirement to ensure that there are comprehensive risk assessments in place to protect children from harm. Risk assessments are completed but do not include all of the relevant information. A self-harm risk assessment for a child who had not eaten for several days did not include the impact of the lack of food. This does not sufficiently consider the potentially serious risks to the emotional well-being and physical health of the child. The concern is that this child could become ill very quickly without a clear strategy in place. On release from hospital this child had no clear health care plan and it was not evident how the staff were intending to meet her needs. There was no contingency plan in place if she continued to refuse food or fluids for a further period. Specialist advice was not evident and the potentially high risks to the child’s health were not fully considered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a recent incident involving a child accessing car keys from the safe in the office. This resulted in a serious safeguarding incident. Actions to prevent a recurrence have not been adequately progressed by the manager. A measure identified to mitigate the risk of a further incident was the installation of a number- coded safe in the office. The safe has been purchased but has not been installed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recently, a new staff member supervised a child’s contact out of the local area. Careful arrangements and considered plans were not in place to ensure that this contact was safe and well-managed. This was a risky situation for the child and the staff member. Managers complete robust impact assessments for children moving into the home. The potential impact of risky behaviours on the children already living in the home is fully considered. There is clear recognition of the group dynamics that enables the staff team to prepare adequately for the new admissions to the home. There have been successful transitions for children moving on from the home since the last inspection, with children gradually supported to return to the care of their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager oversees the complaints and there are clear records in place. The records include details of the actions taken and the outcome. Children know how to make their views known and they have access to an independent advocate if they wish. A child said, ‘I would speak to some staff and I would feel happy about doing that.’ The children have positive relationships with staff. One child said, ‘I couldn’t ask for better staff.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff use de-escalation techniques initially to manage behaviour. If these are not effective and there is a risk of harm, staff physically intervene to keep the children and adults safe. The children feel safe at the home. One child said, ‘I don’t agree with them at the time but I know they are doing this for the right reasons. They do this to keep me safe and to keep me out of trouble.’ Debriefs take place after a restraint and staff seek the views of the children. This helps the children to self-regulate and to understand the consequences of their actions. One child said, ‘I’ve changed my life in a good way. I am more settled now and I don’t kick off. I wouldn’t be like this if I didn’t get on with the staff and have a good relationship. I don’t want to ruin it. The staff remind me of this and speak to me and calm me down.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children go missing from the home but more recently these incidents have reduced in frequency and duration. When children leave the home without consent, the staff follow them and make every effort to locate them. The staff understand and follow the missing-from-home protocol.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the children to engage and make progress in their education. Individual education arrangements enable the children to access full-time education in the local community. The staff encourage the children to learn and to work towards their education goals, to help them to improve their life chances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager completes internal six-monthly monitoring. This, alongside the monthly independent monitoring, considers how the staff meet the needs of the children. The manager acts on identified shortfalls to improve the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is effective communication with other agencies. A social worker’s team manager said, ‘I have been happy with them so far and, when I have spoken to them, each time they have been receptive and have been helpful.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager handles allegations in line with local and organisational policy and procedures. The local authority designated officer said, ‘It has not been a problem with them calling me. They [the staff] are doing the internal investigations.’ There are effective safeguards are in place and the manager seeks independent advice and support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff consider the cultural needs of the children. They facilitate the children’s religious beliefs and cultural food choices. A cultural tutor regularly visits one child. This child has access to a ‘language line’ to ensure that she is able to communicate with her family on a regular basis.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to offer care and accommodation for three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties between the ages of 11 and 17. A private company owns and operates this children’s home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/08/2015 Full Good 04/02/2015 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 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 with 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 and purpose of care standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

2(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 23/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

1(a) the health and wellbeing needs of children are met. 23/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

2(a)(i) that staff 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 a child. 23/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the installation of the safe to secure the keys, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

12 (2)(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. 23/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard 23/01/2017 In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to staff supervising contact, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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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, 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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