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 requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are continuing difficulties with ensuring that there is a registered manager in charge of the home. Since May 2015, a registered manager has been in post for no more than two months, with the post becoming vacant again from 15 July 2016. Since then, two interim managers and one permanent manager have been appointed. None of these individuals has submitted an application to register with Ofsted as required. The 26-week timescale for appointing and registering a suitable manager has been exceeded. Urgent action is required to address this enduring weakness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, a senior member of staff has restrained a young person to enforce compliance with their instructions. This is not permitted by the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The work following the use of restraint requires improvement. On two occasions, the senior member of staff who restrained a young person did not receive a debriefing discussion after the events and evaluated the incidents himself. This does not ensure independent oversight of the incidents and practice by staff. This significant weakness was not identified by the independent visitor when monitoring the quality of care given to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not routinely engage young people in a discussion when they have been issued with a sanction or restrained. They lack creativity in conversing with young people about these incidents and, as a result, have failed to ensure that they are all right and understand why the measures have been used.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An interim manager has addressed the six requirements made at the previous inspection. Young people are now being helped by staff to develop skills and access the resources they need to live independently in the future. A young person has successfully obtained a job that starts in February, set up a bank account, written his CV and completed some online employability skills training. The same young person has attended his dental and optical appointments for the first time in years. He is also a very capable cook. An interim manager and operations manager have correctly dealt with a number of safeguarding allegations. Referrals have been made to the local area designated officer and the social worker. Investigations have been thorough and completed promptly, even though in one case the staff member had resigned. There is evidence of how the outcomes have been reached and a record of the final decision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All current staff who have been employed for longer than two years have the required residential childcare qualification. New staff are due to enrol onto this qualification this month. The company has introduced a financial incentive to help staff to complete the qualification in good time. The company has also reviewed the pay scale for senior positions within the home to make those positions more valued and more discernible from the care worker’s role. Senior leaders hope that this action will bring the continuity to these positions which has previously been lacking.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current interim manager leads the team well and has a good understanding of the young people’s needs. He accesses resources and input from other professionals to guide the team and to help the young people. The interim manager involves the police appropriately to help young people to understand the possible consequences of their actions in terms of their future opportunities. He regularly meets with a counsellor to get advice about supporting young people and has arranged an appointment with the child and adolescent mental health service for one young person. Social workers also feel involved and listened to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people feel safe at the home. They do not typically socialise with each other and any incidents between them are managed restoratively. There have been no recorded incidents of young people going missing from the care of staff since the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person who is at school has good attendance and takes part in a wide range of physical activities. Some staff engage him with hill walking, mountain biking, swimming and trampolining. Other staff are good at listening to him and spending time with him at the home doing things that he enjoys. He has good opportunities to see his family. He continues to build positive links with his home town, as part of the longer-term plan to live there again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the quality of care takes place regularly, although there is insufficient scrutiny of restraint incidents. Staff feel supported and confident in their role and they receive regular supervision. The interim manager discusses pertinent issues with staff in their supervision discussions to support them and to address any areas for development.

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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 Requires improvement 19/10/2016 Full Inadequate 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Requires improvement

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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

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

(1) Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing– (a) injury to any person (including the child); (b) serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or (c) a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if– (a) there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and (b) the registered provider– (i) is an organisation or a partnership; (ii) does not satisfy regulation 28; or (iii) is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. 28/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must ensure that– (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)– (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 28/02/2017

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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 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 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 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

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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