Children's home run by Keys Education Ltd

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

There have been no new admissions, placement breakdowns or disruptions since the last inspection. Young people living at the home make good progress taking into account their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare and their physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. They are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints or concerns since the previous inspection. Young people’s views about the home and their relationships with staff are consistently positive. The home is consistently maintained to a good quality standard for young people, who benefit from a safe, warm, comfortable and homely environment. Staff provide young people with continuity of care so that they have stability and consistency in their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the young people and take appropriate action to address them. As a result, young people become increasingly safer because of the actions staff take to support and protect them. There is evidence of change and improvement in the lives of the young people, who benefit from effective, good quality support from staff. Young people report: ‘The staff are all right. They will leave you alone, if you want them to. They help me with my behaviour and I feel my behaviour has improved. I’m more settled and I don’t kick off a lot liked I used to.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The frequency and intensity of specific risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing from care for long periods, drug use and offending and challenging and disruptive behaviours, have reduced considerably. Consequently, young people are much safer and are less likely to suffer actual harm. The effective use of clear risk assessment and safe working practice promotes the safety and well-being of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of restraint is a last resort and, if used at all, it is only ever used to keep young people safe from harm. There is evidence of positive change and behavioural improvement in the lives of young people. There has been a considerable reduction in the use of restraint. Young people learn to manage their strong feelings and emotions so that they can regulate their own behaviour. A young person who previously exhibited frequent challenging and disruptive behaviours reports, ‘It’s good enough, but home’s better. I want to go home. I feel safer now, well kind of.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of sanctions and consequences for negative behaviour are proportionate and fair in use. Staff make good use of incentives and rewards to encourage and acknowledge young people’s progress and positive behaviour. Young people are supported to attend school or alternative educational provision regularly and receive good support and encouragement from staff. The home maintains effective partnerships with the providers of young people’s education to promote the young people’s learning and educational achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are effective systems for monitoring the performance of the home. The home is visited once a month by an independent person who scrutinises the arrangements made to safeguard young people and promote their well-being. The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Shortfalls are identified and addressed to secure improvement. As a result, there are effective arrangements for reviewing and improving the standard and quality of young people’s care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has met one of the two recommendations from the last inspection. Consequently, the recommendation not met has been repeated. The home has addressed the recommendation to ensure that young people’s plans take account of their specific health conditions to ensure that those needs are understood and met. There are no breaches in regulations; consequently, no requirements have been made as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 3 young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/11/2016 Full Good 24/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/01/2016 Full Good 29/11/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  An effective introduction to a home will take into account the child’s abilities and capacity to understand and retain information. Such an introduction may take place over a period of time and may be delivered in different formats according to the child’s communication and cognitive abilities. The registered person should ensure that staff establish the child’s understanding of key information about living in the home and the expectations of their care in order to establish whether there are gaps in the child’s understanding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.8).

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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, 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

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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