Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Hertfordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness. One requirement and three recommendations were raised at the last inspection. The requirement and two of the recommendations have been met. Physical interventions are proportionate and well managed. Debriefings and follow-up work with the staff are completed and recorded, which addresses the requirement. However, records do not reflect the child’s views fully. This does not ensure that the children have had the opportunity to explore their feelings and implement strategies to manage future incidents.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been good progress in working towards the recommendation in relation to life stories and direct work with children. The children have ‘my plans’ in place. These include their background information, cultural needs and their previous experiences. This ensures that the staff team is able to understand the child’s journey and are equipped better to meet their needs. The life story work is in the process of starting with one child. The manager is mindful of the impact of this on the child and there is careful consideration as to how and when this will commence, bearing in mind the emotional implications and the child’s views and wishes.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The manager completes impact assessments, which consider the risks to the children already living in the home. There is clear transition planning with careful consideration of the child’s complex emotional and mental health needs. This child continues to make good progress. She is attending education and is gradually reducing her medication needs. Her social worker spoke highly of the provision and said, ‘They are willing to go above and beyond for her. They have a good understanding of her needs. She is not just another child to them. They really want the best for her. She has really come out of her shell.’ The staff enable the children to engage with education. This is a clear focus of the home. The staff are clear that they want the best outcomes for the children and that they would like them to reach their full potential. The staff are committed to

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

supporting a child to return to mainstream school. The staff work closely with the home tutors and are creative in formulating an individual plan. This is challenging for one child, as he has not been in school for a significant amount of time. The staff recognise that he will need a lot of support and that the return to school will need to be at his own pace. His tutor advised that he is making progress towards his own targets and is engaging well with the education professionals. This promotes his chances for the future. Three children have left the home since the last inspection. This is because of increased risks, which have required moves to alternative placements or secure provision. The management team prepares and supports the children with these moves, transporting them to their new accommodation and keeping in touch with them after their move. This ensures that the children feel valued and cared for

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

during a very difficult period in their lives. Key workers develop good relationships with the children and undertake direct work as and when they are able to. Through these positive relationships, the children are able to identify the staff members with whom they are able to talk. The parents, carers and professionals speak highly of the relationships with the children. One carer said, ‘She [his key worker] is brilliant. She has been involved since day one, and she has his corner.’ Another parent said, ‘I couldn’t want for better than that. The staff are kind to her and go out of their way for her.’ There have been some staff changes over recent months, but this has now settled to a stable core staff who know the children well. A staff member said that the staff team works together well and that he finds supervision useful and regular. He said, ‘Management are always helpful and they build morale. It is nice knowing that

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they care.’ There are times when the children are absent without consent. When this happens, the staff follow clear protocols. The staff actively look for the children and ensure that they are aware of the children’s individual plans. There are good links with the local police. The management team attends the quarterly safeguarding meetings. The staff have a good general level of safeguarding knowledge and are clearly able to recognise and describe when a child may be at risk and the processes to follow to protect that child. Not all members of staff have sufficient specific knowledge to identify the signs that a child may be at risk of child sexual exploitation. This means that potential signs may not be recognised and acted on in a timely way. The staff complete comprehensive individual risk assessments for the children and are effective at identifying how potential risks need to be managed. They have a

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

good knowledge of the individual needs of the children, having built positive relationships with them over a significant time. This is a strength of the home. There have been good support and encouragement from the staff to empower a child to end a risky relationship. The challenging behaviours are reducing. However, some of the more recent incidents have not been included in the written risk assessments. This does not provide an adequate record that reflects the changing risk factors and presenting risks. There are good general risk assessments that relate to the potential hazards in the home. There have been recent incidents of children attempting to smoke in the home. The close supervision by the staff has ensured that these incidents are short lived and have presented minimal risks so far. These incidents are viewed as serious by the staff team and there is a clear message that this is unacceptable.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is further enforced with the appropriate use of sanctions, which include supervised spending for the children. This acts as a clear and powerful deterrent. The current fire assessment does not include these active measures that are in place to safeguard the children. Effective external and internal monitoring processes drive forward progress. The reports are comprehensive and child focused. The registered manager responds to address the actions in a timely way. There is stability for the children, as most have been living at the home for a significant time. There has been some recent redecoration in the home, which creates a pleasant and bright environment. Records of sanctions are up to date, and there is clear management oversight as to whether the sanctions are proportionate. The children understand the positive and negative consequences and why they are used. The children feel safe at the home

p.4

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and are able to identify clearly whom to talk to if they are not happy. One child said, ‘It’s OK here. I get on with some staff better than others. I will always talk to my key worker about anything or if I am not happy, but I have not needed to complain.’

p.4

Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for four children aged between 10 and 18 years, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/06/2016 Full Good

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with specific regard to individual risk assessments including current information for each child, the registered person much ensure that staff:

p.6

Requirement Due date

2(a)(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. 18/02/2017

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the importance of understanding who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, such as through undertaking life story work or other direct work. Staff in children's homes should play a full role in work of this kind. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 16, paragraph 3.14)

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure that the staff have the skills to identify any signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10) This is with particular reference to training in managing child sexual exploitation.

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure that any child who has been restrained is given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.60)

p.6

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’.

p.7

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.8