Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, two requirements and four recommendations were made. All of the recommendations have been met. Although progress has been made, neither of the requirements is fully met and therefore, are reinstated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are not yet fully engaged in education. For both young people living at the home, this remains a work in progress. However, both have significantly improved their engagement with their home tutors and one is attending school once a week. Staff from home and school meet regularly to review and develop strategies to improve this situation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some improvements to the systems used by the manager to monitor the home’s performance, but these require further development. There is a lack of consistent follow-up by the manager when shortfalls are identified to ensure that these gaps are addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s records are now completed with increased detail and sensitivity. Staff are now recording clearly and in a non-emotive manner. Young people’s records are now providing more evidence of how staff are supporting young people to engage in their therapy sessions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a rise in the number of recorded incidents. This is due to major changes in young people’s lives and a significant number of new staff. Despite this, staff have maintained or developed good relationships and understanding of young people’s needs, which enable them to provide young people with the support they need.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to advocate for the young people in their care. This includes challenging the decisions of placing authorities when they feel that these are not in the best interest of the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant changes in the staff team as a result of no longer using agency staff. A new manager has been appointed and is currently in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted. Staff have a good understanding of their role and responsibilities. With the exception of the manager and one residential worker, the team are new to the home. Three are new to the organisation and the remaining three have been relocated from other homes in the organisation. There has been a change in how shifts within the home are organised. Staff are now working as one team, with the skill sets being shared. This improves practice and consistency of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are now receiving supervision and appraisal in line with the frequency stated in the home’s statement of purpose. Records of these sessions have improved and support staff in developing their work with the young people, identifying and addressing training needs.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of a number of homes operated and managed by an organisation which is a national provider of care and education for young people. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for no more than three young people who may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/05/2015 Full Requires improvement 18/09/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/07/2014 Full Adequate

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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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2(a( i, ii, iii, iv, x)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1(a), (2(g (ii) h)) 31/03/2017

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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, 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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