Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people benefit from strong, caring relationships with staff and with each other. The care that they receive is delivered by a skilled and sensitive staff team that offers practical and emotional support, enabling young people to thrive. Relationships in this home are based on trust, positivity and helping young people to take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions. As a result, young people make progress with their ability to self-regulate, to make positive choices and to improve their self-esteem. All young people were observed during the inspection and it is evident that they are happy, relaxed and feel valued in the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people report feeling happy living in this home in the knowledge that staff care about them and listen to them at all times. Regular meetings between young people and staff allow young people the chance to share their views, wishes and feelings, as well as providing the opportunity to discuss what has gone well and not so well for them. Through such processes, young people have been able to express their preferred choices across a range of matters, from activities through to how they like their bedrooms to be decorated and furnished. Bedrooms are highly personalised to reflect their likes and interests and young people are rightly proud of their home. They take responsibility for its presentation and their artwork is displayed, which tells a story about their time living in the home. This clearly shows how respectful young people are of their home, and the pride they have of the progress that they have each made since coming to live here.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

No young people have moved in or out of the home since the last full inspection. The young people continue to make excellent progress in all areas of their lives and the home is very settled. All young people have education provision in place and are maintaining excellent attendance, representing a significant achievement. Mock exams undertaken by one young person have resulted in B grades being achieved and the young person is eager to improve on these grades and has very high aspirations for her future. For example, social or legal work to support children who are looked after.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff are supporting some young people to prepare for the opportunities and challenges of adult life. Young people are taking on responsibilities for themselves and staff are supporting one young person to apply for voluntary and employment opportunities, while another young person is considering two college opportunities in her placing authority. These arrangements are strengthening young people’s confidence and supporting their independence skills. Young people have free structured time in the community, are members of a local gym and enjoy physical activities, such as, drama, dance and swimming. Young people are enjoying the same opportunities and experiences as their friends.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

There are purposeful plans in place for individual young people. They include clear and achievable targets, which set out the aims of their placement and their future plans. Key workers demonstrate an excellent understanding of the needs of young people. They work constructively with colleagues and young people to set achievable targets that are regularly reviewed to ensure that progress continues. Reports for young people’s reviews are thorough, highlighting the individual’s successes and areas for continued development.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Parents of young people placed at the home are very positive about the care that their children receive. They praise the communication between staff and themselves and feel that they all work together as part of a team. Celebrating difference and culture is truly embedded in the home’s ethos. Organised themed evenings are regularly enjoyed and young people are receiving additional tutoring, learning different languages in line with their parents and families nationalities and heritage.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The young people are provided with clear and structured routines and boundaries, which they understand and adhere to. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to keep them or others safe. On the rare occasion when it has been used, it is appropriate. Records relating to physical interventions and incidents clearly describe the young person’s behaviours. Written entries evidence that young people have had an opportunity to reflect on their behaviour and staff have been debriefed by the manager. It is clear that the manager monitors these incidents effectively.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The young people’s safety is a key priority and is supported by high staffing ratios and detailed risk assessments. Trained staff educate young people about potential risks in the community when young people are missing from the home, including child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. A workshop attended by two young people from the home enabled them to participate in debates with the local police, drug and alcohol workers and mental health services. Feedback from this workshop has been very positive. The young people engaged well and demonstrated their knowledge of the dangers that teenagers can face and how they can keep themselves and others safe. Staff act as any reasonable parent would do and provide young people with guidance on the use of smart phones and other social networking sites. Collectively, young people told the inspector that they feel comfortable to discuss any concerns with staff.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The young people have access to an advocacy service. This is arranged through discussions with their placing authorities and the young people of the type of person that would support the young people best. This supports young people to have an individual who they can meet and talk with outside of the home and helps them to have their views heard about their care. Young people are clear about how and who they would complain to if they had a concern regarding their care in the home. Young people when asked, during the inspection, did not raise any concerns about their care in the home and all young people were extremely positive about the care and support that they receive.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The suitably qualified and experienced registered manager leads the enthusiastic staff team successfully. The monitoring systems allow for the effective review of the quality of care that young people receive and to identify areas for improvement. Internal monitoring undertaken by the manager offers a good level of scrutiny so they are aware of any crucial issues and can identify potential patterns and trends. There is good evaluation and monitoring of the professional practice to ensure that young people receive high-quality care so they can continue to progress and to develop their experiences.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home has an excellent track record. The high level of care provided to young people is testament to the stable, qualified and experienced staff team. The management team follows rigorous procedures when considering new referrals in order to minimise any impact on the current young people placed, with some young people having lived in the home for some considerable time. The registered manager is not afraid to challenge professionals in order to ensure that young people receive services and support from their placing authorities or local agencies.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

No requirements or recommendations are made at the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to accommodate four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The home is privately owned.  The primary focus is to develop individual opportunities for young people within education, personal development, family contact (if applicable and appropriate) and through structured approach via the whole staff team, as written in the home's statement of purpose document.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/10/2016 Full Outstanding 08/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2015 Full Good 10/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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

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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