Children's home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Rossendale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive good-quality individualised care. Behaviour management plans are personalised and young people are involved in their plans. Key working sessions continue to be frequent and address young people’s behaviours, emotions and achievements. Young people continue to make progress educationally and socially. For example, one young person attends school full time and is a member of the school council. This is excellent progress for him. Young people engage in activities such as swimming, the cinema, football and attending St John Ambulance. A social worker said: ‘My young person has had a period of stability in placement and it has been excellent for him. He gets a lot of advice and guidance from staff.’ Admissions are well planned and the registered manager ensures that she gathers as much information as possible prior to admission. Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home to move into semi-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

independent accommodation. There was a well-organised transition plan in place and staff tried hard to try to engage the young person in preparing him for independent living, although this was not always successful. However, this was an unsuccessful placement and the young person experienced an unplanned ending in a period of crisis. The registered manager and staff felt unable to manage the young person’s complex needs. The registered manager rigorously learns from safeguarding incidents. On one occasion, staff failed to follow a young person’s risk management plan or the organisation’s protocols for reporting safeguarding concerns. Delays in reporting significant information to the police could have had significant and detrimental consequences. On occasion, there has been an over-reliance on other professionals’ advice rather than following the organisation’s own risk management protocols. Staff lack the skills or expertise to manage some significant safeguarding incidents. Since

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

this particular incident, when information was not shared swiftly with police and the placing authority, the registered manager and staff team have learnt from it and made significant changes. As an organisation, there are now new protocols in place for managing specific safeguarding incidents and risk-taking behaviours, and all staff have been debriefed and are clear about the expectations of them. On the whole, young people are kept safe and, for some young people, their risk- taking behaviours reduce. For other young people who have been in crisis, staff have been vigilant at following risk management plans. Risk-taking incidents such as going missing or self-harm incidents have been well managed and staff have rigorously safeguarded young people. Partnership working is good and supports young people’s emotional well-being. The registered manager and staff have liaised with other professionals, escalated their concerns with placing authorities and quickly involved

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

other specialist professionals such as mental health services. The registered manager monitors staff practice effectively. She takes actions to swiftly address practice shortfalls. Requirements have been met from the last inspection. Team meetings are well coordinated and involve other professionals, and this enables a multi-agency approach to managing risk. The registered manager continues to be a strong advocate for the young people in her care. She continues to effectively use other professionals and agencies to support young people’s care plans and to enable them to have access to the services they need to make progress. She continues to challenge placing authorities when she does not agree with decisions, and she implements placing authorities’ guidance and recommendations where appropriate. This is a privately owned home, registered to provide care and accommodation for two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff

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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;

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Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

(vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

(vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 03/04/2017

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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 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 0300 123 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 at: 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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