Children's home run by Keys Active 8 Care Limited 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

The one requirement in relation to restraint records made at the full inspection is met. Records now contain all the information as required by regulation. This ensures that young people’s records are complete. The registered manager has all of the required details to review the effectiveness should a restraint be used. The use of restraint in the home is low.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation in relation to evidencing the work young people do in preparation for independence is met. Following the last inspection, two young people have moved on from the home. One young person had a planned move back to their family. The other young person has successfully moved on into his own accommodation. The registered manager implemented a positive independent living skills programme. Records are now clear and show the work that young people have completed in preparation for their move to independence. This was further evidenced in the records at the inspection showing the work completed by a young person as he prepares to move to semi-independent living accommodation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation in relation to fully considering the impact that a new young person will have on the existing group of young people is met. Three young people have moved into the home following the last inspection. These placements were fully assessed at the referral stage by the registered manager and introductions made to the young people. Information about the services that the home provides is given to young people at the planning for admission stage. The registered manager has a good system in place to evidence her judgement, supporting compatibility with existing young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide young people with care that revolves around their day-to-day needs, and young people are getting on with their lives. Vocational attendance and outcomes for young people are improving. The registered manager advocates strongly for young people. If they refuse to engage in education, alternative and structured plans are put in place for them within the home. The registered manager is working with a young person’s placing social worker to secure suitable school provision in the local area. However, these arrangements are yet to be confirmed and put in place. As a result, a recommendation is made. This is to ensure that full-time education is in place for the young person while they are of compulsory school age.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are receiving good emotional support and they have access to therapy services as and when required. Staff do some creative direct work with young people and conduct key-worker session inside and outside of the home. This provides young people with an opportunity to explore their lives and supports them to gain confidence and talk about their emotions. Young people’s case files, key- working documents and contact arrangements are detailed and up to date and show the progress that young people make in the home. The home provides young people with a warm and welcoming environment. There are no outstanding repairs and the décor and furnishings are good.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are kept safe by a staff team that demonstrates a good knowledge of safeguarding practice. Improved risk assessments guide staff and ensure that they act on identified risks using agreed strategies to keep young people safe. Staff sign all young people’s risk assessments at the start of their working day. This ensures that any changes made are fully understood in order to protect young people. Missing-from-home episodes have significantly decreased. One young person who regularly went missing now rarely does. Staff undertake immediate and extensive searches for young people. They ensure that young people know that their welfare is paramount, and liaise with other professionals, family and friends until their safe return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a voice in the home and are regularly consulted. They told the inspector that they have no concerns or complaints about the care and support they receive in the home. This reflects their ability and confidence in discussing any issues they may have with the registered manager and staff on a daily basis. Young people participate in their statutory review meetings. For example, young people’s requests for further contact visits with their family have contributed to the decrease in missing-from-home incidents. A parent of a young person who has moved back home sent the home a thank you card, saying, ‘Dear everyone, thank you so much for looking after my son.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive behaviour is encouraged within the home and staff work consistently as a team to ensure that young people know what is expected of them. The last recorded physical intervention was on 15 January 2015. Sanctions are agreed with the young people and proportionate. Staff use a reward system with young people and they engage well with this because they are motivated by their chosen reward. Young people are consulted about their preferred activity or interests and all young people, and staff have enjoyed days out celebrating and wishing each of the young people who have moved on good luck for their futures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be well run by an experienced registered manager. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the home, the service provided and young people’s individual needs. The registered manager is striving to continually improve practice and is open to advice and guidance from partner agencies, senior management and Ofsted. She utilises the support and guidance from the independent person’s monthly reports and produces sound evaluative monitoring reports. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and attend team meetings which focus on young people’s progress. Staff confirmed that morale is good and that strong relationships exist between young people and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership work is effective with other agencies which provide specialist advice, guidance and support. For example, the local police visit regularly to provide advice, support and build up relationships with the young people and help them with their understanding of consequences. Drug and alcohol advice and the youth justice team provide young people with sessions and educate them about socially acceptable behaviour. The registered manager is confident and challenges placing social workers or other services in order to ensure that young people receive the services as agreed in their plan of care. This ensures that young people are supported and continue to make good progress in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate four children. The home specialises in the care of children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/09/2016 Full Good 10/05/2016 Full Inadequate 14/01/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/09/2015 Full Inadequate

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within their care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child's relevant plan indicates that this is not in their best interest. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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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 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: 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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