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

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been fully met. Supervision is now taking place for the manager with appropriate frequency to allow his professional needs to be met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The views of young people are now being recorded and action taken to respond to these views where possible. For example, young people wanted the night of their weekly meetings to be changed, and this has been arranged. The registered manager has taken action to gain access to education documents and is challenging other agencies appropriately where this is not in place. Training on the ‘autistic spectrum disorder’ is being provided to staff in order to enhance their skills in caring for young people with more complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have left the home since the last inspection, and only one young person has been admitted. This was carefully planned, with introductory visits and overnight stays, and liaison with the education provider to ensure continuity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships with friends from the young person’s home environment have been maintained because of the proactive action by the registered manager and staff. Consequently, the young person has settled in well and episodes of exclusion from school are decreasing. The young person commented that he has been able to paint his bed headboard in his chosen football team colours and that staff have bought him team stickers for his bedroom. This was clearly important to him to establish his sense of belonging.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress in education, sometimes from challenging starting points. Where young people’s experiences prevent them from fully engaging in formal education, staff work hard to promote their interests with teaching staff. For example, staff respond to issues of inappropriate behaviour at school by spending time in the classroom until the young person has calmed down instead of removing them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For young people approaching adulthood, the registered manager supports them to plan for their future; this involves plans to combine education with voluntary work to assist in both learning and social development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health of young people is improving. Two young people have been able to reduce their medication and one is obtaining, for the first time, the health monitoring he requires. Young people benefit from the input from a therapist who also provides guidance to staff on the most therapeutic ways to manage young people’s behaviour. As a consequence, the behaviour of young people is generally settled and improving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no episodes of young people going missing since the last inspection. There has been one incident of restraint of a young person and one where it was necessary to restrict the young person’s liberty in order to protect them. A safeguarding disclosure made to a member of staff was promptly referred to the necessary authorities and the young person is being offered therapeutic support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say they feel safe in the home and the local community. With thorough risk assessment and appropriate safeguards, they are allowed a degree of freedom to visit the local skate park or the homes of friends. This demonstrates the home’s ability to keep young people safe while recognising their need for increasing independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work in partnership with families, placing authorities, and education and health professionals. Where it is proving difficult to obtain the necessary documentation from a placing authority, the manager challenges and escalates this appropriately. Good relationships are being built up with the police, who call into the home regularly and interact with the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Through reflective supervision and input from a therapist, the manager is working to enhance the knowledge of the staff team. This will enable its members to understand how past experiences of abuse or neglect may manifest themselves in the behaviour of the young people. This will further enhance the standard of care for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is generally well maintained, but could be improved by more thorough cleaning of the communal areas and repainting of internal doors.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/09/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/07/2015 Full Good 11/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is with particular reference to the repainting of internal doors and a deep clean of the communal areas.

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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 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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