Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Lincolnshire

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 . Since the last inspection, the home has experienced a more settled period. Due to the recent recruitment of permanent staff, young people are now living in a stable environment with familiar carers. This supports young people to form positive and trusting relationships. The young people in the home are making good progress. They speak positively about the home and feel safe. Young people discuss how they feel and express their views well. They are encouraged to contribute to care planning decisions. Both young people are developing their self-care skills and have opportunities to practise independence skills, supported by staff. Since the last inspection, two young people have moved on from the home. Their transitions were managed effectively and successfully. Young people are kept as safe as possible in the home. Effective partnership

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

working ensures that each young person receives the support and intervention that they need. Feedback from partner agencies about the effectiveness of the home is positive. Safeguarding incidents, such as young people going missing from care, are managed well. The registered manager has undertaken an assessment of the home’s location to identify any risks in the area. Although this is adequate, a recommendation has been made to consider wider consultation, including discussions with young people living in the home, to gain a wider range of views about any risks in the local area. The three requirements and one recommendation made at the last inspection have been met. One requirement was made in relation to young people not being motivated to access education and a lack of aspiration in this area. There is now a greater emphasis on education, and staff ensure that young people are purposefully engaged in learning in the home if there are any delays in accessing education

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

provision. Young people are making slow but steady progress in their education, and staff advocate on their behalf. Not all young people have an up-to-date personal education plan on file. A requirement has been made at this inspection to ensure that staff appropriately challenge placing authorities when there are delays in plans being progressed. Two further requirements were made at the last inspection to improve recording. This was in relation to accurately recording fire evacuation drills and staff supervision. Both requirements have been met, and improvements are noted in management recording and oversight. The recommendation made at the last inspection was to ensure that new staff are fully supported during their probationary period, with access to appropriate training and development opportunities. The home has been through a difficult period in relation to staffing, but, following successful recruitment of new staff, the situation

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is now more stable. New staff are subject to probationary reviews and, after completing their probationary period, begin a level 3 qualification. A reduction in the number of young people in the home has provided new staff with the space to reflect and consolidate their training. The reduction in numbers has also allowed experienced staff to provide appropriate support and guidance. Staff training is comprehensive, and there is clearly defined mandatory training. However, few staff have an up-to-date first aid qualification, which puts pressure on rotas due to the need to have a qualified first aider on shift at all times. A requirement has been made at this inspection to ensure that sufficient staff members have up-to-date first aid training. The leadership team is becoming more established. Plans to develop the home are starting to be implemented. The registered manager recognises that there are areas for ongoing development, and he has good insight into the strengths and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

weaknesses of the home. Monitoring systems have improved, and a clear and methodical approach towards recording is now in place.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four girls who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The young people are aged between 10 and 18 years. The home works with young people who display challenging behaviours that are often associated with traumatised life experiences, including child sexual exploitation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

02/12/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure that children’s needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered manager must, and must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)(c)) 17/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

31: Staffing of children’s homes The registered person must ensure that, at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31(2)(a)) 17/03/2017

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. This is with reference to the need to give more consideration to safeguarding in the community, and greater consultation. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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, workbased 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

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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