Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement 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

Since the last inspection one young person has left the home. This was unplanned and occurred after a significant incident in the home. One young person has been admitted into the home. This was a planned admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people are making progress. Since the last inspection, one young person has started attending school. This is a significant achievement for the young person. While attending school has caused some difficulties for the young person, staff have managed any incidents well. Staff are better at helping young people to be safe in their peer relationships and in the community. Key-working sessions are improved. The registered manager has put in place a schedule of planned key- working sessions for the month. The aim of this is to be able to talk with and work with young people prior to incidents happening. Communication with other professionals is improved, and young people have a much more coordinated response to their care planning. Boundaries are much more consistent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is improved communication between staff and young people’s schools. One young person has stopped attending college. However, the registered manager believes this to be positive and is liaising with other further education providers and the young person, so as to identify a more suitable course. Currently, one young person in the home wishes to move into independent living and she does not feel that the placement is meeting her needs. While the registered manager has shared this information with the young person’s placing authority, there are currently no firm plans in place as to how the registered manager and placing authority will ensure that the young person has a planned and positive transition from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy positive relationships with the staff. However, some young people’s relationships with each other are negative, and on one occasion this resulted in young people trying to physically assault one another. While this is an isolated occasion and staff did their best to manage the situation, further work regarding the impact of their relationship on other young people in the home has not taken place. This has the potential to significantly impact on the new young person in the home. Since the last inspection, there have been some significant safeguarding incidents. However, staff have a much better understanding of safeguarding. Risk management plans are improved. For example, staff make sure that they make contact with young people’s friends before they stay at their home. The registered manager has established good working relationships with the local child sexual exploitation police team. The registered manager and police have shared

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

information regarding any potential location risks. When young people go missing, staff follow them and search for them. Staff adhere to young people’s risk management plans and appropriately refer to the police if they cannot find young people when they go missing. However, some young people do not have the opportunity to have a return interview after they have been missing. This means that potentially important information is not obtained.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are engaging in key-working sessions regarding substance misuse and child sexual exploitation. Staff involve young people more in developing their understanding regarding risk-taking behaviours. For example, staff now complete regular checks on young people’s mobile phones due to concerns regarding who they have been in contact with. Staff gain young people’s consent and young people understand why staff complete these checks. Referrals are appropriately made to other support agencies, such as the substance misuse service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management monitoring and oversight is improved. The newly registered manager has more of an understanding of the young people and their risk-taking behaviours. She has made improvements to the young people’s plans and has formed more effective working relationships with other agencies such as the police. Improved partnership working means that young people’s risk-management plans are more informed and there is a much more effective response to young people’s risk-taking behaviours. However, this is in its infancy and the impact on young people’s progress is not evidenced at this stage.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements and one recommendation have been raised from this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/11/2015 Full Good 02/03/2015 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 positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a) (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) (iii) that arrangements are in place to plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child's placing authority. 01/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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