Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

Since the full inspection, the home has seen significant changes. The home is currently without a registered manager, and in the months following the last inspection a number of staff left the home. This has proved to be a challenging period, which has seen staff instability combined with an increase in safeguarding incidents. All of the young people who lived in the home at the time of the full inspection have moved on, making successful transitions to other homes or foster care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people currently live in the home, having both moved there recently. Placing social workers speak positively about the home. One social worker said, ‘It has been a really positive placement, (we were) so lucky to find it. The staff are proactive and have good plans in place.’ Young people make positive progress from their starting points, particularly in relation to their personal, social and emotional development. Young people find the acting manager approachable, and she has provided much-needed stability. Despite disruption in staffing, young people speak exceptionally positively about staff. One young person said, ‘They really care for me. They are lovely, they give you everything you need.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The educational progress of young people is variable. One young person’s educational plans are very appropriate, with a place identified at a local school. Another young person has a less robust plan. There have been delays in identifying the right educational provision, with staff advocating that the current plans do not meet her needs. A recommendation has been made at this inspection to ensure that staff continue to press for more ambitious plans for the young person’s education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have struggled to manage behaviour effectively. Behaviour management plans are detailed but have at times been ineffective. Responses to safeguarding situations have been appropriate, but the pre-empting of situations and de-escalation of incidents has been inconsistent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This became particularly difficult in the months after the full inspection, due to a period of staff instability and the combination of young people living in the home. Relationships between young people were difficult and at times unsafe. Staff are now managing behaviour more confidently with the support of the acting manager, and are clear about the need for consistent, firm boundaries. Although there continue to be challenging incidents in the home, these are reducing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use physical intervention as a last resort to promote safety. In situations where physical intervention becomes necessary, staff use this safely and record this clearly. Debriefs take place so that young people can reflect on the incident and express any negative feelings that they have about being restrained. In recent months, the use of physical intervention has reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One social worker commented on how risks associated with child sexual exploitation had significantly reduced for a young person since she moved into the home. The young person is fully engaging in work to help her recognise risks and make safer decisions. In this respect, risk to young people is reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This has been a period of reflection and learning for the home. An experienced manager has been seconded to the home and will remain in place until a permanent manager is in post. Managers are reviewing the quality of care and professional practice. Managers have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager and staff have worked positively with partner agencies in ensuring that young people get the specialist support they need. The home is now fully staffed, and staff report that morale is improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The three recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation and provides 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 31/08/2016 Full Outstanding 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/07/2015 Full Outstanding 09/03/2015 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:  Children should be in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the 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 this is not in their best interests. (‘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 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

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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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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