Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 1 SC400212

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Bettercare Keys Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home recently had a full inspection. At this inspection the home was judged to be inadequate. A restriction was put in place and three compliance notices were issued.

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Information about this children’s home

Two young people remain living at this home. The home is part of a large national organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this monitoring visit following receipt of a notification about a serious, prolonged and dangerous incident that took place in the home. There is currently a restriction in place to prevent any other children or young people from moving in. Two young people remain living at this home.

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This monitoring visit

There have been four significant incidents recorded since the full inspection. The current staffing arrangements are not adequate to ensure that incidents can be effectively managed. One incident was not managed in line with the young person’s plan, resulting in significant damage to the home over a number of hours. The other young person was witness to dangerous and aggressive behaviours. Inspectors found that not all incidents that had taken place were recorded as such.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers failed to ensure swift and robust oversight following the significant incident in the home. Strategies that had been identified by managers to reduce risks had not been implemented a number of days after the incident occurred.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit the registered manager advised inspectors that daily checks are undertaken to ensure that there are no dangerous or concerning items in young people’s bedrooms. It is concerning that despite the checks having been Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 2 carried out, staff failed to remove tools from one young person’s room that could be used to cause harm to property or others.

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This monitoring visit

One member of staff failed to take appropriate action when they discovered drug paraphernalia belonging to one young person. There was a failure to escalate or share this information with other staff members. This shortfall later triggered the prolonged and dangerous incident in the home, when the young person demanded his belongings back.

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This monitoring visit

Significant damage has been caused, adding to the damage that has not yet been addressed from previous incidents. There was no cooker in the home. This had been damaged along with some kitchen cupboards. One young person’s room was not clean. The young person had significantly damaged their wall and door.

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This monitoring visit

The delay in responding to significant and concerning behaviours, the inability of the team to maintain good order in the home and the presentation of the home are of considerable concern. Ofsted will continue to monitor developments closely.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/06/2017 Full Inadequate 26/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 3 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(x)) 06/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

9: The enjoyment and achievement standard

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— 01/08/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 5 develop the child’s interests and hobbies; participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 11: The positive relationships standard

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(xi)(b)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard*

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 06/07/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 6 that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so

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Requirement Due date

as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health; and that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(d)(e)) 13: The leadership and management standard*

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; andpromotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development 06/07/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 7 of the quality of care provided in the home; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 14: The care planning standard

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; andhave a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose; that arrangements are in place to— manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(2)(b)(ii)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) speaks to the user about the measure; and signs the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which includes the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and ensures 01/08/2017 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 8 that they are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 37: Other records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4; and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bettercare Keys Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Keys Group, Laganwood House, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5NW

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Inspector(s)

Tracey Ledder, social care inspector Janice Hawtin, social care inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC400212 10 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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