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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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

The home is part of a large national organisation.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this visit to monitor three compliance notices that were served following a recent full inspection that resulted in an inadequate inspection judgement. There is currently a restriction in place to prevent any other children or young people being placed at this home. Two young people remain living at this home, although one is being supported with a transition. This is the second monitoring visit undertaken by Ofsted since the full inspection. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that all areas of compliance have been met. This relates in particular to leadership and management. Due to this ongoing shortfall a further compliance notice will be issued. The registered manager does not have effective systems in place to ensure that she has robust managerial oversight and monitoring of the care that children receive. The registered manager is unable to consider themes, trends and areas of increased risks for children. This results in a

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This monitoring visit

responsive approach to care rather than one that reflects the children’s individual needs. The registered manager has failed to provide staff with clarity about what is expected of them in order for them to effectively care for children, keep children safe and reduce risks. In addition, not all known risks are effectively addressed in care planning documents. Risk assessments have been updated, but they fail to offer clear direction to staff. They also demonstrate some significant gaps in knowledge around key areas of practice. The registered manager was recently registered with Ofsted. Her lack of managerial experience has not been effectively supported by her senior leaders. She is open Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400212 2 and honest, and accepting that her lack of experience impacts negatively on the quality of care provided to children. Senior leaders have been in the home offering

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This monitoring visit

support. This support has failed to ensure that areas of compliance, and areas concerning practice, have been addressed. Other areas of compliance have been met. Some of these achievements have been brought about by changes in circumstances rather than practice. For example, the transition for one young person out of the home means that issues around poor progress and education have been naturally alleviated. There has also been a change in the dynamics in the home due to only one child living there full time. This has resulted in a reduction of dangerous and significant incidents. Some improvements have been made to the home. Significant damage observed by inspectors on the two previous visits continues to be addressed. Some areas of the home still present as stark. The home does not yet portray a homely and welcoming environment for children to live in. Following this monitoring visit the notice to restrict accommodation remains in place.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted will continue to monitor this service.

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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

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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

9: The enjoyment and achievement standard 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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— 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)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard 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. 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; 01/08/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400212 4 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

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Requirement Due date

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)) 13: The leadership and management standard 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; and promotes their welfare. 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 of the

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Requirement Due date

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 The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 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 01/08/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400212 5 within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set

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Requirement Due date

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)) 35: Behaviour management policies and records 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

36: Children’s case records 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 that they are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 01/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

37: Other records 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

45: Review of quality of care The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— the quality of care provided for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 01/08/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400212 6 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of

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Requirement Due date

care review report’). The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2(a)(b)(c)) (3) (4(a)(b))(5)

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of 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 7

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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 Michelle Oxley, regulatory inspector manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC400212 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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