Children's home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 1 SC389183 Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 August to 1 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives, such as in education, behaviour and independence. Their emotional well-being improves significantly. Their life chances are enhanced.  Young people feel valued and cared for and staff fully safeguard them. The young people, some of whose starting points were of despair, speak of their happiness at the home and their hopes for the future.  Young people enjoy positive relationships with each other and with staff. They are able to manage differences of opinion without compromise to their relationships. Staff give consistent and unwavering support.  Young people make great strides in developing their independence. They take responsibility for their health, do voluntary work to gain experience and learn how to cook. Young people are preparing well for the adult world.  The registered manager demonstrates outstanding leadership. She has an eye

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Key findings from this inspection

for detail, an in-depth understanding of the needs of the young people and a clear vision for the future development of the home.  The registered manager listens to others. She learns from incidents. She adapts programmes, strategies and staff training to ensure positive outcomes for young people.  The registered manager has established a culture of positive reward. Young people embrace this ethos. Staff do not have to resort to the use of sanctions or restraint to manage behaviour. Young people’s behaviour is exemplary.  A competent, highly motivated and well-trained staff team rises to the high standard and expectations that are set for it. Staff strive for excellence in all they do.  Staff engage fully with other agencies, taking advice and guidance. Consequently, there are successful outcomes. Young people no longer engage in frequent risk-taking behaviour.  All staff demonstrate a meticulous attention to detail. They are aware of the

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Key findings from this inspection

detailed risk assessments and are diligent in applying them. Young people are safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are required to implement fully the revised e-safety policy. Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2017 Full Outstanding 01/09/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 4

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Recommendations

 Implement fully the policy on the protection of children from abuse and neglect, in particular e-safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy warm and positive relationships with other young people in the home, as well as with staff. Young people are respectful and engage in mature conversation. They are flourishing in their own ability and especially their readiness for independence. They have clear vision and hope for the future. Staff provide an exceptional quality of care, including a calm and professional response to young people who display challenging behaviour. Young people respond constructively to this. Their life chances are enhanced because of living in this home. They are happy with the care they receive and no young people have made a complaint since the last inspection. A particular strength of this home is the approach that staff take to teaching young people independent living skills. Staff are systematic in their approach. They use small, obtainable targets and a monthly tracker to monitor progress. Young people develop

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

confidence in their own abilities. They are able to travel independently, go to health appointments on their own, manage a budget and cook. Some young people obtain part- time work, paid or voluntary. All young people have a pathway plan. Staff work proactively with young people to ensure that they are fully engaged with pathway planning. Young people take full advantage of the services available to them, such as the guidance from a personal adviser, as they plan their future. Staff prepare young people exceedingly well for their adult life. Young people gain self-awareness of their behaviour and the impact on others. They are able to reflect and change behaviour. One particular young person was very positive about the progress they have made, from their starting point of challenging behaviour and violence, and damage to property. The young person said, ‘This home has changed me for the better.’ A placing social worker said, ‘Staff provide consistent and unwavering

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

support, even when there are difficulties.’ A parent said, ‘They have done brilliantly. There are no problems.’ Staff use innovative ways to give young people the best possible chance in education. An example is a young person potentially doing a part-time course at college, prior to the academic year, to gain confidence. Staff accompany young people on their bus route until they are certain the young people can get to school on their own. Such strategies are successful. Young people enrol in their chosen courses, secure in the knowledge that they have the social and independent skills they need to succeed. Young people use Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 5 their initiative to pursue their interests, for example one has applied to work at a stud farm. Young people gain further skills in the wider community, such as through employment at a local café. Staff understand the underlying psychological reasons for young people’s behaviour,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

including self-harm. They engage with other agencies, such as the child, adolescent and mental health service, to help young people explore and express their upsetting and difficult feelings without resorting to self-harm. Staff work with health professionals to explore the effects of medication on mood. They advocate for a medication review where appropriate. Staff use innovative methods to engage with young people. They develop fun and interactive workshops to support young people’s independence. Staff research the topics well, carefully considering the practicalities of young people leaving care and the challenges they will face. Examples are a workshop on the cost of keeping a pet, and another workshop on rights in the workplace. Staff have produced a leavers’ guide. This is a comprehensive manual reminding young people of their key independent skills and the local services available to them. Young people know who they can contact for

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

guidance as they make the transition to independence. Young people enjoy excellent health. They take responsibility for their own health, attending appointments and taking advice. Young people with specialist health needs get the support they need, for example epilepsy management. They enjoy healthy exercise, such as football or using a boxing punch bag. Young people enjoy seeing their families and others who are important to them. They make use of technology as well as face-to-face contact to stay in touch. They enjoy overseas holidays with their families. Young people are learning how to relate to people of all ages in different environments and cultures.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff show deep concern when a young person goes missing. They search relentlessly, throughout the night if necessary. They work with other agencies, such as the police, to effect a safe return to the home. Young people feel valued and cared for. They understand that staff are worried about them. They respond to the care and advice. Some young people no longer go missing, while others show a significant reduction. There have been two incidents since the last inspection. Staff keep written records of each episode, and these are a model of excellence. Staff approach medicine management with the seriousness it warrants. A key member of staff takes leadership. She has effective systems in place, reviewing procedures after any issue. As young people approach adulthood, staff consider how young people will administer their own medication. Staff have a comprehensive programme for young people to progress to this stage. They carefully consider the risks, such as overdosing.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff work with the placing social worker to agree strategies on how to keep each young person safe, while developing their readiness for independence. Excellent, well-thought-out risk assessments mean that young people pursue their interests safely. Staff respond swiftly to update risk assessments in light of any emerging Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 6 concerns, thereby promoting young people’s safety. The registered manager is aware of the need to contextualise historical events in some of the longer risk assessments, so that the immediate and more recent risks are clear to the reader. A professional report stated that the support given by staff keeps a particular young person very safe. The home’s approach to behaviour management is ambitious, consistent and effective. Outcomes are extraordinary. Young people speak proudly of the progress they have made, such as no longer damaging property or being violent toward staff. This is a home

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

where sanctions and restraints are not required, as young people’s behaviour is exemplary. A placing social worker said that, ‘[Name of young person] has been offered consistent and unwavering support regarding any difficulties he has presented. Staff have been relentless in their work with him. Their persistency has paid off.’ Young people live in a family environment where sometimes there is natural, friendly banter. Young people respond in a mature and responsible way to this. No bullying is evident. Young people are considerate of each other’s needs. Staff are forward thinking. They use key-work sessions to support young people to think about real-life scenarios. An example is what young people should do about getting into a car with a friend who has been drinking alcohol. Young people think through potential consequences while in a calm and supportive environment. They decide on what their course of action will be to keep themselves safe in such an event.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The registered manager has revised the safeguarding policy to include e-safety, as recommended at the previous inspection. The policy states that staff are to undertake key-work sessions in relation to e-safety. These sessions are currently infrequent. Young people are not at immediate risk as a result of this; they trust staff to keep them safe. Young people tell staff of any concerns, for example if a fake profile is set up in their name. Staff take the necessary action to protect the young people. Where appropriate, they notify the police and take advice from the child exploitation and online centre. The registered manager has reviewed the location risk assessment in consultation with others, as recommended at the previous inspection. She has detailed the risks in the locality. She keeps this up to date, with monthly statistics about local crime. This supports the ongoing safety of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The registered manager adopts safer recruitment practice. Young people contribute to the interview questions. There have been no new staff since the last inspection. The registered manager has ensured that detailed procedures are in place to be followed in the event of any child protection concerns. She has a track record for managing incidents efficiently in consultation with safeguarding professionals. This includes consideration of a referral to the disclosure and barring service. There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is demonstrating outstanding leadership. Staff are delivering exceptional quality of care. Young people are making significant progress. A staff member said, ‘The manager takes time to ensure the well-being of all her staff and Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 7 listens and acts where needed. All staff support each other and work as a team. The young people are settled and safe and we strive to ensure that all their needs are met, whether that be educational, emotional or physical.’ The highly skilled manager has high expectations of herself that underpin the ethos of the home. She has a good grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, an attention to detail and a clear vision for the future. She has written this into a detailed development plan. She learns from incidents, takes advice from others and is punctilious in her monitoring. This results in positive outcomes for young people. One example is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

when a staff member raised concerns about the quality of substance misuse training. The registered manager was successful in finding a superior course. Staff and some young people attended, and some young people went on to engage with the substance misuse team. They were successful in overcoming their habit and were discharged from the service. Young people speak positively of the boundaries that staff put in place and how different their lives are now. The registered manager is well qualified and experienced. She has excellent support through her line management structure. She has taken assertive steps to develop her own skills and qualifications, doing courses in health and safety and becoming a positive behaviour support coach. The registered manager supports her team equally well, through formal supervision and team meetings. Staff feel valued and supported. The stable staff team provides consistency and stability to the young people. Staff know

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young people well and can see the young people’s potential, supporting young people to be optimistic about their futures. The registered manager has fostered strong relationships with other professionals, who speak very highly of her communication skills. She sends regular reports to placing social workers. She invites the local police into the home, and they build good relationships with the young people. Staff are very positive about her leadership. A member of staff said, ‘We have direction now. It would not be like this if it were not for the registered manager. She makes time for her staff.’ Morale is high. Staff retention is excellent. The registered manager has ensured that a comprehensive training plan is in place. She is not satisfied that staff merely attend training, but ensures that they apply their learning to practice. Staff develop strategies as a direct result of attending a course,

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

such as how they will go about helping young people understand why they are in care. A staff member said, ‘We have just recently had training regarding the mental health needs of children looked after and looked at resilience and accepting your past. This has helped the staff team to think about helping young people understand why they are at the home.’ The registered manager is passionate about monitoring. She makes full use of independent scrutiny of the home, such as that by the independent visitor or Ofsted. She is transparent in the running of the home. She notifies relevant agencies about significant events. She strives for excellence, always seeking to refine practice. The registered manager’s firm focus is on improving the lives of young people; she wants to prepare them fully for independence and success in their lives. She encourages community integration both through work and leisure activities. Young people have a

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

sense of belonging and purpose, as well as hope for the future. Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 8 Staff are dedicated to the young people. They demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the detailed placement plans to inform their practice. Key staff keep these plans up to date so that the current needs of young people are at the forefront of practice. Young people contribute to the plans, making amendments if necessary. Staff understand the home’s statement of purpose. They follow the comprehensive plans to achieve the stated aims and objectives. Staff maintain the environment exceptionally well. Young people live in a pleasant, comfortable environment that is not institutionalised. They are proud of their bedrooms and how they have been able to personalise them, such as posting ‘selfies’ with their friends on the walls and displaying trophies they have won.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keys Attachment Centre, New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale BB4 6HR

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Inspector

Keith Riley, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC389183 10 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

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Inspector

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