Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 1 SC419429 Registered provider: Direct Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four girls who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The young people are aged between 10 and 18 years. The home will work with young people who display challenging behaviours that are often associated with traumatised past life experiences, including child sexual exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The home is providing a good and, in some respects, an outstanding service to young people.  Staff protect young people extremely well. They consistently implement comprehensive risk and behaviour management plans that keep young people as safe as possible.  Risk to young people is significantly reduced as a result of living at this home. Incidents of self-harm, drug use, missing and risks of sexual exploitation are reduced, and in some cases stop altogether.  The home is welcoming and warm and provides a safe environment.  Young people are encouraged to develop positive and trusting relationships with staff. These relationships support young people to feel safe and to make safer choices. Young people speak positively about their experiences at the home.  Young people make good progress in many aspects of their lives. Their life chances improve.  Young people are encouraged to engage fully in their education and they make

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Key findings from this inspection

good progress from their starting points. Staff advocate on their behalf when education is not going well, and work in partnership with others to bring about positive change.  Staff support young people well with contact with their families. For most young people, they are placed at some distance from their families.  The staff team has stabilised over recent months. The manager provides strong leadership, and has developed a culture of nurturing, child-centred practice.  One area of improvement was identified as a recommendation. This related to the home holding a central record of return interviews offered by placing authorities and achieved.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/11/2016 Full Good 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 3

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide 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 home regulations including quality standards’, page 45 paragraph 9.10) This is relation to having a central record of return interviews offered and achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress in many aspects of their lives. They benefit from positive, trusting relationships with staff, and grow in confidence and self-esteem. The staff are skilled in communicating with young people and, as a result, young people quickly feel welcomed and accepted in the home. A parent commented that staff have been ‘brilliant’ and added: ‘The staff are really helpful and work hard to reduce the risks.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and provides a safe and homely environment. There is a relaxed atmosphere in the home and a sense of young people and staff having close and respectful relationships. One young person recently moved in to the home having had several foster placements. This young person said: ‘The staff are down to earth here. That was what I needed, as I didn’t need a family situation.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with placing authorities, parents and other agencies to promote positive outcomes for young people. One social worker commented: ‘Communication is fantastic, and working together is a strength of this home.’ Good communication is evidenced in positive and clear recordings of incidents and sharing of information. This is cascaded through to the recording of key-work sessions. Key-work sessions take place regularly and are an integral part of day- to-day arrangements. Young people benefit from ‘key-working meals’ where they can access their key-workers on a one-to-one basis over a relaxed meal. This contributes to developing trusted relationships and gives young people a sense of being heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is significant progress in relation to young people’s emotional health and well-being. Progress is also seen through a reduction in incidents of being missing from the home and reduction in risks associated with child sexual exploitation. All young people admitted to the home present with high levels of emotional health and well-being needs, combined with the experience of a number of previous placement breakdowns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The majority of young people are making excellent educational progress from their starting Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 4 points. The manager and staff advocate on behalf of young people to ensure that they have access to educational provision early on in the placement. For one young person, this involved getting her in to school for three weeks at the end of the summer term. This was achieved. The young person had a positive experience of education and gained qualifications. This prepared her for starting college the following term. Two young people are attending college, one on a full-time basis. Her attendance is 93%. This young person was not in education prior to starting her placement at the home. The college tutor stated that the young person is on track to take GCSEs and she has aspirations for further education. She said: ‘Staff have supported her brilliantly in engaging with her education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

They have done a fantastic job and are very supportive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s health needs are met. Young people tend to have significant emotional health needs at the point of admission and some are at risk of child sexual exploitation. Staff access support from specialist agencies, from drug and alcohol services, and from the organisation’s psychologist, where necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This year, one young person has benefited from the support of a specialist child sexual exploitation worker. This source of support has been significant for this young person. As the risks had reduced, the service was not deemed as being necessary. Staff recognised the impact that this would have and they have supported the young person to manage this ending. Alternative support is accessible if required through advocacy or independent visitors.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with young people and their parents and relatives. Staff work creatively to promote regular, good quality contact. For most young people, this involves long distance support and often requires staff to implement contingency plans if support is needed during contact. One young person’s contact was supported indirectly by the home via Skype calls and telephone contact. This young person was positively supported back to her country of origin to be reunited with her parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a say in the running of the home. There is evidence of regular consultation meetings with staff. Most young people report that they feel listened to and have established relationships with their key-workers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard with young people to support them in understanding and influencing their journey through care. One young person’s risk-taking behaviours had reduced significantly, and the local authority were considering moving her closer to home and progressing to a care plan of foster care. The social worker had asked the young person to write a letter explaining her views on this plan. Staff helped the young person to put her feelings down on paper and it was evident that she felt that staff were investing in her and respecting her views, supporting the young person to be able to influence her future care arrangements.

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

Young people have been supported extremely well to reduce risks. Missing episodes have reduced drastically over recent months and child sexual exploitation risk assessments remain in place. However, no current child sexual exploitation risks are identified. A social worker Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 5 commented: ‘Staff have worked really hard to safeguard young people.’

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

Young people receive care from a cohesive staff team. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of individual risks and how these are to be managed. Children report that they feel safe, and that they are supported to be safe. One young person stated: ‘I feel 9 out of 10 safe.’ Risk assessments are clear, comprehensive, and regularly reviewed. Young people’s individual needs are very well understood. Staff are able to demonstrate the significant progress that young people make, and the support that is afforded to young people to take age-appropriate and well-managed risks. Behaviour support plans are linked to key-working sessions, and there is evidence of cross-referencing this to ensure that young people receive consistent messages.

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

Incidents of young people going missing from the home are very low, with a reduction in missing episodes to one incident in the last five months. Young people at this home all arrived with a significant history of missing from care or home. Staff remain vigilant and continue to be aware of missing from care procedures and protocols. Staff pride themselves on knowing the young people extremely well and they have appropriate behaviour management plans in place to reduce risk. One recommendation is made in reference to holding a central log of independent return interviews, detailing when these are offered and achieved.

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

In the last six months there have been two incidents of physical intervention being used within the home. This is attributable to staff having an excellent understanding of young people’s needs. Young people are supported and are involved in positive behaviour management. This runs in parallel with working within trusted relationships. There is a commendable feeling of respect between both staff and young people.

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

There have been no incidents of self-harm in the home within the last six months. Some young people have a history of self-harming behaviour and the risks are well understood. Staff demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of the young people to enable them to understand the potential triggers, alongside offering young people nurturing and trusted relationships.

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

Most young people at the home have presented as being at high risk of child sexual exploitation at the point of admission. Risks are significantly reduced during their time here and no young people are currently involved in risk-taking behaviours. Risk assessments and behaviour management strategies continue to be in place to support young people with this. This is in addition to accessing other services, where appropriate.

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

The home environment is secure and homely. Staff and young people work together to agree how the home should be furnished and decorated. The home has CCTV fitted to external areas of the property. This is clearly signed and visitors are made aware of its use.

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

There have been no allegations against staff since the previous inspection. Staff are clear about the systems that are in place in the event of an allegation, and the process for this. Staff present as confident in what steps that they should take in the event of a young person making an allegation against staff members. Staff present as competent professionals with a Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 6 variety of skills that enable them to fulfil their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably skilled, qualified and experienced. She has recently taken up the manager post, having previously been the deputy manager at the home. The manager is currently in the process of applying to be registered with Ofsted. She demonstrates a sound knowledge of young people’s individual needs and she delivers a strong child-centred ethos. Staff clearly share the manager’s vision and make the home feel welcoming and relaxed for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for young people and works in partnership with others through positive professional relationships to ensure the best possible outcomes for young people. The progress and well-being of young people is monitored effectively, and staff quickly address issues as and when they arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has experienced a lot of staff changes and this has been a challenging period. However, the manager and staff report that they feel settled now and they have worked together to ensure that the transition period has been managed well. Some staff are new and they report having had thorough inductions and there being appropriate supervision arrangements. Staff report that the team is cohesive and well-balanced in terms of skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained. There is an excellent tracking system in place to ensure that training is delivered. Staff are suitably qualified, or are working towards the required qualification within the appropriate timescales. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities regarding safeguarding and risks are managed and reduced effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is very well organised, with excellent recording of key documents. Young people’s files include all relevant local authority plans, and provide a fully coherent picture of the care provided to young people. The manager regularly reviews case records to ensure that standards of recording remain high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision and team meetings are structured, take place regularly and are well recorded. Staff feel able to share their experiences and they respect the manager. The ethos of the home is reinforced through a strong nurturing approach. Two agency staff are used on a regular basis and have been part of the team for a substantial time. It was evident that they were an asset to the team and were fully involved in positive service delivery. One agency staff member stated: ‘It is a family environment here, which is nurturing and warm.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A key strength of the team is working collaboratively with other agencies. There are strong links with social workers, police, missing from care coordinators, drug and alcohol services and child and adolescent mental health services. A social worker said: ‘The manager and I will discuss the young person and come up with a plan.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose is fully up to date and provides clear and accurate information to parents and placing authorities about the care, support and services the home offers. Young people are also provided with a guide so that they know what to expect when Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 7 they come to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been three complaints from young people in the last year. These have been appropriately recorded and thoroughly investigated and responded to. Young people receive formal responses to complaints made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is organised and efficient, and she offers clear direction to staff. She is a strong leader who can challenge and advocate on behalf of young people when necessary. When a deputy is appointed, this will strengthen the team even more, and enable the manager to make the appropriate changes that she has identified to secure an outstanding service.

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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: SC419429 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Goldwyns, Rutland House 90 92, Southend On Sea SS2 6HZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rebecca Ouellani

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Inspector

Bev Allison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC419429 9 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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