Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC063890 1 SC063890 Registered provider: Bettercare Keys Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This registered children’s home is owned by a private company. Care and accommodation can be provided for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was ‘not judged’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has been closed for three months. The registered provider has indicated that the home will not be operational for at least three months. Should the home decide to accept placements, it is required to inform Ofsted of its intentions before it does so.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements and recommendations from the last inspection are carried forward.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Interim inspection report children’s home: SC063890 2 05/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 28/10/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1) (2) (b)) In particular, ensure that there is accurate matching and assessment of referrals based on up-to-date information of all the children, including all those that already live in the home. 28/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2) (c ) (i)(ii)) In particular, ensure that all rooms are decorated and furnished to a high standard. 28/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measureable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person ensure— That staff understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as 28/05/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC063890 3 possible; help each child to attend education or training in accordance

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Requirement Due date

with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans (Regulation 8 (1) (2) (a) (iii) (vi)(ix) (x))

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Recommendations

 Local authorities have a number of responsibilities in relation to education and training for 16-19 year olds, including ensuring that sufficient provision is available to meet their needs and supporting them to participate . They are also responsible for identifying young people covered by the duty to participate who are not in education or training. Children’s homes should work with the local authority to make sure the young people they are responsible for are getting the support they need to participate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 29, paragraph 5.17) In particular, build relationships and access virtual heads of education, Connexions and other relevant agencies to support young people’s access and participation in education, training and work.  Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and service needed to meet a child’s needs during the time in the home or

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Recommendations

in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulation 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8) In particular, ensuring that the young people have a detailed pathway plan.  The registered person must ensure the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education or training. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.13) In particular, ensure that schools provide a home education timetable with supporting work for young people to undertake when not attending school. In

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Recommendations

addition, that oversight and resources are provided to the home to support the young person’s continued learning.  The home’s Statement of Purpose should be child-focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the Quality Standards for the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8) In particular, all staff should receive child trauma and mandatory refresher training, within the timeframes set.  The registered person is responsible for leading a team, which provides high quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children, which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to

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Recommendations

the children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality Interim inspection report children’s home: SC063890 4 standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4) In particular, appoint a dynamic registered manager, who looks to build a strong and diverse staff team, with clear aims, objectives and positive experiences and outcomes for young people.

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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

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bettercare Keys Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC063890 5 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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Inspector

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