Children's home run by Keys Education Ltd

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC488439 1 SC488439 Registered provider: Keys Education Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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 the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness. At the last inspection in August 2017, four requirements and three recommendations were raised. This inspection identified that the registered manager has taken steps to address these. This shows that the registered manager learns from inspection and has improved the standard of the quality of care provided to young people. Since the previous inspection, no young person has gone missing. Staff keep risk assessments up to date relating to incidents of going missing from care. These documents are easy to understand and give staff a clear overview of each young person’s past and present risks relating to going missing from the home. Staff are now provided with clear guidance in how to respond when a young person does go missing from the home. Young people’s behaviour management plans are individualised. There is a strong focus

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC488439 2 on nurturing and rewarding positive behaviour, which young people respond well to. Consequently, young people are generally well behaved and enjoy living at the home. Young people feel safe and well cared for. One young person told the inspector, ‘The staff have your best interests at heart.’ Placement plans focus on the desired outcomes for young people and clearly link to the placing authority’s care plans. When staff undertake key-work sessions with young people, they focus on specific needs and issues. Key-work sessions are a developing area and have recently improved. Staff are using visual worksheets to support discussions and focus on key topics, including sexual health and relationships. As a result, sessions are more engaging for young people, which enables them to learn and retain more information. Staff undertake fire drills when a new young person moves into the home. This helps to

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

keep young people safe as they are aware of the procedures that they need to follow in the event of a fire in the home. Young people moving into the home find this a positive experience. Transition plans are effective. A young person told the inspector, ‘They really helped me settle in and make it feel like my home.’ One young person has moved out since the last inspection. This was not done in a planned way due to a catalogue of events, which meant that the child had to move out quickly. The registered manager and staff did try to maintain the placement for the young person for a period of time to ensure that a planned transition could take place. This included putting waking night staff in place and increasing the staffing levels. However, staff became aware of the child’s fire setting behaviours and there was an increase in his physical aggression. Staff took decisive action to ensure that everyone

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

within the home remained safe. The registered manager has monitoring systems in place to support the continued development of the home. These include internal audits to ensure that paperwork is up to date and current. These audits are in addition to independent monthly reviews and six-monthly internal reviews that already occur. When the registered manager is not in the home, it continues to run effectively. This shows that deputising arrangements are effective. Young people and staff speak highly of the registered manager. A staff member told the inspector, ‘She is so supportive and always there when you need her.’ Furthermore, a young person said, ‘The staff are good but the manager is really good, she makes sure we have everything and more.’ Staff receive regular supervision carried out by senior care staff. Changes have been made to the supervision record template to capture a more reflective approach to these

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

discussions. A reflective approach to supervision enables staff to learn from previous practices and reflect on incidents that have occurred. Staff ensure that young people have access to education and employment where appropriate. One young person has been out of education for some time. However, he has had a tutor and staff also promote educational activities at the home. The registered manager did complain about the lack of support that the young person was receiving to return to formal education. Following this, the young person was provided with an education provision. This shows that the registered manager advocates well for young Interim inspection report children’s home: SC488439 3 people and this brings about change. Young people make progress when living in this home. This is evident for young people who have only been living at the home for a short period of time. A social worker told the inspector, ‘It is the happiest the young person has been and that is because the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

team understands his emotional needs.’ Young people feel cared for and valued by the staff team and this promotes positive behaviours and outcomes for young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC488439 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, 2nd Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC488439 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 (Carcass), 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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