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

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 1 SC450994 Registered provider: Direct Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home, which is owned by an independent provider, is registered for up to four children who 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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection, the home experienced an unsettled period. There were a number of notifications in relation to challenging behaviours, and complaints were made by the children. The situation has now stabilised as several of the children have returned home or moved on to alternative placements. Currently, there are four children in placement who, apart from periods of expected challenges and disruptions, are relatively settled.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the requirements from the last inspection have been met. One recommendation will remain due to the manager’s involvement in a physical intervention, the records of which were not overseen by an independent senior manager. This does not provide consistent independent scrutiny. Physical interventions are used as a last resort to protect the children and others. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 2 Incidents resulting in the need for physical interventions are reducing in frequency and severity.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One physical intervention was not effective; the staff were unable to prevent one child injuring another child. This incident was not usefully reviewed. A plan for the management of further incidents was not sufficiently clear. Consequently, there was no forward-thinking and well-thought-out strategy for the staff or the children to work to. The child who caused the injury has now moved on from the home due to the significant risks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do go missing from the home. These incidents are reducing in frequency and duration. The staff write clear and comprehensive records of each incident and follow each child’s missing-from-home protocol. The staff make attempts to look for children and keep in touch with them. The police are contacted and other professionals are notified. This shows that there is a robust approach to managing these incidents, and that action is taken to ensure that the children are returned safely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are listened to, and they know how to complain. The staff spend time getting to know the children, their likes and dislikes and their interests. Some of the children have their own hamsters and they care for them fully. This helps the children to have a sense of responsibility. The staff supervise and monitor the children. The children feel safe, and say that the staff are around to provide support if needed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the children are encouraged to attend education, although some of the children find it difficult to engage consistently. This is an area that the staff are aware of and continue to address. Children are making progress towards their individual education targets. For children who are starting school, the staff provide support by staying at school with them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The placing authority is pleased with the care provided to the children. One social worker said, ‘This is the best home I have been involved with. My child was presenting with difficulties and challenges, with lots of missing episodes. This is one of the best placements I have ever come across. They [the staff] are focusing on her needs and assessment. Her care plan is accurate, and we talk about all of the issues and the concerns. ’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the children to engage in a number of activities that help to improve the children’s confidence and social skills. The children are supported to progress their life skills, such as cooking their own meals and budgeting, which helps them to gain valuable skills as they move towards independence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Family contact is promoted. The staff support the children to manage relationships effectively with their family and friends. This contact helps the children to develop and maintain positive relationships while they are living away from their family homes. The staff support the children and talk through any issues with them regarding identity and self-esteem. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 3 The staff ensure that children attend their health appointments, and they seek medical advice if the children are unwell. The children’s health needs are met, and health issues are addressed in a timely way.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The external monitoring and reporting is effective and identifies tasks and actions. The manager’s internal monitoring report is evaluative and includes the views of parents, social workers and children, which help to inform the home’s development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is being redecorated and good progress is being made. The children’s rooms are individualised. The bedrooms and lounge have been painted and wallpapered so that the environment is clean and bright. However, one sofa is worn and the children’s individual phone line needs repair. The garden fencing blew down in the high winds and has not yet been repaired. The identified smoking area for the children is littered with cigarette ends. This does not provide a suitable living environment for the children and does not reflect the positive changes in other areas of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans and behaviour management plans are in place for the children. However, one child does not have a specific detailed written plan regarding the management of recent significant self-injurious behaviour. The lack of clear records and an effective guide for the staff does not demonstrate how behaviours are addressed each time or detail the plans to reduce the likelihood of further occurrences.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 28/04/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Good

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is with particular regard to the replacement of fence panels in the garden, Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 4 and damaged and worn furniture in the home. Also, the removal of cigarette ends in the garden, and the replacement of the children’s phone line.  Children’s homes staff should encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. When children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to manage these subject to their age and understanding. When a child needs additional health or well-being

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Recommendations

support, staff should work with the child’s placing authority to enable proper and immediate access to any specialist medical, psychological or psychiatric support required, and challenge them through regulation 5, engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met, if this doesn’t happen. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10) This is with particular regard to ensuring that specific plans are in place for children who have self-injurious behaviours.  Ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to review their effectiveness. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) This is with particular regard to ensuring that records are independently scrutinised by someone not involved in the incident.  In a restraint situation, staff should use their professional judgement, supported

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Recommendations

by the knowledge of each child’s risk assessment, an understanding of the needs of the child (as set out in their relevant plans) and an understanding of the risks the child faces. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.53) This is with particular reference to the registered manager reviewing incidents of ineffective physical interventions to ensure that on these occasions clear strategies are formulated.

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 5 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 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

Debbie Young, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC450994 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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