Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 1 SC363422 Registered provider: Broadwood Education Services

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides medium- to long-term care to girls who have experienced trauma through physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or neglect. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2018. She was previously the deputy manager.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/06/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 2 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/08/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 3

p.1

Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and relaxed around staff because staff focus on building positive relationships. Staff create memory books that help to remind children of the positive experiences they had at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move on from the home in a planned and positive way. For example, a child recently moved into foster care after living in the home for two years. This was an extremely positive move for her. The child wrote to staff, saying: ‘Every single one of you are special and all I can say is thank you for helping me not only to mature but progress!’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make significant progress, especially in relation to improving their behaviour. An advocate said of one child: ‘She has matured in her attitude, her ability to manage her emotions and to engage more effectively with other professionals.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child who has recently moved to the home is not currently enrolled at a school. Staff have created an activity timetable for her to maintain a level of structure and routine during this time. This will help her when she returns to school.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a therapeutic model of care to support children. They receive training and support in this therapeutic approach. A trained therapist guides the staff so that they develop good strategies to help children develop emotionally.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities. Activities include watching films with staff, arts and crafts, shopping, the cinema, bowling and trips to the seaside. Activities help to build on children’s confidence and self-esteem.

p.3

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

Staff have warm and nurturing relationships with children. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Because children feel secure and valued, incidents of going missing from the home reduce over time. When children run away from the home, staff follow them and do all that they can to ensure that the child returns. They adhere to all risk Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 4 management plans, and inform the police promptly when appropriate to do so.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the indicators of sexual exploitation and work hard to reduce the risks to children. Staff work proactively with the police and the children’s social workers. This helps to keep these very vulnerable children safe.

p.4

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

Staff talk to children about the dangers of taking illegal substances. They follow clear and informative risk management plans. Children have access to a voluntary organisation to support them to address issues related to drug misuse.

p.4

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

Staff have a good understanding of why children behave the way they do. This helps staff to manage difficult behaviour effectively. Staff use humour well as a strategy to de- escalate challenging behaviour. They usually adhere to clear rules and boundaries. However, confusion over the day that pocket money is given to a child has caused conflict, leading to a physical intervention and an allegation against a member of staff. The registered manager has reviewed the incident and discussed it with the child. The pocket money system has been changed to accommodate the child’s wishes and changes have been clearly communicated to staff.

p.4

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

Sanctions are rarely given. Staff mainly use a restorative approach. The child is asked to write a letter of apology or have a conversation with staff about the concern. This approach is more therapeutic and helps the child to have a better understanding of their actions.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager is newly registered and not yet qualified. However, she provides strong and supportive leadership. She is passionate about her work and has an in-depth knowledge of the children in her care. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She has good plans to address shortfalls and develop the service further for the benefit of children. She is very well supported by senior leaders, such as the responsible individual.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management arrangements are about to change as the substantive manager returns from maternity leave. The registered manager and the responsible individual are well aware of the fact that change can unsettle some young people. They are supporting the manager to return to her post with a good transition period and handover. The registered manager will remain in her original post as deputy manager. This will provide the child and the staff with stability.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The established staff team, who is experienced and skilled, provides good care to children. Staff have access to a strong training programme that provides them with the skills and knowledge required to provide good care to children. Staff are either qualified or are currently undertaking an appropriate qualification. They feel valued and well supported by the registered manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work well with external professionals. A virtual headteacher described Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 5 communication by staff as ‘timely, appropriate and responsive.’

p.4

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.

p.5

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: SC363422 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Broadwood Education Services

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC363422 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7