Children's home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 1 SC016124 Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 31 July to 1 August 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/11/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/07/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 3

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi) and (vii)) 31/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e)) In particular, notifications must contain full and accurate 31/08/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 4 information. The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (2) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; treat each child with dignity and respect; and help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(i)(iii)(vi) and (vii)) In particular, ensure that staff deliver significant information to children in a sensitive and caring way, provide a history of the child’s time in the home to include important memorabilia, keep in touch with the child to avoid them feeling abandoned and ensure that children leaving the home have all their belongings.

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Recommendations

 It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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Recommendations

 Staff need to have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.10) In addition, staff should have knowledge of legislative guidance in relation to the education of looked-after children. Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 5  Staff should understand their important role in encouraging the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them record significant life events. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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improvement to be good

The care and support provided to young people has not consistently resulted in positive outcomes and progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff were not able to sustain a meaningful relationship and continue to influence the behaviour of a young person as they approached adulthood. Despite staff consultation with specialist agencies and support services, the young person came to the notice of the police and was thought to be involved in criminal and dangerous activity.

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improvement to be good

The young person was not prepared by the staff for a potential move away from the area. Information about the move was inappropriately given to the young person when he was out in the community with friends. Many of the young person’s belongings remain in the home, weeks after they have moved. The young person has not been provided with any history of his time in the home or appropriate memorabilia. There is no evidence that the staff have been in touch to see how the young person is getting on.

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improvement to be good

By contrast, both this young person and the other young person living in the home attended school and took exams.

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improvement to be good

One young person who presented with a lot of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties is making significant progress. He has been engaged in education, attended specialist help and support services and has been addressing historic abuse issues and how these influence his thinking. The positive progress made by this young person, who has experienced several previous placement breakdowns, is described by an independent stakeholder as ‘amazing’.

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improvement to be good

The staff have been clear and paid attention to the young person’s cultural needs. They recognise the importance of links with the young person’s country of birth. The young person has been provided with lessons in their native language so that they can communicate effectively with family and others when a planned visit to their place of birth happens.

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improvement to be good

The home offers a welcoming and homely environment indistinguishable from other homes in the area. Young people influence the care provided and can express their concerns to the staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 6

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improvement to be good

A recent issue, indicating a safeguarding concern, has not been handled in line with safeguarding polices and guidance. Information provided by the manager to other agencies is incomplete and/or misleading. These actions may have compromised any investigation.

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improvement to be good

Wi-Fi access and use of the computer is restricted in the home and could not be accessed by staff during the inspection. However, the young person has access through a mobile phone without any staff oversight to make sure that use is safe.

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improvement to be good

Behaviour management plans are of a very good quality and offer explanations, both current and historical, for behavioural difficulties and how staff can address these successfully. This has had a positive impact on one young person’s emotional health.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of young people being missing from the home are unusual. Staff follow clear and considered risk assessments to try and keep young people safe. Despite the efforts of the staff, a young person approaching adulthood remained involved in dubious and potentially dangerous activities outside of the home.

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improvement to be good

The staff have worked closely with specialist agencies in attempts to keep young people safe. This includes support from the police, specialist drug workers and guidance from a clinical psychologist. Staff were swift to secure specialist services and seek effective guidance when concerned about a young person’s risk of radicalisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A suitably qualified registered manager is in place but was not in work at the time of the inspection. Some staff lack knowledge about young people and struggle to access information in the absence of the registered manager. Education arrangements for one young person were unclear and the detail of a home’s development plan were not known.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has failed to respond effectively to an issue which indicates a safeguarding concern. Information about this issue provided to a local authority safeguarding officer is incomplete, and a notification provided to Ofsted is misleading and factually incorrect. These actions have since been rectified by the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are some gaps in the frequency of supervision. Records do not detail reflection on agreed action to ensure that expectations have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager and staff have worked effectively with other agencies. Challenges when services do not live up to expectations have been successful in helping young people, and improving the arrangements made for them. Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 7 A new senior management team is in place for the organisation that owns and manages this home. This team has already made significant changes to benefit young people. Staff are optimistic about the future and say that they feel increasingly valued, listened to and supported. Among several changes, there has been a successful update of care planning and risk assessment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff training and development opportunities have also improved, although staff knowledge and understanding of educational legislative guidance is limited. This impacts on staff ability to make effective challenges when trying to secure education for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Weekly written communication with parents and placing authorities keeps those with an interest in young people suitably updated.

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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: SC016124 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & 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(s)

Janice Hawtin: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC016124 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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