Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Sandwell

Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 1 SC374268 Registered provider: Keys Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home cares for young people with a variety of complex needs aged between 10 and 18 who need specialist support. A registered manager is in post.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/08/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 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 registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children‟s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(4)(a)(b)) 31/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of a measure of control, restraint or discipline, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 30/09/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure young people live in an environment which meets their basic day-to-day needs. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, ensure that the damp issue on the bathroom ceiling is addressed.  Children‟s home staff should act as effective advocates for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education or training matters including, but not limited to, attainment, admissions, attendance or behaviour, as a good parent would do. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 28, paragraph 5.12)  Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such

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Recommendations

interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer a range of activities that are bespoke to each child‟s needs. Staff consider what each young person enjoys and they promote that interest. This was observed during the inspection when a horse riding activity was organised for a child the day after they moved in. When children are reluctant to engage in activities, staff continue to provide nurturing care and encourage participation. This approach has been effective and children have made progress in accepting the care that they are offered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the home are managed well. Managers and staff strive to build positive relationships with children from the onset. Prior to children moving to the home, staff meet children to get to know them. A bedroom prepared for one child moving in contained her favourite chocolate and a copy of her favourite film. These thoughtful touches help children to feel welcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Vast improvements have been made to the decor of the home, creating a welcoming environment with new carpets and repainting throughout the house. A new bathroom suite has been fitted, although investigation work is ongoing to resolve some damp on the bathroom ceiling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children‟s health and well-being needs are well supported. Staff act quickly to ensure that children receive the help and support that they need. When one child was not in education, this was challenged by leaders and managers, resulting in alternative provision being provided such as one-to-one tutoring. However, there was a delay in this being escalated appropriately. A timelier response could have secured an education placement sooner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children understand how to complain and use the home‟s complaints process if they feel it is necessary. Managers take complaints seriously and respond to them in an appropriate manner. Children‟s views are sought through children‟s meetings and inform their care plans. Generally, children‟s views are obtained following any sanctions that are implemented. However, this needs to be done consistently to ensure that every opportunity is used to gather children‟s opinions about this aspect of the care that they receive.

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

Staff respond quickly to risks and incidents that happen. Their quick thinking and calm approach keeps children safe from further harm. Incidents are followed up, with a review of risk assessments. These documents are clear and outline appropriate measures to keep children safe. The guidance provided to staff is clear and most importantly children‟s views are sought when considering how they would like risks to be managed.

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

When children go missing, staff respond quickly and follow the protocols in place to Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 5 ensure that children return to the home safely. Staff talk to the children about the risks of being missing and encourage such discussions between the children and the local police. However, independent return home interviews are not always completed.

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

Children are provided with clear boundaries. Some of these boundaries are challenged by children. However, the consistency from the staff team ensures that children have clear expectations, which promotes positive behaviour.

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

The manager is very aware of the risks in the local community and has implemented a good locality risk assessment. This highlights the immediate dangers in the local area and what action staff should take to reduce such risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2017. She is well supported by her deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate training that is relevant to the needs of the children. While training has improved since the previous inspection, not all staff have obtained the required level 3 qualification within the required time frames. The current impact of this on children is minimal as the majority of the team members have the relevant qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported. They enjoy their roles and are committed to supporting the children who they care for. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals and the manager addresses staff practice when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When matching new children to the home, risks are carefully considered and pre- admission meetings take place that involve the manager and other professionals within the organisation. The manager feels in control of who moves into the home, which promotes ownership and accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home‟s strengths and areas for development. She is child-focused and understands the children‟s needs well. This approach is evident throughout the staff team that follows her example.

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 6 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: SC374268 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3LP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alison Blyth-Bishop

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Inspector

Lisa O‟Donovan: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC374268 8 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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Inspector

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