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

Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 1 SC389178 Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 25 July 2014

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 November 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2018 Full Outstanding 29/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Good 03/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 3

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Recommendations

 Staff must help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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Recommendations

Specifically, ensure that there is sufficient focus on helping young people to develop independent living skills as they approach their transition to leaving the home.  The design of the home should include any necessary adaptation to meet the needs of children with disabilities or specific health issues.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.24)

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Recommendations

In particular, this refers to the home’s improvement plan for a sensory room that will enhance the children’s experience.  Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child’s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the staff recognise and respond to the children’s complaints or concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience high-quality care and nurturing relationships with staff who know and understand them well. Extremely attuned staff respond to the individual needs of the children exceptionally well. This provides the children with safety and security and, as a result, they flourish. Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 4 Staff help equip the children with whatever communication approach they need to help them to express their wishes, likes and dislikes. Staff understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children. Staff understand that some children communicate their feelings through their behaviour. This enables the staff to pick up on the smallest of signals as to what the children are communicating. This helps the children to develop confidence and take part in day-to-day decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff communicate sensitively with children, while maintaining boundaries and promoting positive behaviour. Staff notice and celebrate the children’s achievements, however small. Consequently, the children enjoy excellent relationships with the staff, who know them well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have access to a wide range of leisure activities in the home and in the local community. Staff are aspirational for children and are proactive in supporting the children to follow their own interests as well as encouraging new opportunities. Staff recognise that engagement in the wider community enhances the children’s life experiences, enjoyment and well-being.

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

One parent said that her child was ‘happy, healthy and well cared for by the staff’. Interactions observed during the inspection showed the staff are very responsive and attuned to the needs of the children. Children’s actions and demeanour show that they are happy and feel safe in their home.

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

Staff are knowledgeable about the range of physical and emotional signs and symptoms that the children may experience as a direct result of their complex needs. This helps the staff to identify any signs that may need further consideration, including potential child protection concerns.

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

Staff work proactively and positively with the children’s families and other people who are important to them, such as previous carers. Staff understand the benefits of supporting the children to maintain these links, which may be lifelong. This assists the children to develop a positive self-view and increases their ability to form and sustain attachments and build a positive sense of their own identity.

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

Staff know the children very well and are skilled at identifying potential risks and triggers. When the children become distressed or anxious, staff use their knowledge to help de-escalate situations. Staff use restraint as a last resort and only to protect the children or adults from immediate risk. The manager meticulously reviews all significant incidents to ensure that the staff actions are proportionate and legitimate. As a result, risks for the children are reduced.

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

Care records are generally of a good standard. However, keywork sessions are not up to date or consistently informed by the children’s current care plan. They lack sufficient focus on the children’s individual goals. For one young person, there was not enough Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 5 emphasis on promoting his independence in preparation for his transition to leaving the home.

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

The culture and practice in the home create opportunities for children to share concerns or complaints. Yet, these opportunities are not fully maximised. There have been no recorded complaints from children since the last inspection. Concerns raised by one child in the form of a written note were not recognised as a complaint. Consequently, the child was not able to see the results of his views being listened to and acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A long-standing, passionate and dedicated manager runs the home extremely well. His enthusiasm inspires the staff, who share his passion in providing child-centred care that significantly improves the lives of the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works closely with social workers and external professionals. Feedback from these sources is overwhelmingly positive. The manager is confident to seek out specialist support and purposeful solutions and to challenge decisions that are not in the children’s best interests. The responsible individual is an active and visible presence in the home and provides excellent support to the manager. They both advocate strongly on behalf of the children, to help achieve the very best outcomes for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An empowering and reflective culture, created by the leadership team, promotes staff development. Training, development and induction activities are comprehensive. As a result, the staff can meet the specific needs of the children who they are responsible for. Staff confirmed that they feel well supported in their roles. Staff receive regular supervision which provides appropriate support and challenge. Consequently, the staff perform their roles with attentiveness and diligence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Considering the design of the home and the differing needs of the children, the staff manage the home environment well. Of strength are the children’s bedrooms, which are highly personalised and reflect the children’s tastes and individualities. A refurbishment of the kitchen is imminent and plans for a sensory room are in place. This will be a positive addition to the home and further enhance the children’s day-to-day living experience.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 6 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC389178 7

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

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Inspectors

Anne-Marie Davies, social care inspector Sophie Wood, social care inspection manager Inspection report children’s home: SC389178 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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