Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 1 SC370899 Registered provider: Keys Childcare Ltd

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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 provides care for up to three male young people with a variety of complex needs who need specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 2008.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 18 to 19 December 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 outstanding

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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: 8 November 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2017 Full Good 17/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make significant progress in all areas of their lives. Many have experienced several placements before moving to this home. The staff team provides non-judgemental and highly nurturing care to young people at all times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people, parents and involved agencies have nothing but positive things to say about the care and support provided. One young person said: ‘This is by far the best place I have lived. The staff really care and have helped me with my issues.’ A parent stated: ‘Any young person would be privileged to live in this home. The care provided to my child and to us as parents has been exceptional.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All young people have excellent engagement in education. For many, education has previously been a very difficult issue for them. The ability of staff to reignite an enthusiasm for education is testament to their skills and commitment. One placing social worker stated: ‘Before moving to this home, my young person’s engagement in education was hugely concerning. I am so pleased at the transformation.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people get to spend time with their family members and others who are important to them. Staff support these arrangements extremely well. They provide transport and emotional support to young people during family visits. Staff work proactively with parents. They have supported parents to rebuild positive relationships with their children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive outstanding support in relation to their physical and emotional health needs. The home is supported by a qualified therapist. She specialises in attachment and trauma. Staff use accredited therapeutic techniques to support young people. A range of assessments are undertaken when young people first move into the home. Results inform a detailed plan of support. There is excellent evidence of the progress made by young people. The models used are worthy of wider dissemination.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel extremely well supported and prepared for their eventual move to independence. Staff undertake work with them from an early stage to identify their independence skills and needs. They encourage them to manage their own food budget and prepare their own meals. Young people leave this home well prepared and more confident in their abilities.

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

Staff fully understand the complex needs of young people as well as the risks that they pose to themselves and others. Staff ensure that they are familiar with the history and background of each young person soon after they move to the home. Staff not only understand risks, they support young people to understand them and reduce them over time. Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 4 Young people feel extremely safe. Many have experienced very risky situations before moving to this home. Staff provide exceptionally nurturing care, as well as enabling young people to take age-appropriate risks.

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

Staff work very closely and proactively with local police. They support young people with any youth offending orders extremely well. As one specialist police officer stated: ‘The staff could not do anything better. They make my job so much easier because of their skills in supporting young people.’ Young people seldom go missing from care. This reflects how safe and supported they feel.

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

Young people respond extremely well to the consistent and clear boundaries put in place for them. The use of physical restraint is minimal. Young people feel able to discuss any concerns, or issues they may have, with staff and managers. Staff are exceptionally skilled in de-escalating any potentially concerning situations. Therapeutic approaches enable young people to consider and address their own concerning or risky behaviours.

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

Staff very closely monitor young people’s use of the internet and social media. They appreciate that young people need and want such access, as well as the risks this can pose. Staff sensitively support young people and have clear strategies to minimise risks.

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

Staff demonstrate a commendable understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They receive safeguarding training as well as support from the therapist to respond appropriately to any child protection issues. Staff are confident and extremely competent. Young people receive outstanding protection as a result of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager sets extremely high expectations of young people and staff. He leads by example. It is clear that he is totally dedicated to ensuring that young people receive the best possible care and support at all times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager instils in staff an exceptionally warm and nurturing approach to the care of young people. Staff clearly respond well to such an approach. A young person who has left this home stated: ‘This home saved me. I cannot thank the manager and staff enough for what they did for me. I miss them and often phone to have a chat. They were so important to me and remain so.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent systems in place to monitor and track the progress made by young people. He is responsive to ideas and suggestions from his staff team. Staff feel more than able to share their views. They feel extremely valued and well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people feel fully involved in the running of the home. Their views are sought and taken into account on a daily basis. Staff and managers actively listen to them and act on their comments. There have been no formal complaints made by young people. This reflects their ability to resolve issues informally with staff and managers to their satisfaction. Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 5 Staff receive an excellent induction when they start working in this home. They also have regular supervision and training opportunities. Staff reported high levels of satisfaction in their work. They feel the manager is extremely supportive and enabling.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Two recommendations were made as a result of the last inspection. Staff and managers have worked with young people to redecorate the home. The home now presents as very welcoming and homely. The manager has recruited more permanent staff to replace those who have left. This provides continuity and consistency of care for young people. There is now a diverse and positive staff team in place, providing excellent care and support to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No shortfalls have been identified as a result of this inspection.

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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: SC370899 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/o Pinsett Mason Llp, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

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Inspector(s)

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 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 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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