Children's Home run by Keys QTC Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report children's home: 1280578 1 Registered provider: Quality Time Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides short-term, emergency care. It is registered for up to six young people aged from 10 to 17, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, which have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 February 2019

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

not applicable Inspection report children's home: 1280578 2

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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 must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that references are of a satisfactory quality, are verified properly and that staff provide a full employment history with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. 30/04/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home is decorated to a very high standard with neutral colours and modern, country-style furnishings. The garden is spacious and is surrounded by fields and farm animals. This provides a calming environment for children to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by a highly experienced, diverse and well-qualified staff team. As a result, children receive nurturing care from a dedicated team of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have left the home and two children have moved into the home. Transitions are managed well, and children receive a helpful written guide before they move in. Children are welcomed warmly into the home by staff. When children leave the home, staff support them to move on positively, visiting their new home and providing them with a video of their memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal care plans are child-friendly; they are written to a high standard and include the wishes and feelings of children. Key-working sessions are creative and take place several times a week. They cover a range of educational and appropriate topics to help children to progress with their behaviour and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children talk to and see their families where appropriate. Staff transport Inspection report children's home: 1280578 3 children and supervise the time children spend with their families where needed. Children are more settled because they maintain close family links with those who matter to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children participate in a wide range of outdoor activities. This includes camping, rock climbing, walking, mountain-biking, visiting local sites of interest and swimming. Staff are helping one child in planning a trip to Ben Nevis. This range of outdoor, physical activity enables children to experience new opportunities as well as developing their confidence and creating achievements.

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

Children with very high-risk and complex behaviours are kept safe. This is because of the oversight and careful planning by staff. The manager and staff team have a robust understanding of safeguarding processes and implement these practices effectively.

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

Risk assessments are completed to a high standard. Managers make sure that pre- placement information is evaluated well to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Matching risk assessments are well thought through and assessed thoroughly to ensure the safety of children.

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

Staff respond appropriately to incidents when children go missing from home. Risk assessments are followed effectively and return home interviews are completed. The manager reviews these incidents and return home interviews to understand children’s feelings.

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

Since the home was registered, one complaint has been raised by a child about his accommodation in a cottage. Staff responded to this complaint, but the manager felt this was not replied to well enough. In response, the manager completed an investigation, and responded to the child in writing before and after the complaint. The manager made sure that effective action was taken to listen to and support the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2018. She has vast experience and the necessary skills for the role. The manager is supported by a dedicated and competent team. Staff describe the manager as ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘always approachable’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are challenged effectively, well trained and appropriately supported to enable them to develop their skills and maintain good standards. Staff receive regular, good-quality supervision and appraisal. Records of these performance reviews are comprehensively recorded with clearly documented actions for follow-up and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported well by managers and are provided with good opportunities for them to obtain the skills they require to meet children’s needs. Team meetings are held frequently and are used as a forum to address concerns about children’s behaviour, Inspection report children's home: 1280578 4 share feedback and to provide information and training. The staff team is up to date with all mandatory training and team members also receive additional training in understanding child sexual exploitation, county lines, radicalisation, social media and equality and diversity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment processes are well organised. However, one staff member’s references were not of a satisfactory quality and were not verified properly. Staff files sampled during this inspection were found to have gaps in employment history. In addition, these gaps had not been properly explained or verified by managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work in partnership with social workers and other professionals within the organisation. Feedback received from social workers and commissioners during this inspection was very positive. Staff communicate well with other agencies to ensure that the needs of children are met to a very good standard.

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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: 1280578 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quality Time Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bettercare Keys Limited, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 1280578 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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