Children's home run by Keys KIN Ltd in Wealden

Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 1 Registered provider: Kingdom Care Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six children. It currently accommodates exclusively boys. The home changed ownership in February 2018, and it is run by a large national organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has not had a registered manager since July 2018.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2017 Full Good 24/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 3

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce development plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should; detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33(4) (b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

p.3

Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the targets for how often supervision takes place are realistic. Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, most children make good progress. For children who previously lived in the home, some areas of progress had been hindered by external factors that the staff were not able to control negatively influencing behaviours. This resulted in children being moved onto more appropriate placements for their safety and well-being. Leaders have taken quick action to evaluate and reflect on this period and reviewed their referral and admission decision-making processes to ensure that the home can safely meet the needs of children who move into the home. The children currently living in the home have settled in well and are making good progress. The staff successfully deliver individualised care in a nurturing environment. The staff have a very clear understanding of the support needs of the children in their care. There is regular communication with parents and social workers. The staff share positive interactions and experiences with the children, and this supports the children to

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

recognise their own strengths and abilities and raises their self-esteem and self-worth.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s education is a key priority for the staff. The staff work hard with education professionals to ensure that the most appropriate educational establishments are sought in a timely manner. If needed, leaders and managers will challenge those authorities who are slow to respond or act.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are encouraged to engage in activities outside the home wherever possible, fully supported by the staff if necessary. The staff are familiar with what is available for the children in the local community. One child has been successful in gaining work experience at a local restaurant.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team has a good understanding of each child’s likes and dislikes. There is a range of ways in which children can voice their views, wishes and opinions, and the staff take these seriously and act upon them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from the extensive renovations undertaken during the summer of 2018. All works are of an excellent standard. The home is very well maintained. Care has been taken to make the house feel like a family home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff sensitively support the children to maintain and improve their relationships with their families and friends, where possible. The staff develop a good rapport with children’s parents and carers and keep them fully informed.

p.4

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

There are clear and effective safeguarding arrangements in place to protect children. Arrangements meet statutory guidance. Allegations or suspicion of harm are immediately Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 5 shared with the appropriate safeguarding agencies and managed well.

p.4

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

The staff have all received comprehensive safeguarding training and recognise the risks faced by children in their care. Careful consideration is given to the location of the service and the impact that this has on current and future placement decisions. There is a consistent and proactive approach to managing risk by the staff that reduces the risk of harm to children. This includes regular and effective contact and planning with both the child’s allocated social worker and their family, where appropriate. Children say that they feel happy and safe at the home and with the staff team. They say they feel comfortable in talking to the staff about any concern that they may have.

p.5

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

The staff team’s focus on providing good standards of care means that children can start to make progress in changing their negative behaviours. Individual risk assessments provide clear and sensible strategies to lessen the risks associated with known or presenting new behaviours. As a result, there has been only one physical intervention, minimal use of room searches and a significant decrease in ‘missing’ incidents in recent weeks. All ‘missing’ incidents are managed well. Online recording systems provide very safe and clear records of incident management.

p.5

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

The staff team helps the children to understand risk and how to stay safe, while allowing them to take appropriate risks. This helps the children to manage their behaviours and, over time, to make the right choices. This includes the risks that the use of the internet and social media may pose. In addition, the staff use key-worker sessions to help the children to understand how to keep themselves safe. The staff are aware of the risks to young people in the local and wider community. The staff work well with other agencies in addressing behaviours, such as anti-social behaviour and ‘missing’ incidents, and concerns relating to substance misuse and sexual exploitation. The children are protected by careful recruitment procedures, and regular monitoring of staff also prevents unsuitable people from being employed.

p.5

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

Robust and regular health and safety checks ensure that the physical environment for children is safe and protects them from harm or the risk of harm.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home changed ownership in February 2018. The new provider closed the home while it underwent extensive refurbishment and redecoration. It re-opened in October 2018. Since changing ownership, the home has experienced some uncertainty around management arrangements following the departure of the registered manager and succeeding manager. Since January 2019, management arrangements have been very clear. The interim manager is very experienced and well qualified. Her appointment is already having a strongly stabilising influence on the home. Despite the brief time that she has been in post, she demonstrates an excellent understanding of the work that needs to be done. The responsible individual is taking positive steps to recruit a permanent registered manager. Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 6 Some of the staff team are new to the home, but they all have good experience of working with children in previous roles. The staff who are new to the service speak

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

positively about their induction to the home. All have received an excellent introductory training programme. There are clear plans in place to further develop their knowledge and skill during their probation. Managers have struggled to meet the high targets relating to the regularity of supervision that are set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose. The home’s manager is currently reviewing the arrangements.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager and senior leaders have reflected on and evaluated the admissions and moving on of children in the last year. During this inspection, the home was preparing for the arrival of a new child. The suitability of the child’s placement had been very carefully considered. The needs and the views of the other children in the home are also a key factor in the decision-making.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual is very involved in the oversight and development of the home. She is highly supportive of the interim manager and, together, they have implemented a clear plan for improvement which is being closely monitored. Leaders and managers are able to identify areas of strength and weakness and take effective action.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are aspirational and ambitious for the children in their care. Every child is offered equality of opportunity. Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 7

p.6

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 difference 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.

p.7

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: 1226495 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kingdom Care Children’s Homes Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Part 2nd floor, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

p.8

Inspectors

Liz Driver, social care inspector Peter Jackson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1226495 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9