Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC020607 1 SC020607

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Registered provider: New Horizons Childcare Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company that operates a number of children’s homes across the country owns this home. This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2017. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged to have declined in effectiveness at the interim inspection on 12 December 2018 and a notice restricting accommodation was served to prevent any further young people from being admitted to the home. At a monitoring inspection on the 29 January 2019, the provider had complied with the restriction notice and had met all of the requirements of the interim inspection. The restriction notice was subsequently lifted.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place because Ofsted had received notification of new concerns about the arrangements for the safe and effective care of a young person who had been living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

At this visit, the inspector found that the young person had moved from the home in a planned way that was in line with her care plan.

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This monitoring visit

During the inspection, shortfalls were identified. Just prior to the inspection, the registered manager notified the organisation that she will be away from work for an extended time. The management arrangements for the home in her absence are unclear. In addition, some staff are planning to leave the team imminently. This means that there are insufficient staff to provide safe and effective care if new young people are admitted. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC020607 2 Some aspects of the physical condition of the home require improvement. For example, there is no blind at the window in a downstairs bathroom and a carpet in a young person’s bedroom has an unpleasant smell. There is insufficient seating in the lounge and the dining table is damaged and the dining chairs are dirty. A small brick structure in the garden would be a potential hazard to young people if they were to

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This monitoring visit

choose to use the garden for recreational purposes. These shortfalls prevent young people from having a comfortable and homely environment in which to live.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has updated the location risk assessment for the home. However, this has not considered staff intelligence about emerging risks in the local community and there is no evidence of consultation with relevant partners. This means there is insufficient information about the risks posed to any new young people by the local area.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reviewed the statement of purpose. However, it lacks attention to detail. For example, the arrangements for supporting the cultural and linguistic needs of young people and the home’s approach to children’s rights are not clear. This means that key information about the care offered to young people is not available to potential placing local authorities.

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This monitoring visit

The provider was planning for a new young person to be admitted to the home. However, the provider acknowledged the concerns raised during this inspection and made a request to Ofsted to vary its conditions of registration. This has resulted in the provider having a new condition added to its registration that means the home is temporarily closed. This period of closure is going to be used by the organisation to make the necessary improvements before making the decision to reopen and begin to readmit new young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/04/2019 Full 12/12/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 05/09/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC020607 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6(1)(2)(c)(ii)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(d)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16(1)) 30/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46(1)(2)) 30/06/2019

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC020607 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC020607 5 to 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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