Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Southampton

Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 1 SC389180 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

This home is privately owned by a national organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have complex health needs arising from learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2014.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 November 2019

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2019 Full Outstanding 24/08/2017 Full Outstanding 21/02/2017 Full Outstanding 29/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 3

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Recommendations

 In some cases, such as in residential special schools that are also registered children’s homes or children’s homes caring for children with complex care needs, restraint may be necessary as a consequence of a child’s impairment or disability. A child’s EHC plan or statement of special educational needs may contain detail about planned and agreed approaches to restraint or restraint techniques to be applied in the day-to-day routine of the child. This could include, for example the use of a device such as outlined in paragraph 9.46. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.46)

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Recommendations

In particular, seek written guidance and/or specialist advice, where required, in relation to the use of a weighted blanket.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care from staff who are dedicated, attentive and highly sensitive to their needs. Feedback from external professionals commends the service for its high standard of care. A social worker complimented the staff on their ability to transform personal care into a relaxing and enriching experience, which enables the children to feel pampered and adored.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children show their happiness through their broad smiles and frequent laughter. Their faces light up when they hear staff’s voices and feel their presence and touch. Staff know the children very well. They make every effort to seek children’s views, wishes and feelings to support choice and influence the children’s daily lives. Staff act as strong advocates to ensure that the children receive the support they deserve from specialist services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand how to connect with each child. They observe body language and behaviour to ascertain how they are feeling. Staff react swiftly to signs of distress, offering comfort and support. When staff are concerned that a child’s health may be deteriorating, they seek immediate advice and access urgent treatment from medical professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The enthusiasm and energy of the staff is inspirational. They create an atmosphere which is highly socialised and great fun. Activities are led by the children’s individual interests. Staff ensure that there are regular occasions where they dress up and decorate the home. This enables the children to celebrate cultural and religious festivals, such as Eid, and to take part in the festivities and fun of Halloween, in the comfort of Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 4 their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are meticulous in planning offsite activities. They offer a multitude of community- based experiences, with the children’s safety and enjoyment being paramount. Activities include visits to the theatre, watching football matches and facilitating a child to go on a fantastic sailing trip. Staff capture the children’s responses through ‘feelings charts’; these inform future activities and enable staff to expand on the children’s interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Bedrooms are cosy, full of character and are reflective of the children’s personalities and interests. There are plans to further extend the range of sensory resources available in the home. The health and safety of the building and specialist equipment are maintained to a high standard. This ensures that the home is a safe environment for the children.

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

Extensive measures are taken by the staff to ensure that the children are consistently protected and kept safe. Staff are trained in safe care and safeguarding procedures. Staff are inquisitive and vigilant in their practice. Excellent staffing levels mean that the children receive a high level of supervision, care and support.

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

Healthcare procedures, including the handling and administering of medication, are excellent. The qualified nurse oversees these arrangements, training staff to ensure that clinical standards are met, and staff are competent in their practice, keeping this process under continuous review. Where medication errors occur, the manager undertakes a full investigation of the incident, reviewing protocols and taking prompt action to prevent a reoccurrence. The safety of the children is a priority, with staff practice being open and transparent. Special equipment is available to monitor and meet their complex medical and healthcare needs.

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

There has been a pattern of incidents with a child who moved into the home late last year. However, this child’s behaviour is managed effectively. Staff monitor the antecedents to identify triggers and interpret the child’s needs. Positive strategies are used to redirect and distract the child, without the use of restraint. Health professionals are supporting the team. This is through additional training to develop and refresh staff’s skills through undertaking a specialist assessment to identify the child’s sensory needs.

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

Risk management processes are of an exceptional standard. Care plans are comprehensive and set out the needs, wishes and character of each child. However, one child arrived at the home with a weighted blanket. The staff team does not have clear guidance on how this should be used, despite there being an occupational therapist on site. The child’s education, health and care plan has not been updated to reflect the use of this measure, either.

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

Staff deliver care that supports the children and young people to thrive. This was confirmed by a social worker who described one child as ‘being a frightened little boy when he arrived, but with warmth and empathy he has blossomed’. Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 5 The home has recently benefited from the addition of an occupational therapist and a learning disability nurse, who are funded to work with the home. They are being used to deliver bespoke training and undertake specialist assessments of the children. Their expertise is valued by the manager and used to extend the team’s skills and knowledge. It is also used to provide the staff with additional insight into the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team is led by an experienced, committed and caring management team. The manager’s enthusiasm drives a culture which is vibrant, energetic and child-centred. The breadth of skills and experience in the team means that the children receive excellent levels of support through every element of their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal monitoring is rigorous. The manager identifies strengths and areas for improvement to advance the service. Ideas are channelled through the home’s development plan, which is used as an effective tool to monitor and drive progress. A commendable standard of care is maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The majority of team members have worked together for many years. New staff have brought fresh energy and new skills, thus complementing the team. The manager has focused on developing and empowering the staff. As a result, staff are dynamic, confident and capable, taking the lead in all aspects of care planning and designated areas of responsibility.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision through formal and informal support. This allows them to discuss their well-being, practice and professional development. Training programmes assist the team to strengthen its knowledge and skills to meet the children’s diverse and complex needs. Staff report that morale within the team is good, and retention has improved, with opportunities for personal development being actively promoted and encouraged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers continue to focus on recruitment. Various methods are used to attract the right calibre of staff, with the aim of achieving a full complement of staff. Where agency staff are used, the manager is diligent in checking that safer recruitment procedures have been followed. Agency staff are valued as part of the team; they receive a robust induction and ongoing support, which includes training, supervision and mentoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The service goes above and beyond the ethos as described in the statement of purpose, continually evolving as a service to ensure that it provides the children with outstanding care and experiences.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 6 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: SC389180 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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Inspector

Joe Davys, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC389180 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 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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