Children's Home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 1 SC363403 Registered provider: Keys Educational Services 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

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned. The manager has been in post since June 2011. She has the required qualification.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/05/2018 Full Good 09/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirement 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(2)(3)(d), (Schedule 2)(6)) 05/03/2020

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food, hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people develop strong bonds with staff and the manager. This is because young people feel that they can talk to and confide in staff. They know that they will be listened to, no matter what the issue. Staff spend time with young people and demonstrate genuine warmth, understanding and interest in all areas of young people’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff take the education of young people very seriously. They advocate on behalf of young people to secure the right educational provision. One young person has made good progress while attending a college course, and another is settling well into a private school. When young people are not in education, this is quickly addressed by the manager, in consultation with other agencies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are registered with primary healthcare services and attend appointments. Young people smoke tobacco regularly. The manager and staff provide them with help and support to understand the harmful impact that this has on their health. Some young people require more specialised healthcare services in relation to their emotional and mental health. The manager and staff ensure that young people are receiving the right help to improve their overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views of young people are respected and valued by the manager and staff. Young people know how to complain if they are unhappy. They meet with staff on a regular basis for house meetings and they express their views about issues affecting their lives. As a result, young people feel that they have a say in how their home is run.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that the home is comfortable and homely. Young people and staff benefit from a recently refurbished kitchen area. However, the house remains in need of improvement in some areas, particularly where damage has not been repaired. Additionally, staff had not cleared away discarded cigarettes from the outside of the building. These areas detract from what is otherwise a pleasant home environment.

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

Young people are kept safe by the manager and staff, who understand the individual risks and vulnerabilities of each young person. The manager and staff complete in-depth and accurate risk assessments, as well as detailed behaviour support plans. Assessments and plans are understood by staff and implemented consistently. This means that staff take the correct action when any risks to young people increase.

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

Staff manage young people’s behaviour well. When young people have placed themselves at risk through going missing, or have demonstrated aggressive behaviour, staff have taken effective action. The staff and manager are adept at taking action to Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 5 prevent situations from deteriorating. Staff spend time with young people to help them manage difficult emotions that trigger negative behaviour.

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

Staff ensure that young people are supported to become increasingly independent and develop positive relationships with others. They balance this well with their duty to protect young people. For example, one young person attended a music festival with friends, enjoyed herself and remained safe. This approach helps young people to develop independence, confidence and better social skills.

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

Young people are safer because the manager and staff complete good, in-depth risk assessments of the location of the home. The manager canvasses partner agencies, such as the local police, for their views in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of risk in the area. This enables staff to manage any external risks to young people effectively.

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

The manager maintains young people’s safety by ensuring good staffing ratios. Staff and young people enjoy being together. There is a great deal of fun and laughter in the home. Staff hug young people and are not afraid to tell young people how much they care about them. Consequently, young people receive good individual attention which defuses any tensions and prevents incidents from occurring.

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

There has been a minor error in the vetting of new staff. One member of staff had gaps in their past employment and a satisfactory explanation was not sought by the organisation. Although there has been no impact on young people, this shortfall has the potential to place them at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This home is led by a qualified, committed and inspirational manager who is highly respected by young people and staff. She has been at the home for several years and has placed it firmly on an improvement trajectory. The manager has developed a culture of nurturing care. The manager is visible and available to young people, staff and others. She regularly goes above and beyond expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly motivated and greatly enjoy their jobs. The turnover of staff has been minimal as a result. One member of staff said, ‘It is like home from home, I love it here.’ This positivity creates a warm, happy atmosphere that benefits young people greatly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive individual professional supervision that is highly effective and enables staff to raise any issues or concerns they may have. It also allows managers to give clear direction and ensures that they quickly identify opportunities to improve care practice. Staff training and development are of a very high standard. Staff attend mandatory and more specialised training to equip them with the skills and knowledge to provide very good quality, safe and effective care. Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 6 The manager has an in-depth understanding of young people’s care and placement plans. She is highly ambitious for young people and understands their potential. The manager advocates strongly on behalf of young people to secure the right resources to help them fulfil that potential. The manager invites other professionals to team meetings. This helps to develop very good multi-agency working, and ensures that

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young people receive the right help quickly.

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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: SC363403 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Educational Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Phillip Morris: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC363403 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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