Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Hertfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 1 Registered provider: Keys BR Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to four children who have complex needs and require specialist support. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2019.

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Inspection date: 5 February 2020

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2019

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Inspection date: 5 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, three requirements and three recommendations were raised. The manager has addressed one of these requirements and all the recommendations. Two of the requirements have been reset and one further requirement has been set at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s individual records have improved. The records are up to date and provide important information. However, some handwritten records in the daily log and of individual sessions undertaken with the children are at times illegible. These records may make it difficult for the children to read information about themselves now or in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor’s reports of the last two visits have not been sent to Ofsted. This shortfall means that Ofsted does not have a recent overview of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has not fully met the further two requirements. The staff now challenge a child about smoking in their bedroom and implement the strategies in the risk assessments. However, despite these strategies, the child continues to smoke in their room. Although the number of instances has reduced, smoking in the home is unsafe and places the children and the staff at risk. Also, not all the children’s risk assessments provide enough detail of the actual risk or clear actions to reduce the risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One member of staff has attended training in attachment theory. However, due to timescales since the last inspection, the staff team is yet to receive this training and other specific identified training such as managing substance misuse. This shortfall means that not all staff have the required skills to meet the needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. This child moved in a planned and positive way. The staff continue to provide support and make visits to the child at their new home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children continue to make improvements in all areas of their lives. They engage in their education provisions and work placements. The staff help the children to overcome barriers that previously restricted them. The staff motivate and support the children to achieve. They praise the children’s accomplishments and develop strong relationships with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made improvements to the home. The staffing is stable, with new staff joining the team. Good induction and a focus on the staff’s personal Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 3 development have resulted in a consistent and dedicated staff team that meets the children’s needs well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff build and maintain good relationships with the children. The staff spend quality time with the children and are committed to their care. The staff make sure that the children live in an environment that is clean, homely and welcoming.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work well with placing authorities. A social worker said, ‘Communication has always been good and beneficial. The staff are good at informing me of any incidents and changes that might affect the young person I work with.’ Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2019 Full Good 05/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/10/2017 Full Good 13/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the children. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 14/02/2020

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the staff receive training in attachment and managing substance misuse training. 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 6 about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, ensure that children’s handwritten records are legible.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1164089 7

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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

Natalie Burton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1164089 8 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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Inspector

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