Children's home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Rossendale

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 registered manager left the home on 31 January 2020. A new manager has been appointed and has a registration application in progress with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 1224093 2

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The care of children

The children feel happy and supported by the staff. All the children continued to access education and activities during lockdown. These activities have included quizzes, word search nights and physical activities, such as cycling and trampolining. The staff have been creative in developing opportunities for the children to learn and build positive relationships with each other.

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The care of children

The staff ensure that children’s transitions are well planned. The staff have supported children to develop skills in self-care, budgeting and cooking. This helps to prepare them for their next steps towards adulthood.

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The care of children

The staff ensured that the children continued to keep in touch with their families during lockdown. Staff regularly take the children to visit their families regardless of the length of travel involved. The staff have ensured that a child was able to promptly visit a family member who was unwell. These visits are important to and valued by the children.

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The care of children

Children’s bedrooms are well personalised. A chalk wall in each child’s bedroom enables the children to express themselves and to express their individuality.

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The care of children

The manager has decorated some parts of the house. However, the maintenance schedule has been delayed significantly by the lockdown restrictions. Several areas of the home require maintenance repairs. One of the bathrooms has mould on the walls, some parts of the flooring need repair and corridor walls need redecorating. In addition, some of the furniture is worn. This means that the home does not feel comfortable and welcoming.

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The safety of children

The children’s individual risk assessments lack detail. Therefore, staff do not have clear and practical guidance on how to reduce specific behaviours. The staff have not reviewed the strategies in line with the children’s current risks. This could reduce the effectiveness of the staff’s response.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding matters have not always been managed appropriately. For example, following an allegation about a member of staff, the manager failed to take immediate action. The manager later resolved the issue. However, this delay meant that she did not follow the home’s safeguarding policy.

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The safety of children

There has been a significant reduction in episodes of children going missing from the home and the use of physical restraints. This is because the staff praise positive behaviours and encourage the children to make good choices. The staff talk to children following a negative incident and record the children’s views. This encourages children to learn from behavioural incidents. Assurance visit report: 1224093 3 Staff understand internet safety. They have managed increased internet use well during lockdown. The manager has changed internet providers so that full parental controls can be used on different devices. The staff have undertaken key-work sessions to support children’s understanding of the risks and how to keep themselves safer online.

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Leaders and managers

A new manager has been appointed since the last inspection. She has begun to make improvements. However, some of the identified shortfalls from the last inspection remain and have been raised again.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has recruited a new staff team and no longer uses agency staff. However, the new staff have limited childcare knowledge and do not know the children well. Consequently, the children do not benefit from consistent and stable care.

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Leaders and managers

Children’s records are not all up to date. They are not informative of children’s progress or the recent changes in the children’s lives. A child’s care plan had not been reviewed following a new medical diagnosis. Therefore, staff did not consider strategies and support available in the child’s education and behaviour plans. This means that the child could miss out on specialist resources that can support his learning and behaviours.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has undertaken regular planning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and regularly updates the staff with the most recent developments. Staff clearly understand these plans and implement them well.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s partnership working is strong. The manager has fortnightly consultation meetings with therapists who work with the home. Staff work closely with children’s families and social workers. Social workers reported positive change since the new manager has been in post. They receive regular updates from the home about the children’s progress.

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Leaders and managers

The manager uses monitoring and reviewing processes to assess the effectiveness of the home. She uses external reviews and regular feedback from the children and staff. This means that the manager has an informed view of the strengths of the home. She also understands the current areas of weakness and has plans to continue making improvements. Assurance visit report: 1224093 4

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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 child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) 16/11/2020

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2(a)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the staff team is stable and consistent. 14/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which— 16/11/2020 Assurance visit report: 1224093 5 include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

and are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records are current, accurate and written in a professional manner.

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Recommendations

 Provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, maintain the communal areas to a good standard.  Ensure that any allegation of harm or abuse is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) In particular, act in accordance with the home’s safeguarding policy.

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Leemya McKeown, Social Care Inspector Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1224093 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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