Children's Home run by Keys QTC Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 1

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Keys QTC

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides short-term, emergency care. It is registered for up to six young people aged up to 18 years with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit has been carried out because of concerns of an increase in significant incidents, including allegations made by children, since May 2020. In addition, the independent visitor has repeatedly raised recommendations about shortfalls in management monitoring and oversight of incidents, including physical restraint. Ofsted recognises the additional challenges posed by the pandemic, including experienced staff leaving the home and a recent period of sickness of the registered manager. However, even taking the challenges into account, there has been a decline in the quality of care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

During this inspection, records required by the inspectors were not provided in a timely manner. An overview of some incidents, including allegations against staff and of restraint and complaints, was not readily available. Some incident records provided did not contain sufficient detail about children’s behaviour and staff actions taken in response. Ofsted is not satisfied that the registered provider is able to assure themselves and the regulator that effective action is consistently taken after incidents to safeguard children.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of physical incidents lacks reliable monitoring. Scrutiny of these incidents is not effective because too often there is significant delay by managers in recording evaluations of incidents and then having discussions with staff and children after restraint is used. Children frequently refuse to speak with the Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 2 manager after incidents of restraint. This responsibility has not been delegated to ensure children’s views are gathered.

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This monitoring visit

In some cases, managers have effectively reviewed incidents, undertaking comprehensive and helpful investigations. However, this practice is not consistent. Due to the delay in recording reviews, actions for follow-up are not implemented swiftly to prevent poor practice from being repeated. For example, some staff have repeatedly not adhered to protocols for the use of restraint. Ineffective monitoring has led to a failure to consistently learn lessons from incidents and implement actions swiftly to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have failed to notify Ofsted of all significant events that have taken place at this home. For example, inspectors identified five significant incidents involving children since September that have not been reported to the regulator. Four of these incidents involved staff calling the police to the home or to the local area because they were unable to manage children’s aggressive behaviour.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 01/10/2019 Full Good 18/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 8 January 2021

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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

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 18 December 2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 4 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the following items, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner—

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Requirement Due date

records of the use of measures of control, discipline or restraint (see regulation 35);

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Requirement Due date

children’s case records (see regulation 36);

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Requirement Due date

other records (see regulation 37); (Regulation 38 (h)(i)(j)) 8 January 2021

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 5

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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.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keys Care Ltd, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Anna Gravelle, Social Care Inspector Kerry Fell, Social Care Compliance Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 1280578 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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