Children's home run by Keys Care Limited in Belfast

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063959 1 SC063959

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Keys Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private provider and is currently overseen by an acting manager.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was conducted due to concerns communicated to the regulator through independent monitoring. These concerns were in relation to leadership and management and the home’s physical environment. Additionally, there has been no registered manager in post since 31 March 2020. The visit was carried out both on- and off-site. This children’s home was judged good at the full inspection on 8 October 2019. There have been no changes to this judgement following this visit. The home is located on a residential street. Poor presentation and industrial-style rubbish bins set the home apart from others on the street. Inspectors observed cigarette ends, rubbish and broken glass on the external grounds. Improvements are needed to ensure that the home is not distinguishable from others, and so that it presents as a place where young people want to live. Furthermore, these issues have the potential to compromise young people’s health and safety.

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This monitoring visit

One young person has caused a significant amount of damage to the home’s interior and to fire alarms. This is a significant safety concern for those in the home. Padlocks are used to secure areas that young people have restricted access to, such as the loft and some cupboards. This does not reflect a high-quality, homely or nurturing environment, which young people deserve. Plans to manage incidents of missing from home have been successful. Because of this, episodes have significantly reduced. However, risk assessments are not updated with recent incidents of concern. This compromises staff’s ability to respond effectively to all risk-taking behaviours. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063959 2 Young people spoken to at the time of the visit said that they are safe and have everything they need. They identified members of the staff team they could talk to and can trust. Interactions observed between staff and young people were positive.

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This monitoring visit

Staff de-escalated an incident in which a young person was becoming upset, and were seen to be responsive and nurturing. One young person is frustrated with the local restrictions in place due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). This is affecting his engagement in the placement and within education. The restrictions have prevented staff from using strategies which previously enabled them to reinforce relationships, such as engaging the young person in meaningful activities that he enjoys. Because of this, the young person is regularly damaging the home. External monitoring and review identify shortfalls in the home. Independent visitors provide comprehensive reports which provide detailed recommendations for improvement. Unfortunately, shortfalls are not addressed within an appropriate timescale. Staff and managers have difficulty accessing and using internal IT systems. Therefore, leaders and managers are unable to access necessary and up-to-date

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This monitoring visit

documentation when needed. This impacts on the managers ability to review incidents, update documents and complete effective monitoring and review. This hinders the home’s ability to promote young people’s well-being and provide high- quality care and prevents appropriate independent review. Staff have received specific training to support one young person with his health needs. This young person said that the support he is offered around his health is good and that helping him with this is something that the team does well. As a result, his physical health has improved, and he feels better. Staff know young people well. Staff undertake a detailed induction programme and engage in regular supervision. They are aware of the procedures in place to protect young people from harm. This means that young people receive care from staff who are aware of their needs and who can support them in line with the organisation’s

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/10/2019 Full Good 20/08/2019 Full Inadequate 09/07/2018 Full Good 16/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063959 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 staff— 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;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(i)(d)) 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 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

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 (2)(f)(h)) 8 January 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063959 4

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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: c/o Pinsent Masons LLP, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

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Inspectors

Natalie Bennett, social care inspector Claire Deary, social care inspection manager Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC063959 5 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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