Children's home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Southend-on-Sea

Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 1 SC482380 Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to four children who may experience social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home registered with Ofsted on 17 June 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2020

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2020 Full Good 01/05/2018 Full Good 27/09/2017 Full Good 07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 3

p.2

outstanding

This home is outstanding. It works with children who have complex needs, such as sexually harmful behaviours, and some children are vulnerable to criminal and sexual exploitation. The staff are trained in these areas and training is swiftly sourced when emerging risks arise. The organisation’s lead specialist has delivered training to staff that has enabled them to respond effectively to a child’s emerging behaviour.

p.3

outstanding

Before moving to the home, the children had traumatic and adverse childhood experiences. The progress that the children have made since they moved to the home is impressive. Two children have progressed so well that their social workers have said that they are ready to move to foster care. From these children’s starting points, this is exceptional progress. Some children have been able to increase the time that they spend with people who are important to them.

p.3

outstanding

One child was prescribed medication when she moved into the home. The staff supported the child to stop taking medication in line with medical agreement. The child has been able to self-manage without medication for many months. The children recognise how much they have progressed. One child has overcome a speech disorder. He has a speech and language therapist, who has helped him to improve his speech and communication. Staff worked alongside this specialist and have incorporated techniques into their own practice. The staff have provided this child with a social story about feelings, which he uses to articulate his emotions. As a result, he is much more settled and has fewer incidents of aggression.

p.3

outstanding

All children are in education; some of which is bespoke. One child attends an equestrian college, which she absolutely thrives in. One child’s education placement broke down. The staff advocated for the child tenaciously and ensured that they worked well with external professionals to source an appropriate school. This child now attends a mainstream school. One child who was out of school for six months now attends and engages in school daily.

p.3

outstanding

The staff provide highly individualised and tailored care to a child with very complex needs. The staff ensure that they express no judgement and take time to understand and address the underlying factors which lead to the associated behaviours. This has not reduced the frequency of some of these behaviours, but it has led to the child becoming better educated about his actions. Consequently, he manages himself more appropriately.

p.3

outstanding

The staff truly understand the development of children’s sexual health. Furthermore, the staff understand how specific learning difficulties can affect children’s perception of appropriate sexual behaviour. The staff’s support of children is finely tuned to their needs. Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 4 The children’s voice is integral to decision-making at the home. The staff consistently ask the children for their views during meetings, general conversations and key-work sessions. Interactions between the children and the staff are extremely positive. The staff have warmth in their interactions with the children. This is role modelled implicitly by the manager and deputy manager.

p.3

outstanding

Despite the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff have managed to provide the children with exciting opportunities between periods of lockdown. The children have been taken on holidays to Cornwall and Hunstanton and have been glamping on a farm. The children have had experiences of surfing, rock climbing, ocean diving and other activities. These experiences push the children outside of their comfort zones, build their social networks and increase their self-esteem. The staff know how to have fun with the children and do so frequently. There are lots of photographs in the home of the children on fun-filled trips, days out and holidays. This home feels, looks and is like a family home.

p.4

outstanding

An orchard and a large vegetable patch were created by the manager over the summer for children to grow and eat their own produce. The managers worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the children were creatively entertained during and in-between periods of COVID-19 restrictions.

p.4

outstanding

The highly skilled staff team provides the children with enriched care and opportunities to discuss risk without fear of judgement or reprisal. The staff teach the children how to keep themselves safe. As a result, the children have become more adept at avoiding risky situations.

p.4

outstanding

Children do not go missing from the home on a regular basis. When they do, the staff work effectively and intelligently with the wider network of professionals to ensure that the children return safely. The staff support children when they return, just as a loving parent would. The staff provide children with responsive key-work sessions on their return from being away from the home. These sessions explore areas that may have been experienced by the child while they were absent from the home. Staff discuss issues such as exploitation, substance misuse, online safety, grooming and sexual health with the children. These discussions are delivered sensitively and frankly. Staff are tenacious in pursuing placing authorities to provide the required checks if they fail to meet their statutory duties.

p.4

outstanding

Staff inform their practice about risks in the local area through regular work with the police. Intelligence from the police is referred to in the location risk assessment. The staff are aware of risks in the area, such as fast-food outlets and known addresses, that the police believe would compromise the children’s safety. Collaborative working with external professionals increases the safeguards for the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 5 Risk assessments are comprehensive, widely shared and are understood by the staff and result in risk reduction. Staff are not risk averse. One child has a smart phone which has all the necessary checks in place to keep her safe. Another child is assessed as being at too high risk for a phone and her care is personalised accordingly. Care in the home is sophisticatedly tailored to each child’s needs.

p.4

outstanding

On the rare occasions that children become exposed to unhealthy risks, they are exceptionally well supported by the staff. The staff share concerns with other professionals. External professionals, including the designated officer, are confident that the home safeguards children extremely well.

p.5

outstanding

The manager addresses lapses in staff practice tenaciously. He reminds staff constantly of preferred practice. The manager uses all options available to ensure that staff aspire to achieve optimum practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A creative, innovative and experienced manager leads the home confidently to provide high-quality care to the children. The managers are inspirational and have high ambition for the children. The managers are highly respected by the staff and external professionals.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has a fully embedded therapy model that all staff are trained in. The care and children’s records are underpinned by research-led practice to improve outcomes for children. The home uses psychologically informed care planning to support each child. The staff work with the organisation’s therapist to achieve positive outcomes for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Quantitative and qualitative data is used to good effect to demonstrate the children’s progress. The organisation’s therapists and staff have a coordinated approach to care planning and support. This improves staff’s skills and knowledge and ultimately provides children with an exceptional experience of living at the home. The impact of such collaborative working and support is life-changing and enduring.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads firmly from the front yet encourages input from the staff team. An independent reviewing officer was particularly impressed when the manager made a challenge to the independent reviewing officer and a social worker which was in the best interests of a child. This advocacy led to a child contacting parents with whom she had not spoken for 10 years. This has had an extremely positive impact on the child and provided her with connections with her family that she thought she had long lost. Staff are beginning to lead on life-story work with her. This is exceptional practice which is fuelled by love and genuine care for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has made excellent choices in accepting children into the home. This has led to long-term placements and happy children. Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 6 An independent visitor has established strong relationships with the children at the home. Children feel comfortable in the visitor’s presence and speak with her about issues that they may have. External monitoring reports are detailed and clearly identify strengths and areas for development. The independent visitor provides challenge to the home, which drives progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have good working relationships with partner agencies and schools to ensure the best possible care, experiences and futures for children. The manager and deputy manager attended a school to inform the staff how to work best with one of their children. This demonstrates excellent collaborative working and has led to the staff at the school supporting the child more effectively.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External funding ceased for one child’s therapy. The manager sourced and funded therapy from a psychotherapist to ensure that the child continued to receive the therapy that she needed. The manager is a tenacious advocate for the children. This ensures that children access their rights entitlements and beyond. The children thrive in the culture and ethos that the manager has worked tirelessly to implement.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All these remarkable achievements have been in the context of an exceptionally difficult year for everyone. The manager does not allow obstacles and challenges to obstruct his delivery of high-quality care; he simply and effectively works round them. Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 7

p.6

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: SC482380 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482380 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9