Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 1 SC450994 Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to four children with complex needs. The children may have had traumatic experiences that have left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since February 2013.

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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.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 27 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/08/2018 Full Good 08/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from a spacious and nicely decorated home. There are pictures of the children around the house, and children’s crafts are on display. These give children a sense of belonging. There is a large back garden, providing outdoor space that the children enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children all have an education provision, and three of the children attend school full time. One child has recently taken GCSE exams and has secured a place at college. The staff provide home schooling for one child, and this helps to minimise gaps in the child’s learning. The manager is currently working with external agencies to find an alternative education provision for this child. The staff have high aspirations for children’s education which help the children to believe in their abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help the children to plan time with their families. Some children have overnight stays with their families. The staff understand the importance of children’s family time. They support the children to maintain the relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage the children to learn new life skills. The children have pets to look after and enjoy. One child has started to work towards semi-independence. Children practise budgeting and cooking home-made meals. These activities help the children to learn about responsibility and prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of new activities, including visiting water parks, ice skating and rollerblading. A member of staff who is qualified in beauty and massage therapy has planned a spa day for the children. This offers the children a range of different experiences that supports their interests and likes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are encouraged to use an independent advocate. One child used an advocate to help her to express her wishes and feelings regarding her future. Advocacy encourages children to take an active part in their care planning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe at the home. The manager has ensured that the staff have appropriate safeguarding training. The staff understand and implement the safeguarding procedures. The staff confidently manage safeguarding incidents which helps keep the children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager ensures that allegations made by the children are investigated promptly. She informs all relevant professionals about any allegations. Working together with professionals provides the manager with external professional oversight of any investigations. This joint working safeguards the children effectively. Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 4 The staff and the manager creatively engage the children in important discussions. These discussions cover a good range of topics, including sexual health, internet safety and bullying. The manager has age-appropriate and personalised resources to ensure that the children are educated and are informed. Interactive discussions help the children to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff use physical intervention as a last resort. Following a high number of physical interventions for one child, a psychologist contributed to the child’s care plan. The staff discuss physical interventions with the children and encourage the children to manage their feelings safely. This has led to a reduction in the use of physical interventions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have individualised behaviour support plans that clearly guide the staff. Detailed plans and consistent approaches from the staff support the children to manage their behaviour safely. Children are involved in writing their behaviour support plans and benefit from support that they understand.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and is qualified for the role. She has a diploma in management and has managed the home for seven years. The manager has high aspirations for children. She acts as a good role model for the staff who benefit from the manager’s guidance and knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the home effectively, using an electronic recording system. The recording system alerts the manager of tasks that are due for completion and of tasks that require managerial oversight. The manager participates in quality assurance visits to assess the home and attends meetings chaired by the responsible individual. These meetings and visits contribute to good monitoring and oversight that drive improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has access to a good variety of specialists to support the children. These include behavioural specialists, child sexual exploitation specialists and police liaison support. The manager alerts specialists to the children’s specific vulnerabilities and other relevant concerns about the children. This minimises delays in the children receiving specialist support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit from regular and effective supervision. Staff are given good guidance by the manager. The manager has developed individual workforce development plans for each member of staff. These plans guide the staff to understand and to share the manager’s vision for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s recording is, generally, good. On one occasion, during an investigation, the manager failed to ensure that staff signed and dated their witness statements. Poor recording means that the records may not provide an accurate account of events. Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 5 Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. In particular, ensure that witness statements are signed and dated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC450994 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC450994 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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