Children's home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 1 Registered provider: Keys NHCC Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a large private company. It is registered to care for up to four children with a variety of complex needs, aged between eight and 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has worked in the home since it opened and is qualified to level 5 in health and social care management.

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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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Information about this children’s home

A virtual monitoring visit was undertaken on 10 and 11 February 2021. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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Date of last inspection: 8 and 9 February 2021

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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Date of last inspection: 8 and 9 February 2021

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 3

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improvement to be good

Children are cared for by staff who want the best for children. Inspectors observed positive relationships between children and staff. Despite this, inspectors felt that not all children were progressing as well as they could have been.

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improvement to be good

Staff have developed plans which inform staff how to care for and develop children. However, the information within those plans is limited and some plans are out of date. This lack of detail and regular review means staff are unclear about how they support children’s progress.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls, some children at the home are making progress and have done well in education, participated in voluntary work and have been encouraged to follow their interests. However, one child is refusing to engage in education. Lack of clarity in this child’s plans means that staff permit her to see friends on a school day instead of undertaking learning activities. Consequently, this does not instil in the child the importance of education.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to keep in touch with their families and friends. When face-to- face visits have not been possible due to COVID-19 restrictions, then children have kept in touch using technology. Staff take children to, and support, visits with families, while other children can travel independently. Consequently, relationships are maintained. For one child, these relationships have improved significantly and they are now spending more time at home.

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improvement to be good

Some children at the home have developed unhealthy eating habits. Staff have not developed plans which will help children learn about healthy eating, portion control and the importance of exercise. Consequently, as children become more independent this could mean they continue with their poor eating habits, which could affect their long-term health.

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improvement to be good

Staff have been creative in keeping children busy. Children have had opportunities to experience a wide range of activities with trips out to theme parks, places of interest, shopping and going on holiday. Staff have also made sure children have had birthday parties and celebrated Christmas and Easter.

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improvement to be good

Staff have developed risk management plans for children. However, some details contained in these documents are inaccurate and plans have not been regularly updated with new information. For one child, there was no missing from care protocol, despite having an assessment to use his bedroom door alarm in case he goes missing. Staff and interim managers have not signed children’s risk Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 4 assessments to show that they have read and understood them. These omissions mean that those caring for children at the home do not have up-to-date knowledge of children’s risks and strategies to keep them safe.

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improvement to be good

Children do not regularly go missing from the home, but when they do staff take some action. However, on one occasion there was a delay in reporting a child missing. Missing from home records could be clearer, for example showing what staff have done and when. One child’s missing protocol does not tell staff what they needed to do if the child went missing from the home, only what to do if she does not return home from being out in the community, or is seen getting into a car. These shortfalls do not fully promote children’s welfare and safety.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not developed robust behaviour management plans for children. Lack of detail means there are inconsistent approaches and some sanctions appear punitive. For example, a child lost access to the internet after he was seen picking at a car door handle. Staff also use the same sanction for one child repeatedly, which shows it is not effective in helping to change the child’s behaviour. Some children also receive numerous positive consequences where another child receives none. This lack of consistency and evaluation of behaviour management strategies does not help children to learn from their behaviour and understand the impact that this can have on themselves and others.

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improvement to be good

Staff respond to children’s risks and negative relationships by having a strategy of keeping them apart. Staff have not developed any plans to aid children’s learning about appropriate behaviours between each other. Consequently, the risks are managed, but children do not know how to develop positive relationships with others they live with.

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improvement to be good

Staff rarely need to use physical interventions, but when used they are appropriate and proportionate.

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improvement to be good

Managers have responded appropriately to concerns which have been raised, acting promptly to safeguard children.

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improvement to be good

Managers have undertaken safer recruitment checks, ensuring that new staff to the home are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is managed by an experienced, qualified practitioner. The manager has had a period of time off due to ill health. During this period, the home was overseen by other managers within the organisation. This arrangement caused inconsistencies in the management of the home and, as a result, has limited the home’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been shortfalls in management oversight of the home, which have meant that children’s plans have not always been regularly monitored to ensure that they are up to date. Interim managers have not familiarised themselves with Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 5 children’s plans. These omissions have contributed to the inconsistent care given by staff and the limited progress of some children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have not taken action to meet the two requirements raised at the monitoring visit in February 2021. They have not ensured that risk assessments are clear and accurate or made sure children’s plans are up to date. Although a plan to address shortfalls has been made in recent weeks, managers have been slow to prioritise and bring about improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have undertaken staff supervisions, though at times these have not been undertaken in line with company policy. Consequently, staff have not always had an opportunity to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Despite COVID-19, staff have received training on a variety of topics. However, staff have not had training in global developmental delay, child mental health, sexually harmful behaviours or eating disorders. Consequently, staff do not have all the skills and knowledge they need to care for the children living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers had identified shortfalls at the home in the weeks prior to this inspection and have implemented an improvement plan for the home and the registered manager. The responsible individual will monitor to ensure that progress is made in the quality of care given to the children. Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 6

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education and employment. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that education is promoted as important, children have routine and structure which encourages participation. 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 22 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 7 Specifically, that children are helped to understand the importance of healthy eating, exercise and portion control.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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 each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that children have opportunities to learn how to form positive relationships and be tolerant and accepting of others. 22 October 2021

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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

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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that children’s risk assessments are in place, regularly reviewed and staff understand those risk assessments and follow them. This is a repeat requirement. 22 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 8 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that managers have robust monitoring systems in place and that they are aware of the details within children’s plans. That managers should ensure that staff have training to meet the needs of children living at the home, such as training in global developmental delay, child mental health, sexually harmful behaviours and eating disorders. 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(2)(b)(ii)(c)) 22 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 9 Specifically, that the home’s placement care plans are up to date, accurate, have sufficient detail to ensure consistency of care, that staff understand those plans and follow them. This is a repeat requirement.

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that sanctions used with children are proportionate and a learning opportunity. 22 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, that staff receive supervision in line with the company policy. 22 October 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13

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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: 2570535 10

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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

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2570535 11 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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