Children's home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Rossendale

Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 1 SC020610 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 privately owned home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and who are vulnerable to exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is suitably managed by an experienced and qualified manager, who registered with Ofsted in May 2015.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2020 Full Good 20/12/2018 Full Good 14/11/2017 Full Good 17/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children at the home make very good progress because staff have developed individualised plans and provide consistency of care. One child has successfully returned home to live with their family. However, recommendations from therapists could be better incorporated into children’s plans. This would enable those evaluating children’s progress to have a better idea of how well strategies are working.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they like living at the home because it is homely and because ‘staff care and will do everything they can to help you’. Consequently, children feel that they are at the centre of everything that staff do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. As a result, children who had poor attendance at school are now attending education. One child has progressed so well that they are now attending a mainstream school. However, one child has now left education and is not enrolled in any further education, training or employment. Staff are encouraging her to find alternative employment without success. More could be done to increase her chances by undertaking further training or work experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good introductions to the home, even when they are placed in an emergency. Children say that they are made to feel welcome. They able to choose the decor of their bedrooms and are told all the information they may need. As a result, children settle in well at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to become more independent. One child has spent some time in an independence flat and has developed her skills and undertaken part-time work. As a result, she is now ready to move on to the next stage of her life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop good plans for children moving from the home. One child who has recently moved had a well-developed plan. This included ongoing support for the child and for the parent as well. As a result, the move back home has been successful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged by staff to participate in a variety of activities. One child was very involved in horse riding and horse care. Staff also encourage appropriate friendships so that children can spend time with their friends. Consequently, children develop their social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

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

Children are kept safe because staff know them well. Staff have developed behaviour plans and risk assessments, which are regularly reviewed. However, not all staff are signing to show that they have read the risk assessment. This means that the manager cannot evidence that all staff have read and understood the risks. Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 4 Staff help children to understand risks and give them opportunities to take responsibility. When children do things which put them at risk, managers take prompt action. For example, when a child left the home before staff had got up, his bedroom door alarm was reintroduced for a period of time. As a result, children learn about acceptable behaviours, consequences and how their behaviour could put them at risk.

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

Staff take appropriate action to monitor children when they are away from the home, such as when out with friends. Staff keep in touch via telephone and undertake visual checks when needed to satisfy themselves that the child is safe and well.

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

Managers work well with education professionals to keep children safe. For example, when one child experienced bullying at school, managers shared the concerns with teaching staff, who took the concerns seriously and addressed the issue with those children concerned. As a result, the child feels able to express concerns as they know that staff will take action to keep them safe.

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

Staff work well with children whose behaviours have, in the past, put them at risk. Staff help them to understand the risks along with strategies to keep themselves safe. As a result, one child who was at risk of being exploited is no longer at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced, qualified and child-focused practitioner who puts the children at the centre of everything she does. She has high expectations for herself and the team. During the visit, the inspector observed positive relationships with children, and children were seeking her out for advice and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager challenges other professionals if she feels that children are not receiving the services they need. Consequently, children feel valued and that managers want the best for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager. She has an open-door policy and helps staff when things may be affecting their ability to cope at work. Consequently, staff feel valued and respected, which results in improved care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Families and professionals spoken to are very complimentary about the care given to children. They say that communication is good, and managers are not afraid to challenge. They say that the manager works well with them and has children’s best interests at heart. One parent spoken to says that their child has done well and wishes that they did not have to move now they are 18. Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 5 Managers ensure that staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. Staff say that they find these beneficial as they give them a chance to reflect on their practice and develop their skills in working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers make sure that staff undertake a variety of training which meets the needs of children. The manager considered how they could meet the needs of one child after reading a report from a psychologist. As a result, the manager has purchased resources to help staff understand how to better work with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses her monitoring systems well. When she identifies shortfalls, she takes action to resolve them. For example, she identified that more could be done to make the home homely. As a result, she involved children and others to identify where improvements could be made. The home is now much more homely and child friendly. Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff signing to show that they have read and understood children’s risk assessments.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that recommendations from therapists are recorded clearly in children’s plans so that there is consistency of approach and so that those measuring children’s progress can do so to the strategy recommended. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)  The registered person should ensure that children participate in education or training until they reach 18 years old. This can be through full-time education, an apprenticeship or traineeship, or by combining full-time employment with part- time education or training. While the duty is on the child themselves, it is important that staff encourage the child to continue their education or training and support them to develop the skills necessary to succeed in the option they choose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.16)

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Recommendations

Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 7

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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: SC020610 8

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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

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC020610 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 children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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