Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report children's home: SC454901 1 SC454901 Registered provider: Keys BR Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional, social and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has achieved the required qualification and was registered by Ofsted in August 2016.

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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: SC454901 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/08/2019 Full Good 10/07/2018 Full Good 24/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC454901 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by an experienced and skilled staff team. They have strong bonds with the adults who care for them. Children liken the staff to a ‘second family’ and say they feel very well cared for. Children often live at the home for long periods of time. Over time children develop healthy routines that improve their emotional well-being. Children become more independent and grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have worked exceptionally hard to maintain good quality of care during the COVID-19 restrictions. They provided a wide range of activities and ensured that children had consistent carers. As a result, children had stability and routine during a prolonged period of uncertainty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well to attend education. Some children require bespoke education provision. The manager ensures that this is delivered. The team also has an experienced and qualified teacher who devises individually tailored lessons to support learning at home. This is a real asset for children who feel anxious about learning in a school environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff respond well to children’s health needs. Children are supported to attend routine and specialist health appointments. A particular strength of the home is the fact that children are comfortable to talk to staff about sensitive health issues. Consequently, they receive the right care and advice when they most need it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are heard, listened to and respected by the manager and staff. Regular house meetings take place, at which children can raise any issues they feel are important. Children know how to make a complaint. The manager investigates complaints thoroughly and in a timely way. Staff complete key-work sessions with children, focusing on important topics which help children to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff support children see their family and friends. The manager works with other agencies to ensure that any new arrangements are carefully assessed. When potential risks are identified, these are quickly addressed. This ensures that children can maintain important relationships safely.

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

The manager and staff understand children’s vulnerabilities well. Risk assessments contain pertinent information that enables staff to take effective action to keep children safe. However, some risk assessments are not reviewed following any changes to care plans. This has the potential to result in inconsistent guidance for staff. Inspection report children's home: SC454901 4 The staff use their skills and experience to manage behaviour well. As a result, there are very few incidents. The home is generally a settled, calm environment. There has been one recent incident which escalated in an unforeseen way. Staff managed this safely, ensuring that children were protected from harm. The manager provided good support to children and staff following the incident.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When this happens, the manager and staff work effectively with family members and safeguarding agencies to return children safely. This prevents children from coming to harm.

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

Staff and managers ensure that children are safe online. They undertake regular phone checks and monitor children’s internet use. Consequently, concerns are identified and addressed. Regular work is undertaken regarding exploitation so that children learn to recognise and reduce risks.

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

Staff have good working relationships with safeguarding agencies. Safeguarding information is shared promptly and appropriately. Appropriate actions are taken in response to any allegations or disclosures. As a result, children are protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an established and capable manager who knows the children and staff well. She provides strong leadership to a team that values her skills and experience. The manager supports her staff well with professional and personal issues. The staff know they can rely on her. The manager’s approach maintains stability in the home which means children are well looked after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited suitably qualified staff with a range of skills and experience. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. Supervision records demonstrate that discussions focus on children’s needs and that there are opportunities for staff to raise any concerns. However, supervision is not currently used well to help staff reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the care provided. The manager takes a practical, hands-on approach, working alongside staff when required and supporting during complex situations. This provides children and staff with necessary reassurance at difficult times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager advocates for children, ensuring that their wishes and feelings are included in their care planning. She is attentive to the children’s needs. She listens to their views, acting on them wherever possible. Children say the manager regularly spends time with them no matter how busy she is. Consequently, children have trust in the manager and value their relationships with her. Inspection report children's home: SC454901 5

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page, 42 paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page, 61 paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC454901 6

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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

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC454901 7 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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