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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 1 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

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who have complex needs and require specialist support.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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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: 10 November 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2021 Full Good 05/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/09/2019 Full Good 05/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection. Children have been making progress since moving into the home. A social worker said that their child has settled in well and is engaging well with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the staff team has been stable. This has led to an improvement in staff morale and has enabled children to build positive trusting relationships with staff, which were evident throughout the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff give good support to children who are moving into the home. A social worker said that staff visited the child before their move. The staff member gave the child photos of the house and a letter from one of the children saying that they were looking forward to her moving in. Sharing information and visiting children to prepare them for their move helps to reduce their anxiety about this big change in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with education providers and encourage the children to attend education. Children’s school attendance has improved since moving into the home, attendance is high and children are engaging well. One child is working full time, which staff have supported and encouraged.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health. Staff support them to attend all health appointments. Children who need specific care access specialist health professionals, such as community and mental health teams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend regular house meetings and discuss a variety of topics. Staff use these meetings to obtain the children’s views, wishes and feelings. The manager responds to these and lets children know about any decisions that are made as a result. This helps children to feel that their views are important, listened to and acted on. Children have been involved in choosing new decor and equipment for the home and deciding on activities that they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children plan activities with staff during house meetings; they have the opportunity to go out together with staff or individually. This helps children to build relationships with staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the house has had some redecoration in the lounge, dining room and quiet room. Children’s bedrooms are more personalised. However, there is still work to be completed to ensure that the home has a warm and nurturing feel.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child-friendly guide is available for children. However, the guide does not explain the day-to-day routines at the home. This means that new children may not know what is expected of them. Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 4

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

There have been several safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. These have been managed well. The manager worked closely with the placing authority, the safeguarding team and the police to compile a safety risk management plan for a child. A social worker said that if there are any significant incidents or safeguarding concerns she is informed. This has meant that she can speak to her child to ensure that they feel safe.

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

Staff regularly check with children to make sure that they feel happy and safe. If a child has witnessed behaviour from another child that has upset them, staff give them the opportunity to discuss anything that is worrying or concerning them. Children spoken with during the inspection said that they feel safe living at the home.

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

Staff know the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Children have comprehensive individual risk assessment and behaviour support plans. These are regularly reviewed and updated after an incident. Children understand their risks and triggers and work with staff to try and reduce these.

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

Staff actively search for children when they go missing from the home. Staff follow children’s individual protocols. Children are welcomed back into the home and key- work sessions take place after each episode of a child going missing. Return home interviews are carried out by the social workers.

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

Sanctions are fair and proportionate. Children have individual ‘happy books’ in which staff record children’s positive behaviours and when they have done something well. This reinforcement helps children to see that staff celebrate their achievements.

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

Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries. Staff support each other during incidents and make detailed records. They have discussions with children after each incident. This helps children to reflect on their behaviours and learn to manage their feelings and responses differently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 2019 and has the experience and qualifications to manage the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has successfully challenged placing authorities when care plans were not in the best interests of the child. She attends regular meetings with other professionals to look at children’s risks and the future planning to reduce these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have undertaken the organisation’s mandatory training. They all hold a relevant level 3 qualification or are working towards it. A member of staff said that their induction was comprehensive and supported him to understand his role and the responsibilities of the job. Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 5 Staff receive regular supervision. Those spoken with during the inspection said that they find supervision supportive and that it helps them when working with the children. Team meetings are held regularly and support staff to work in a consistent way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager informs Ofsted of serious safeguarding incidents promptly. Social workers said that they are kept up to date with any concerns and communication has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carries out regular monitoring checks. She uses the independent person’s reports to identify patterns and trends and to evaluate the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met one of the two recommendations from the last inspection. The requirement and one recommendation have been restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 6

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Statutory requirement

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.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 23 June 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide helps children to understand the day-to-day routines of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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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 for children’s home: 1164089 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1164089 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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