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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 1 SC064500 Registered provider: Keys Child Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. The home provides care for up to three children. The statement of purpose states that children who are supported here have primary needs related to emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted on 29 December 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 outstanding

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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 for children’s home: SC064500 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/05/2021 Full Good 13/05/2019 Full Good 07/06/2018 Full Good 29/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive genuine warmth and affection from a nurturing, caring and consistent staff team. Children feel secure, loved and well cared for. Because of this, children are making excellent progress in this home and enjoy living here.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in education. One child has recently gained a qualification following the successful completion of year one at college. This child has plans to continue at college and study for a higher qualification. Another child is being supported to explore their future options by attending college open days. One social worker said, ‘Academically, my child is either on target or achieving above the national average and is making excellent progress at school.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to access services which support their health needs. They engage in health assessments, attend routine health appointments and, when necessary, access support from therapists and specialist services. One child has also been supported to reduce their prescribed medication, which will help them physically and socially in the future. As a result, children are emotionally and physically healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to be independent and to gain skills and build external networks which will support them in the future. For example, staff supported one child to gain part-time employment by carrying out mock interviews with them. The child has maintained this employment for a long time and has gone on to gain a promotion. This child is also a young leader for Brownies. Because of this, the child is well prepared for the future and has several positive support systems and influences which will support her in the next stages of her life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Not all children’s care plans are available in the home. This means that it is not clear whether the home and staff are working to achieve the outcomes outlined by the local authority. A requirement is made to address this.

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

There have been occasions when it has been necessary for staff to use restrictive physical intervention. Such incidents are generally well managed and de-escalated by staff. However, in respect of one incident, records did not demonstrate that physical intervention was appropriate and proportionate. Inspectors could not establish that the level of unsafe behaviour demonstrated by the child necessitated a physical intervention. This is not in line with safeguarding policies and procedures and does not reflect appropriate behaviour management and protection for children.

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

Incidents of children going missing from home are managed well. Staff respond appropriately and manage children’s behaviours in line with missing-from-care protocols and procedures. Staff have a good understanding of these polices, as well Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 4 as others which relate to the protection of children. This helps to maintain children’s safety and protect them from harm.

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

Staff educate children about risk and risk-taking behaviour through targeted direct- work sessions and in children’s meetings. Direct work is regular and robust. This helps children to understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, which helps them to reduce risk and improve their own safety.

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

Each child has a trusted adult who they can talk to about worries and concerns. The manager has made specific arrangements for one child to be supported by one key member of staff when attending a weekly personal appointment. This provides the child with appropriate care and support during this difficult time and serves to minimise any potential incidents or distress afterwards. The use of preventative and considered supportive strategies reduces the likelihood of incidents occurring.

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

Allegations, complaints and concerns raised by children are well managed. Allegations from children have related to staff practice as opposed to serious safeguarding concerns. The manager ensures thorough investigations are completed and that the necessary professionals are informed. Additionally, the manager requests external review and scrutiny to ensure investigations are robust and free from potential bias. This ensures children’s safety and well-being and ensures comprehensive independent review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is stable and provides good continuity of care for children. Staff feel supported by the registered manager and senior leaders. They receive regular, good- quality supervision and yearly appraisal. New staff are supported through mentoring and robust induction processes. Because of this, staff feel confident in their role, morale is good and those working with children share the same positive ethos and high expectations for children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff working with children have achieved, or are appropriately working towards, the necessary childcare qualification. The manager also ensures that staff keep up to date with any relevant training. Furthermore, the manager has been creative, using existing research and theory to inform staff development workshops. For example, staff were supported to understand models of reflective practice to further their knowledge and support them to evaluate their own responses to children. This helps staff to continually improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has sought to understand staff’s training and learning needs by assessing their individual learning styles. In turn, this supports the manager to better understand her team and their individual strengths and weaknesses. This is supporting efficiency and more effective daily practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal monitoring is robust. Independent visitors scrutinise the home through robust assessment of safeguarding practice, regular discussions with children and Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 5 clear evaluation of the care provided. This helps managers identify and address shortfalls and weaknesses in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff have exceptionally high aspirations for children. Because of this, the manager collaborates with multiple agencies and professionals to access the correct support for children. This has resulted in all children making improved progress across all aspects of their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 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 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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, updated local authority care plans are to be available in the home for each child. 24 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 24 July 2022

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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: SC064500 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Natalie Bennett, Social Care Inspector Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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