Children's home run by Keswick Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 1 Registered provider: Keswick 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 and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to two children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been appointed and is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was closed shortly after the last inspection. Therefore, no children were living in the home until it reopened on 18 May 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home. The inspector observed the children and spoke with them.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in this home. They are happy with the care that they receive and the difference that it makes to their lives. One child said, ‘The staff look after us. I want to stay here for ages.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considers the child’s individual needs, and the staff’s ability to meet those needs, before children move into the home. The manager also consults with relevant professionals and, where appropriate, the child’s family. However, in a recent admission, the manager did not ensure that the statement of purpose was up to date and, therefore, the child’s needs did not accurately match the home’s offer of care. However, this did not have a negative impact on the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a warm welcome into the home and are supported to settle. The staff prepare for the child’s arrival by getting to know the child’s likes and dislikes and organising activities that the child may enjoy. The staff recognise that moving home can be an anxious time for children. Therefore, to help children relax, they receive a therapeutic welcome pack, which contains comforting items such as calming scents, a worry monster, and a pressure blanket. One child said, ‘I was scared, but the staff helped me to feel comfortable, I love it here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive support to explore their identity, develop hobbies and interests. Their bedrooms are personalised and, through a variety of positive activities, children learn more about themselves and how to express their thoughts and feelings. The staff support children to try new experiences, for example swimming and a visit to a safari park. This helps children to develop personal interests and increase their self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional health has improved. The staff ensure that children are promptly registered with health services such as the dentist and GP. In addition, staff provide children with an age-appropriate routine, which promotes a healthy diet, good sleep and personal care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff, who provide the children with high levels of emotional warmth. Staff are in tune with the children’s feelings and recognise when children’s behaviour is unsettled by matters such as family time. Staff provide children with reassurance and, where appropriate, give the child a hug. These relationships help the children to feel loved and well supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The provider’s approach to children’s education has improved since the last inspection. When children are not in full-time education, staff follow a clear plan which promotes structured home learning with the children. This includes activities in the community and physical exercise. The staff liaise with the child’s relevant school and use the educational resources provided, to support children to complete Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 4 schoolwork. This helps children to maintain an interest in learning and reduces some gaps in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to express their views about the care that they receive. They are referred for an independent advocate as soon as they move into the home, and they are regularly consulted by the manager and staff. Children know how to make a complaint, and when a complaint is made the manager carries out an investigation. Children and the manager meet to discuss the outcome and confirm if the child is satisfied with the result. This helps children to feel empowered and able to influence their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have good relationships with other professionals and the children’s family. Communication is good and feedback about the care provided to the children is positive. A parent said, ‘They’re really looking after [name of child] and [name of child] is a lot happier. They keep in touch with me, and they tell me straight away if there are any problems.’

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

Risks to children are well managed and, as a result, risks have reduced. The staff understand children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities, and they follow the strategies identified in children’s plans. Children do not go missing from home. However, if this did occur, the manager has relevant protocols in place so that staff know how to respond.

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

Children feel confident to talk about their experiences and have trusting relationships with the staff. One child said, ‘I used to bottle it up, but now the staff help me talk about stuff.’ Another child said, ‘I feel safe, the staff care about me.’

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

When children make an allegation, the manager ensures the child is well supported and the information is shared with relevant professionals. The manager’s risk assessment considers any additional risks to the child and how these should be managed.

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

Children receive help to develop tolerance and respect for others. The staff provide advice and guidance to children through key-work sessions and activities. Personalised incentives help children engage in positive behaviour. This helps children to cope with challenges and have better relationships.

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

The quality of key-work sessions is improving. Together, the staff discuss and identify targets for each child, based on their individual needs. The targets are used as a focus for key-work sessions and for monitoring the child’s progress. The staff are supported to improve the way they complete written records of key-work sessions.

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

The manager uses lessons learned to develop and improve staff practice. For example, staff have received additional guidance on the provider’s whistle-blowing policy, and this is now an agenda item for each team meeting. This has increased Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 5 staff understanding of the process and how this helps to protect children. Changes to staff supervision mean that sessions are more reflective and encourage staff to raise safeguarding matters. This helps to promote a good safeguarding culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes in the management team have resulted in improved leadership and management oversight at the home. A new manager has been appointed who is suitably qualified and has relevant experience of working with children. She is ambitious and highly motivated and is well supported by senior leaders. Together, they have effectively addressed the shortfalls identified from the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff feel well supported to carry out their role. They say that the management team is approachable and provides them with prompt advice and guidance. Staff training and skills are monitored so that, when gaps emerge, training sessions are booked. The staff are enthusiastic, and they work well together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff have been appointed. They participate in an induction process which includes the provider’s mandatory training. The provider continues to have a thorough recruitment process and follows safer recruitment practices. However, in one example, evidence of a staff’s qualification was not contained on their recruitment file. This did not negatively impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider has improved their process for challenging other agencies who fail to meet children’s needs. The manager supports the staff to challenge other professionals when needed. As a result, the staff have improved confidence. This helps children to receive the right support from other agencies and reduce unnecessary delays.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided to children. She carries out a six-monthly review of care and uses evaluation to identify actions in the home’s improvement plan. However, the plan does not include how actions will be addressed or the timescales. This may affect how progress is tracked and measured.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most of the children’s records are up to date and reflect their day-to-day experiences. Written records are child friendly and, where appropriate, include photographs of the activities that children enjoyed. However, in some examples, documents are not signed or dated. In addition, the provider does not have copies of the placing local authority care plans. The provider has addressed this with the local authority; however, the absence of key documents affects the information available to the staff to meet the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the statement of purpose and conditions of registration are consistent with the child’s needs. 8 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff qualifications are held on their recruitment file. 8 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s records include the child’s care plan from their placing authority and that all records are dated and signed by the author. 8 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 7

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that they carry out a review of care every six months, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery in the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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: 2483830 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keswick Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hylton House, 150 Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, West Yorkshire WF9 4PQ

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Inspector

Catherine Heron, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2483830 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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