Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Suffolk

Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 1 Registered provider: CF Social Work Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by an independent provider. The home cares for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 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 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home was registered in December 2021. Since then, two children have moved in and then out of the home. Two children are currently living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience planned moves. The manager meets with children before they move in. This helps the children to talk about how they feel, discuss their hobbies and how they would like to be cared for. The manager uses this information to make certain that children are suitably matched. As a result, both children are settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff focus on building positive and trusting relationships with children. Staff understand that trauma and past experiences may affect children in different ways. Staff are attentive to children and listen to them when they choose to talk about their feelings. They respond to children in a supportive and non-judgemental manner. This helps children to feel cared for by staff who want to spend time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education. One child attends school full time and has good attendance. One child has a bespoke educational package. The child has improved attendance and engagement with a personal tutor. Staff provide opportunities for children to learn informally. Children are encouraged to build their independence skills. Children help to cook their own meals, budget and go shopping. Staff understand the importance of children developing life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and mental health needs are met. Children are helped to attend medical appointments. Staff encourage children to maintain healthy lifestyles. One child has made significant progress in taking care of his appearance and personal care. Children are helped to understand the importance of routine and sleep hygiene.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have an influential voice in planning meals and activities and express their preferences about their care and support. Children are regularly consulted during house meetings and in individual meetings with staff. Staff encourage the children to talk about communal living issues. Children are comfortable in the knowledge that they can talk to staff and share any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities are organised and based on children’s interests and hobbies. Children use the local gym and games lounges, play golf and enjoy fishing trips. Staff also organise new experiences, such as crabbing at the local beach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and modern home. Children have access to a games room, a study area and a large garden. However, the home is not personalised with pictures and does not reflect children’s choices. The garden has a large patch of overgrown stinging nettles, which could be harmful. The environment does not feel homely. Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 4

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

The staff create risk assessments that are tailored to each child. Staff review and update assessments on a regular basis. Risk-reduction measures are clearly recorded and new risks are identified. One social worker highlighted that incidents for one child have significantly reduced.

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

The staff compile detailed protocols for when children go missing from the home. Children’s vulnerabilities are clearly evidenced. Staff follow set procedures and offer return home interviews. Relevant authorities are informed and the staff make every attempt to keep the child safe and ensure a quick return.

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

Restraint is rarely used. All staff are trained in the preferred method of positive behaviour support and use the de-escalation strategies. Staff focus on building positive relationships with children. Physical interventions are used as a last resort to keep children safe. Following any restraint [or physical intervention], staff provide debriefs which allow time for reflection and discussions with children.

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

Children enjoy video games online. Staff manage the associated risks well. Children understand when the internet is available to them. Children are involved in creating personal agreements for their games devices. When children disagree, staff help them to understand these rules.

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

Staff provide children with high levels of support and supervision at the home and in the community. This level of supervision helps to keep children safe.

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

Staff use rewards and sanctions to help children to understand the impact of their behaviour. Rewards are tailored to children’s likes, which helps to motivate them to learn. However, sanctions are not meaningful or restorative. This means that children are not provided with opportunities to reflect and learn from their behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since December 2021. He is suitably qualified and experienced. He is supported by a deputy manager and a small team of staff. The responsible individual and operational director spend time at the home and meet with the children on a regular basis.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is focused on creating an established and experienced staff team. Regular team meetings focus on team-building activities and staff development. The manager supports discussions between the staff to build a positive child-friendly culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive mandatory training that reflects the children’s needs. The manager organises additional training and competency sign-off for administering medication safely. Staff are either qualified or working towards the relevant level 3 qualification. Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 5 Overall, the children receive care from staff who have the experience, knowledge and skills to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses a variety of tools to monitor staff performance and children’s progress. A detailed development plan is based on the manager’s knowledge of the service. The plan gives an overview of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Shortfalls are addressed immediately and practice is amended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Established staff receive good-quality reflective supervision which is child-focused. Safeguarding is discussed with staff. Staff are provided with the opportunity to discuss the impact the work has on their well-being. Although these staff receive supervision regularly, the manager has not ensured new staff receive fortnightly supervision in line with policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly reviews the home’s statement of purpose. Staff understand the agreed approach to providing care and support. However, the manager does not have a workforce development plan. This fails to ensure ongoing training is planned and the staff’s continuing professional development needs are identified. Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to removing the large patch of stinging nettles in the back garden. 12 August 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that new staff receive regular supervision in line with the policy. 5 August 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children live in a homely environment. In particular, ensure that the home is personalised and reflects the children’s likes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 7  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2665860 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: CF Social Work Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Delta 1, West Road, Ipswich IP3 9FH

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2665860 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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