Children's home run by Keir Lock Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 1 Registered provider: Keir Lock Children’s Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 14 December 2020 and is operated by a private provider. It provides care and support for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 3 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: 2602813 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children living in the home. Children have made progress from their starting points and are supported by staff who have a nurturing approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy many activities, including going to the gym, trampoline parks and to the seaside. Children have been on a holiday abroad and this was their first experience of going on an aeroplane. Staff have produced photo books as a memento of their holiday that the children can look back on with fondness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in their education. Staff help children to improve their school attendance and to think about their future. At the time of the inspection, one child was awaiting their GCSE examination results and has career aspirations to attend further education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have time with their families, and this helps them to maintain stable relationships with people are who important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are individually decorated and furnished. Framed pictures of children’s families and activities that they have been on are displayed in their rooms. This ensures that their private space is personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local doctors, dentists and opticians and receive regular care. When one child asked for a change in their health worker, staff were quick to address this, and the child is now being supported by someone they can trust and talk to. As a result, children’s physical and emotional needs have improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have moved from the home have experienced good planning to prepare them for independence. They have learned how to use public transport and how to budget for food and bills. Staff provide outreach support, which has provided continuity of care. One child who has moved on said: ‘I built a family here. A place I call home. I hope you can change more lives.’

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

Children say that they are happy and feel safe living at the home.

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

Staff know children well and understand their presenting risks. These correspond to children’s risk assessments and behaviour plans. This allows staff to identify any changes in children’s behaviours and use their nurturing approach to support children to talk about their feelings.

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

Staff use positive reinforcements and praise to encourage children to have respectful relationships with one another. Staff use these relationships and challenge any Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 4 behaviours of concern before they escalate. This has reduced the need to use physical intervention.

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

Sanctions are rarely used, but when they are, children learn from them and their behaviours improve.

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

Children do not often go missing from home. Staff work with the police to develop children’s missing-from-home plans. They work well together to ensure that children return home quickly.

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

Regular health and safety checks mean that any repairs and maintenance work are dealt with swiftly. This allows children to live in a safe environment.

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good

The manager is dual registered and oversees another children’s home. The manager is suitably qualified and has experience of working in and managing a children’s home. He is supported by an experienced deputy manager and staff who share his vision to achieve high outcomes for the children.

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good

Staff new to the home have been appointed following safe recruitment checks. Their detailed inductions have prepared them with the relevant skills and training to work with children. Staff receive regular supervision, which equips them to manage any practice issues. However, an agency member of staff has not received timely supervision, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. This does not allow the staff member to reflect on their practice and to be kept informed about the children.

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good

Leaders and managers have not challenged professionals when children’s statutory documents have not been available. This means that staff do not have up-to-date plans for the child.

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good

Team meetings have not taken place regularly. This does not allow leaders and managers to share key information about the children, and encourage group discussion and reflection.

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good

The manager has not informed the regulator about a serious incident concerning a member of staff who works at the home. This does not allow the regulator to be kept informed about the incident and the manager’s response to this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 5

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

If the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 26 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 26 September

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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)(b) (2)(a)) 26 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 6 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (3)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff receive regular supervision. 26 September

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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: 2602813 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keir Lock Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Thompsons Yard, New Street, Ossett, West Yorkshire WF5 8BH

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Inspector

Aasia Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2602813 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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