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

Inspection report children's home: SC482415 1 SC482415 Registered provider: Keir Lock Children’s Homes 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. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in June 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC482415 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2021 Full Outstanding 20/08/2018 Full Good 20/06/2017 Full Good 20/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC482415 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are three children living at this home. Children live together harmoniously and enjoy spending time with one another. The relationships children have with one another contribute to a calm and settled living environment, where children are making progress in their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by caring and nurturing staff. The children are confident to raise any concerns they have. Regular children’s meetings enable children to contribute to their own care plans. They choose their own activities and menus and discuss how they would like their home decorated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop independence skills. They learn how to prepare their own meals and how to budget. This gives children the skills and knowledge to prepare them for independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. Staff support children to attend their routine medical appointments. Staff show initiative in identifying specialist support for children, including access to therapeutic services, which supports children to have an outlet to express their own feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When it is appropriate to do so, staff plan and arrange for children to enjoy time with their families. This ensures that the time children spend with their families is positive and relationships are maintained. Staff help children to understand their feelings towards family time. As a result, one child has rebuilt his family relationships and is now seeing his family regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to motivate children with their education. Staff work in partnership with schools to engage children with learning that meets their individual needs. The manager has been actively sourcing a classroom-based education for one child and has been challenging the local authority to ensure this is provided. The manager has privately sourced a tutor to ensure that the child’s learning needs are met.

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

Children say they feel safe at this home due to the staff’s commitment to their care and well-being.

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

Staff understand the children’s presenting risks and can identify changes in behaviour which can result in children being upset or in distress. Direct key-work sessions support children to reflect on their behaviours and understand the impact these have.

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

Risk assessments are clear and well written. Staff have clear guidance to follow Inspection report children's home: SC482415 4 when a risk is triggered. Staff spoken to at the inspection understand the risks to children and take effective steps to reduce risks from reoccurring. This reduces the risk of harm to children.

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

Physical interventions are used appropriately. Incident reports are well detailed and provide insight into why the intervention was used. Children reflect on these incidents, which provide learning to identify other ways to manage their behaviours.

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

Staff are proactive when children go missing from home. They work collaboratively with professionals to return children home safely. Children take part in return home interviews which allow them to speak to an independent person about their feelings. This reinforces to children that they are cared for.

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

Children’s positive behaviours are promoted through consistent boundaries. Staff use incentives as a strategy to encourage children to think about their actions. As a result, children learn that there is more to be gained from showing positive behaviours.

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

Children’s bedrooms have monitoring devices which alert staff to their movements. However, consent from the placing local authority has not been obtained for the use of these devices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dual registered and has oversight of another three-bedded home. The manager has a wealth of experience and is supported by an experienced team of deputy managers. The managers lead by example and promote a child-focused culture within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the manager and the support they receive from him. They are motivated and have the children’s best interests at heart. Professionals and families provide positive feedback about the manager and staff. One parent said, ‘If there was a rating, I would give it 11 out of 10.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers challenge staff when there are performance concerns. They ensure staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures. Supervision sessions provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and understand their roles. There is a strong emphasis on learning and safeguarding, which is echoed in team meetings and daily handovers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff new to the home have been recruited in line with safer recruitment policies and practices. This ensures staff are suitable to work with children. An effective induction sees staff receive training to equip them with the skills to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a development plan to address any shortfalls. The manager gains feedback from families and professionals to inform and improve the quality of care provided. Inspection report children's home: SC482415 5 Serious incidents are not always shared with the regulator. This prevents Ofsted from having oversight of the action taken and the outcome. Inspection report children's home: SC482415 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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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)(b)(e)) 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(b)(c)(d)) 31 October 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 children's home: SC482415 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keir Lock Children's Homes Limited

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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 children's home: SC482415 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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