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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 1 SC389180 Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to six children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2014.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 26 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2022 Full Outstanding 13/11/2019 Full Outstanding 05/03/2019 Full Outstanding 24/08/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 3

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outstanding

Children have benefited from long and stable placements at the home. Staff have developed strong and loving relationships with children. Staff are attentive and in tune with the children. They are extremely knowledgeable and confident in caring for children with complex needs. As a result, children are relaxed, happy and well cared for.

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outstanding

Staff prioritise helping children to spend quality time with their families. They help children stay in touch with family members who live abroad by using technology. Staff drive children long distances to spend time with their family. They arranged for a child with highly complex medical needs to have their first family holiday. They meticulously planned it to ensure that the child had a safe and enjoyable time. This created special memories for the family.

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outstanding

Children can communicate their needs. Staff are highly skilled at communicating with children who have complex communication needs. Staff successfully use communication aids to help children to make choices and day-to-day decisions. One child, who was previously unable to communicate, is now able to communicate their feelings and needs. Staff have regular conversations with children and use these to inform future plans.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with education services to help children achieve. One child who has only lived at the home for a short period has made progress with their engagement at school. Education staff attribute this to the stimulation they receive from staff. Children go to school regularly when they are in good health. Staff continue the children’s education at home when they are unable to attend school. Teachers from the school are welcomed into the home to provide education. Staff work with education professionals to prepare children to go back to school.

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outstanding

When children are ready to move on from the home, this is well planned. One child recently moved on from the home to an adult service provider. The move was methodically planned and well organised. Children are prepared for moves with visual prompts, visits and introductions to new staff. When staff have found problems, these are quickly addressed and resolved. Staff ensure that children are settled into their new home. This extends to thoughtful, small gestures, for example, staff giving the child laundry detergent from the home so they would have familiar smells in their new home.

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outstanding

Children have rich experiences. For example, staff celebrate religious events with the children. Children have celebrated Eid, Ramadan and Christmas. Staff celebrate children’s beliefs with them, taking them to places of worship. Staff arrange for children to have a range of leisure experiences, including cycling on tricycles, going to the cinema and theatre, and visiting zoos. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 4

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outstanding

Staff have a very clear understanding of children’s health needs. The children’s plans are exceptionally well detailed and clear. Staff carry out complex healthcare routines with the children, when required, to keep them healthy. Staff have embraced additional training to meet one child’s changing health needs. The staff follow emergency plans to ensure that children have prompt specialist healthcare when needed.

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outstanding

Children’s medications are managed carefully. Children have complex and changeable medication routines. Staff have clear processes to ensure that medication errors are minimised. There have been very few medication errors. These errors have been fully investigated and learning has taken place to improve practice.

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outstanding

Staff provide superb care and support to children who have stays in hospital. Children have clear plans, agreed with health professionals, to reduce the need for them to be admitted to hospital. When children do go to hospital, staff go to great lengths to prepare and reassure them. When children are in hospital, staff stay with them and bring fun activities. Staff help the children regularly video call their peers and family.

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outstanding

Children’s behaviours are well understood by staff. Children have clear and effective management plans. Staff understand the children’s triggers and how to keep children safe. One child’s behaviours that challenge have reduced to the point he has now been discharged by child and adolescent mental health services . Staff are undertaking training in positive behaviour support to improve their approach further.

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outstanding

The manager deals with staff practice issues well. She takes action to ensure that children are safe while any investigations take place. The manager gains advice from the local authority designated officer when needed.

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outstanding

There is a strong safeguarding culture. Safeguarding is regularly discussed in supervision. Staff know how to raise safeguarding concerns. Staff have consistently identified and raised any safeguarding concerns. Managers have taken prompt action and involved other professionals. Staff are committed to ensuring that children are safe.

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outstanding

Staff use baby monitors overnight to monitor children’s epilepsy. Although social workers and parents have given consent, no records of this were available during inspection. This has no impact on the high-quality care provided to children but is an area that needs to be strengthened. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides consistently strong leadership in the home. She has exceptionally high expectations for the quality of care for the children. She is a visible presence in the home and has superb oversight of the progress made by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported to carry out their roles to a high standard. The manager knows the staff well and gets the best out of them. She actively encourages brilliant teamworking. Staff express their thanks to each other and celebrate successes on a staff celebration board. Staff are always listened to by leaders and are involved in the development of the home. They receive regular supervisions and appraisals. Team meetings are open forums for staff to discuss their experiences and the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have excellent oversight of training and the impact of training. They carry out impact assessments on training for staff. These assessments ensure staff are trained to meet the specific needs of the children. Managers create an action plan for the year. In-house trainers work closely with managers to create tailored training for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the remit of the home. She has considered the service carefully to meet healthcare needs. Leaders have consulted with the regulatory agencies and healthcare professionals. The manager keeps this under review. Staff understand their responsibilities when it comes to delegated health tasks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff work well with others. Parents say the communication is incredibly good and staff are amazingly friendly and supportive. Professionals say that they receive constant updates on the children. An occupational therapist provides consultations for staff. They are involved in assessing whether the staff can meet the needs of the children and they provide advice and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is warm and welcoming. The children have specialist equipment, personalised bedrooms and a large sensory room. However, some areas are looking a bit worn. Leaders have identified this, and works are scheduled to upgrade the kitchen and bathroom. Children’s equipment will be stored more suitably and this will benefit the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when using CCTV or other monitoring equipment there is a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home, in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain written consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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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: SC389180 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

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Inspector

Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC389180 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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