Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Windsor and Maidenhead

Inspection report for children’s home: SC438624 1 SC438624 Registered provider: Keys 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 operated by a private organisation. It provides individualised care for up to two children. The home is part of a cross-regional project, commissioned by six local authorities, which includes other homes and a school operated by the same organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 29 September 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: SC438624 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Good 11/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC438624 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well matched and have successfully lived together for almost a year. They benefit from a stable team of staff who provide consistency and security. Staff know the children well. Consequently, children have strong, safe and trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to children’s education and work closely with education providers. One child was able to remain at their current school when they moved into the home. The deputy head of the school spoke about seeing positive change in the child’s appearance and self-esteem since moving to the home. The other child was not attending education before moving to the home but now attends the organisation’s school and has high attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have plenty of opportunities to have fun and make happy memories of their time living in the home. Children enjoy activities such as going to the cinema, ice skating and visiting the beach. Staff take photos to build memory books for children to keep. This helps to remind children of the positive experiences they have had while living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s key-work sessions are detailed, and each child’s participation is recorded. Staff support children to understand their own life experiences in a sensitive and compassionate way. Staff use these sessions, along with children’s meetings, to talk with children about their life and the care they receive. Staff respond to children’s wishes and each child has a ‘you said, we did’ book. This means that children understand that staff listen to and act on their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved in choosing the decor for the home. They have helped to decorate and personalise their bedrooms. This gives children a sense of belonging and ownership of their home.

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

Children feel safe and secure, and they benefit from positive interactions with staff. Staff receive relevant safeguarding training and are clear about their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. The registered manager reports any safeguarding concerns to the appropriate professionals and follows advice given.

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

Positive relationships that staff have with children have contributed to a reduction in the number of incidents. This is because staff help children to manage their worries and anxieties and give them effective tools and strategies to manage situations. When incidents do occur, staff manage these well. Records are detailed, and staff discuss incidents during key-work sessions. This helps children to understand the behaviour and consider alternative strategies for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438624 4 Staff support children to meet with their friends and have the same opportunities as their peers, such as having a friend visit the home for a sleepover.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual risks and what may trigger an incident. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated, and the registered manager has oversight of these. Consequently, staff are working consistently to keep children safe.

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

Physical interventions are rare and are only used as a last resort. Children can comment after an intervention and staff follow the conversation up during a key- work session. This helps children to understand the reason for the intervention and to repair relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. Staff work well as a team and feel supported by the registered manager. She has begun to implement changes in the home, which staff say have been positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high aspirations for children and staff and understands the weaknesses and development needs of the home. The registered manager has positive relationships with children, staff and professionals. They have raised concerns when other agencies have not worked in the best interests of the child. This ensures that children’s welfare and well-being are promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff benefit from good-quality induction and training, which includes a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training. Staff have, or are working towards, the level 3 qualification which supports them in working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, which helps them to work with the children effectively. This enables staff to further enhance their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular staff meetings are used to discuss children, safeguarding and practice. This helps to ensure that staff work consistently to meet children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Clear monitoring systems support the registered manager to identify trends and patterns in behaviour and incidents. The registered manager uses the recommendations from the independent person’s report to develop practice and improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager work well together. They ensure that they and staff maintain effective communication and teamwork. Staff feel valued and respected by the supportive managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC438624 5

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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: SC438624 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/o Pinsent Masons LLP, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC438624 7 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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