Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 1 SC064500 Registered provider: Keys Child Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns the home. The home provides care for up to three children. The provider’s statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children with needs related to social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 13/05/2019 Full Good 07/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 3

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outstanding

The children who live in this home have made exceptional, measurable progress. Children understand how important they are to staff, and flourish in this knowledge.

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outstanding

Staff share positive relationships with children. They encourage children to attend school each day. Children rarely miss a school day. Staff support children to understand the benefits of a good education and celebrate their successes with them. Staff understand children’s educational targets and support them to achieve. One child, who did not attend school, is currently sitting their GCSE examinations. This would not have been achievable previously. As a result, this child now has a bright future.

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outstanding

Children have formed trusted relationships with staff. Staff put the children at the centre of everything they do. They invest time in them and promote their welfare. Staff do all that they can to ensure that children experience positive outcomes. Staff strive to develop positive relationships with all children. One way they achieve this is undertaking one-to-one activities with children. Children enjoy living in the home and have developed a sense that they belong. Children say that the staff are their family.

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outstanding

Staff are creative in their thinking. They use research and theory to inform their practice. Staff take part in extra training to help them to meet children’s needs. As a result, children experience in-depth personalised support from highly trained staff. This has a positive impact on their lives.

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outstanding

Staff support children to develop skills to increase their independence. They are preparing one child for semi-independence. Staff record children’s experiences in a way that is meaningful for them to read. All reports are recorded with the child as the primary reader. This gives children a great opportunity to look back and be proud of everything that they have achieved.

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outstanding

Children are central to the operation of the home. They influence decisions about the home and their care. The manager and staff team have developed child-friendly versions of key documents. This supports children to share their views and opinions, and they are confident to do so.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are met. Medication records are maintained. Records should include occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 4

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

Staff provide good support and consistent care. This means that children have developed trusting relationships with staff. Children know staff care about them. These relationships help to keep children safe. This is because children can communicate their worries and fears to staff, who respond appropriately.

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

Children have comprehensive risk assessments, which identify their risks and vulnerabilities. These clear plans provide staff with strategies to support children in managing risks. Staff review these plans after every incident. Good risk management means that risks have been reduced. This improves children’s life chances and opportunities.

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

Staff create individualised behaviour support plans for children. Staff amend strategies when necessary to meet the evolving needs of the child. Staff encourage children to reflect and comment on their behaviours. Sometimes, staff involve children in thinking about any consequences. This supports children in taking responsibility for their behaviour. Staff use praise, incentives, and diversion techniques to promote positive behaviour in the home. As a result, there have been no physical interventions since the last full inspection.

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

There is strong collaborative working between the home and partner agencies. When needed, staff support children to challenge services. This is to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved for children. Comprehensive safety planning ensures that all incidents are responded to promptly and effectively, reducing the risk of harm to children.

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

When children complain they receive a well-coordinated response. Children are listened to, regardless of the subject of the complaint, and made aware of outcomes and actions. This means that children feel valued, and their opinions heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care and support from a very well-led and strong management team. The managers have developed a culture within the home that sets high expectations. Staff embrace this ethos. This enables children to achieve excellent outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team offers good support and provides regular and reflective supervision to staff. This means that staff can reflect on their experiences, performance, and professional development. Staff say that they feel supported, appreciated and part of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager promotes strong team work. Staff skills are recognised and used for the benefit of children. The manager’s passion and enthusiasm have supported experienced staff to try new ways of working. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 5 Leaders and managers show children and staff kindness and affection. Staff retention is high. Children enjoy care from a consistent, well-established staff team. Staff know children extremely well. This has been fundamental to the excellent progress that children have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff understand the children’s behaviour and have the tools to support them. Key- work sessions support children and staff to explore the reasons behind actions. The manager understands the importance of using quality assurance and monitoring systems. This means that the manager can assess the effectiveness of practice on children’s outcomes and enables them to make informed decisions. This drives improvements and ensures high standards. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: SC064500 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064500 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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