Children's home run by Keys Educational Services Limited in Rossendale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 1 SC363393 Registered provider: Keys Educational Services 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 and offers care for up to three children with emotional difficulties. The same two children have been living in the home since the previous inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2020.

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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: 9 November 2022

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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: SC363393 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/11/2022 Full Good 21/04/2021 Full Good 22/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The culture in the home places children at the centre. The positive regard and warmth for children from the manager and staff shine through. Children have developed long-term relationships with staff who are in tune with their needs. Children have benefited from this emotional stability and being looked after by adults who they can trust. Staff support children well, so that they are given every opportunity to make progress in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to enjoy hobbies and interests that help their personal development. They are supported to have positive relationships with family and friends, seeing them both in and outside of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Learning is seen as a priority for children. The manager and staff work closely with the relevant professionals to continually respond to and review children’s educational needs. A headteacher said that the home and school ‘speak a common language’ and that the manager and staff are strong advocates for the child. Children’s progress varies, depending on the challenges they face, but staff help them through difficult times, providing consistency and security. As a result, children have made notable achievements from their starting points, such as academic qualifications and applying for a part-time job.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, managers and staff have focused on preparations for children’s futures and helping them to be resilient. However, for one child, planning for their future has not happened quickly enough. Managers have recognised this and have persisted in holding external professionals to account so that the necessary assessments and subsequent recommendations are carried out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a strong sense of belonging in their home. They are involved in decision-making about plans and activities, as well as how the home is maintained and decorated. They have meaningfully contributed to the home’s development plan and children’s guide.

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

Children appear content and happy in their home. Safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately. When incidents happen, they are mostly well managed and recorded, with good management oversight. However, one incident was not notified to Ofsted in line with regulation.

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

On the three occasions that physical intervention has been necessary since the previous inspection, its use was proportionate and as a last resort, with minimum intervention. Managers and staff have conversations with children which allow them to think about their responses when incidents happen and help to repair Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 4 relationships. Staff are also helped to reflect and think about what they could do differently.

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

Staff know the children well and how best to care for them. However, written plans do not fully set out all the risks to children, or their progress. Additionally, written guidance for staff in these plans does not contain enough detail, for example, arrangements in relation to fire safety precautions. Therefore, the actions that take place daily to keep children safe are not fully reflected, to ensure that there is consistent and thorough practice.

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

When allegations are made, these are taken seriously and safeguarding procedures are followed.

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

Effective recruitment procedures are followed so that the necessary checks are made when new staff are employed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear vision for the home and have high standards for the quality of care for children. The responsible individual provides good support and supervision to the registered manager. The manager is a positive role model for staff and children alike. She responds to children in a warm and caring manner, while having clear expectations of behaviour. The manager has advocated for children to have the services they need and has raised concerns when the right help is not provided quickly enough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A thread of high support and challenge runs through the home and is reflected in well-documented and regular supervision of staff. Effective oversight and monitoring enable managers to have a good overview of the effectiveness of the home. For example, managers review conversations that staff have with children about things that are important to them, and staff then go back and read these reviews. Team meetings are held regularly. They are an opportunity for learning and enable the staff to have full discussions about the running of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is welcoming and homely, with plans in place to continually maintain and improve it. However, the door to the study is locked, which distracts from an otherwise inclusive home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well with external professionals on a multi-agency team around the child basis. This effective communication and close working mean that children benefit from the support of others, such as advocates, to help them with their relationships outside the home and to develop life skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and a family member spoken to during the inspection were unanimously positive about the home, how well the team communicates, and the quality of care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 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, The 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 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to —

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure plans and risk assessments cover all areas of risk to children and the progress they make and give clear guidance to staff. 20 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

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or 20 August 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 6 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should review the ongoing practice of locking the study door. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC363393 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Educational Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Sarah Canto, Social Care Inspector Hazel Bailey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC363393 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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