Children's home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Birmingham

Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 1 SC389183 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 home is privately owned and caters for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2018.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 30/06/2021 Full Outstanding 23/01/2020 Full Outstanding 11/03/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 3

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outstanding

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned and take account of their individual needs and wishes. This helps to create a feeling of safety and security for the children. The children say that they are happy living in this home. One child said that they had moved homes many times in the past and felt that their life would have been much more settled had they moved to this home many years ago.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a feeling of family in a warm and welcoming home. For example, they play video games in the den, watch television in the lounge or spend time out in the garden. The children enjoy positive experiences and have strong relationships with staff, who genuinely care for them.

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outstanding

Staff provide excellent care to the children through a skilled approach. The staff understand the relationship between current behaviours and past traumatic experiences. The consistent focus, encouragement and support from staff have contributed to children being safer and making excellent progress in all aspects of their lives. The great progress children make reflects the high standard of care provided to them by the staff.

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outstanding

The staff are aspirational for the children. The consistent support and determination from staff helped two children who had previously experienced significant instability in their education to re-engage with their secondary education and progress to college.

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outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of children having active, balanced lives and ensure that they are supported to enjoy their hobbies and interests. A child who is passionate about football plays for a local club, and another enjoys going to the local Scouts Explorers group. This provides the children with opportunities to spend time with other children and helps build their social skills and friendship groups. These groups extend the experiences of children through activities such as going to group camp and on a night hike.

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outstanding

Children are supported to enjoy time safely with their family. However, they are also supported when they feel that contact with their family is not right for them. Their views are respected and revisited by staff.

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outstanding

Staff strongly promote inclusion and support the children to think positively about differences. Children are supported with their own cultural practices, and their individuality is encouraged. This helps children to have a positive self-image and to respect differences in others. Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 4 Children are regularly consulted on matters that are important to them, and their views are considered when decisions are made. The children feel listened to and valued. Consequently, positive, mutually respectful relationships develop between the children and staff.

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outstanding

The children consistently receive excellent care from staff, who know them really well. The staff regularly praise the children for the positive things that they do. The children enjoy a sense of satisfaction, which encourages further positive behaviours and progress. Staff tactfully instil guidance and boundaries, which children respond to well. This is evidenced by children being supported to reflect on their behaviours and learn more positive ways of expressing themselves.

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outstanding

Staff welcome open conversations with the children, including discussions on important matters. They use these moments as windows of opportunity to encourage the children to reflect on their behaviours and to help them better understand risks and how to manage them. Children are also supported to explore more positive ways to express their emotions. Positive engagement from children when speaking with staff about difficult matters indicates the high-quality relationships that have been formed between the children and the staff who care for them.

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outstanding

Staff are aware of potential triggers for children and effective ways to support them when they become emotionally dysregulated. Input from the home’s clinical team guides staff practice and ensures a therapeutic approach to the care that the children receive. Children’s plans are informed by the home’s in-house specialists, who provide specialised input on matters such as substance misuse and exploitation. This has enabled children to receive high-quality, individualised care informed by current research.

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outstanding

Comprehensive risk assessments guide staff on how best to support the children. The highly skilled staff effectively use de-escalation strategies to support children when incidents occur. Since the last inspection, there have not been any incidents involving the use of restraint. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the staff’s ability to support children through challenging situations with a nurturing approach.

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outstanding

Staff tailor their approach to meet children’s individual needs. They have shown a sensitive approach when caring for a child who recently moved into the home. This has contributed to the child quickly beginning to form trusting relationships with staff. This is demonstrated by the child maintaining contact with staff when away from the home and sharing details of their whereabouts. There has also been a reduction in the child’s incidents of going missing from home. This is exceptional progress and a reduction in risk for this child. Furthermore, the two other children in the home have not gone missing from the home since the last inspection. The tactful approach from staff has contributed to all of the children becoming increasingly safe. Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 5 Staff strive to ensure the children’s safety and well-being. To support this aim, door alarms are used on children’s bedroom doors with consent from the responsible local

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outstanding

authorities. However, the manager has recognised the need for clarity in the children’s plans about the arrangements for the use and review of these alarms.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. The manager has ensured that staff understand the potential link between children’s backgrounds, past trauma and their current needs and risks. Consequently, children are cared for through a nurturing approach. While the manager is mindful of the difficulties that the children face, she remains aspirational and strives to instil self-belief in them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have ensured that children are cared for by staff who are highly skilled and knowledgeable. They have provided staff with a wide range of training relevant to the children’s needs. Input from the home’s clinical team and specialists has also enhanced the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have successfully inspired a committed staff team, who enjoy caring for the children and having the opportunity to make a positive difference in their lives. Staff feel well supported in their roles and are motivated to go the extra mile for the children. Children benefit from consistent, reliable care from a stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has formed positive relationships with the children, partly through her direct work with them. She has been very influential in the progress that the children have made. She is a strong advocate for the children. For example, she has ensured that a child was able to access independent advocacy regarding plans for their future. The manager’s actions have reinforced to the staff team the high standard of care that is expected to be provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A child who expressed negative views about certain groups of people has been supported first-hand by the manager to better understand the importance of inclusion. The manager shared their own personal experience with the child to dispel negative thoughts. This has so far proved effective, as the relationship between the child and the manager continues to be positive. The manager has paved the way for staff to continue to support the children to embrace diversity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is acutely aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. For example, the manager is involved in the development of an improved, structured independence programme. This is intended to provide clear guidance to staff across homes in the provider’s group with regard to supporting children to prepare for the responsibilities of increasing independence. This demonstrates the manager’s commitment to driving improvement for the benefit of all children. Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that limits on privacy, including the use of door alarms, are properly recorded and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: SC389183 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

Sasha Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC389183 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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