Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 1 SC020607 Registered provider: Keys NHCC Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified.

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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: 21 February 2023

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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: SC020607 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good 13/11/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved out of the home. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager carefully considers the needs of children before agreeing for them to live in the home. New children receive information about the home, the staff and the existing children living in the home. This helps children to understand their future living environment and eases potential anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff manage children’s transitions out of the home well. Before leaving the home, a child chose a farewell meal with staff and children. Additionally, the child received a memory book containing photos from their time in the home. After the child left, they expressed gratitude in written feedback to the manager, acknowledging the staff’s crucial role in their successful transition out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. One child told the inspector that staff are ‘nice’ and funny’. Children experience warm and friendly interactions with staff, and these were observed during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and education providers promote children’s education to ensure that they achieve the best educational outcomes. All children are currently receiving education. When children do not attend full-time education, staff actively support them to engage with home education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the in-house therapist have provided exceptional support for one child going through a family bereavement. Staff helped the child to understand and manage their emotions by using social stories. This approach supported the child with their loss.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff facilitate children spending time with those who are important to them, such as family. Staff have positive relationships with family members, ensuring that safe and meaningful visits take place when appropriate. A family member of one child told the inspector, ‘We know fully well staff will support and help us.’ This approach aids children in maintaining connections with people who are significant in their lives.

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

The manager and staff promote a safe and positive environment for children. Staff understand and manage the risks associated with each child. They use in-depth and robust risk assessments to address children’s specific needs and any emerging vulnerabilities they have. The manager and staff regularly review children’s plans.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours effectively. Using the home’s model of care, staff employ strategies such as humour and mindfulness to support the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 4 Consequently, incidents of restraints have significantly reduced over the last three months, with none reported in January 2024. When restraints occur, they are used as a last resort and are managed effectively. The manager oversees all incidents and carries out debriefs with staff and children, which provides the opportunity for children to express their feelings.

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

Staff prioritise children’s safety and welfare. When allegations or complaints are made, they are managed effectively and shared appropriately with other professionals. This enables relevant professionals to respond to incidents and ensures the safety of children.

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

Staff help children to understand their behaviours and successes. These are celebrated through verbal praise and rewards, such as extra pocket money and games vouchers. Consequences are not used often. When they are used, it is for the purpose of reinforcing boundaries to ensure children’s safety.

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

Safer recruitment guidelines are followed. The manager ensures that all staff are subject to thorough recruitment checks before they begin working in the home.

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

In general, children’s medication plans provide detailed and clear guidance for staff to follow. However, on one occasion, a child’s medication plan was not updated after a dental appointment. The manager took immediate action to address the oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated, caring and child centred. He strives to ensure that children benefit from high standards of care. He has a good understanding of the children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since coming to live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home operates with a full staff team. Staff say that morale is high, they are close-knit and actively support each other. One member of staff said, ‘Everyone has a good relationship, and are consistent with the children, it’s a family, and it’s a nice environment.’ This culture promotes healthy working relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have undergone a variety of training tailored to the children’s needs, including training in the home’s model of care. They benefit from the expertise of the in-house therapist. As a result, staff possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the right care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings and supervision sessions, reflecting on their practice and the quality of care the children receive. These sessions include discussions on safeguarding the children. However, on one occasion, leaders and managers failed to record a staff supervision session, and a resolution meeting following an allegation. This means that the manager has been unable to evidence any learning from this incident, which is a missed opportunity for reflection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 5 One member of staff has not attained their level 3 qualification within the regulatory time frame. Despite this, the care delivered to the children remains unaffected, as staff maintain a good understanding of all the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths and areas of development in the home. External monitoring by the independent person also highlights areas for improvement. While his monitoring and reviewing systems are generally good, they have not consistently identified gaps in recording. Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 6

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff supervision when they return to work following an allegation being made and promoting child and staff relationships following allegations. 18 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s health plans are kept up to date. This specifically relates to children’s dental information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 32, paragraph 7.1)  The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role have attained the qualification in Regulation 32(4) within the relevant time frame listed in Regulation 32(5). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  The registered person should ensure that their internal monitoring systems are effective. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 7

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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: SC020607 8

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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

Registered manager: Ashley Kerfoot-Davies

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC020607 9 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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