Children's Home run by Keys Specialist Residential Children's Services Ltd in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 1 SC481312 Registered provider: Keys Specialist Residential Children’s Services Ltd 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 company and is registered to provide care for up to three children with complex emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2022 Full Outstanding 02/11/2021 Full Good 06/11/2019 Full Good 12/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. One child has been living at the home for over three years and has built positive relationships with the adults who care for him.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. One child’s experience was positive, and in line with her care plan she moved to semi-independence. The other child moved out of the home sooner than anticipated because staff were unable to manage escalating risks. However, the adults supported the child to move on in a planned way and helped him to understand why he could not remain living at this home.

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improvement to be good

All children are enrolled at education provisions. However, they are not supported effectively by staff to attend daily. As a result, children are not making progress in line with their plans and meeting expected academic goals. One child did not receive a review of their personal educational plan for one year and more recently has stopped attending school. The registered manager did not escalate this with relevant professionals. These shortfalls show that children’s education needs are not being met well.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are not prioritised by staff and recommendations from annual health reviews are not acted on promptly. In addition, staff do not adjust strategies to help children overcome the barriers they face in attending health appointments. The staff do not always make necessary referrals quickly to support children’s health and emotional well- being needs. Consequently, children’s health needs are not met well.

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improvement to be good

Children spend time with friends and family regularly. This is helping them to promote positive relationships with people who are important to them. However, for one child time spent with family is to be balanced with time at the home learning independence skills and this is not happening. Consequently, the child is not being fully supported to move on from the home and prepare for adulthood in line with his plan.

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improvement to be good

The home is well maintained and decorated to a high standard throughout. Children are given the choice to personalise their rooms.

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improvement to be good

One child is considered to be vulnerable to exploitation. There is a risk assessment in place to manage and guide staff to support the child. There has been a missed opportunity where managers and staff have not undertaken effective work directly with the child to help them to understand the risks they may face and the safety measures available to keep themselves safe when out in the community. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 4 Previous managers were slow to address actions raised in the fire risk assessment within the set timescales. Although this has now been addressed, a lack of prompt action does not help to safeguard children and staff.

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improvement to be good

There has been one incident requiring staff to use physical intervention to keep a child safe since the last inspection. Managers reviewed the incident well to ensure that the measures used were necessary and proportionate. Children’s views and feelings are captured following incidents. However, learning for one staff member was not actioned as needed.

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improvement to be good

Professionals and family members say that staff communicate well with them and keep them informed of their child’s well-being. Staff attend meetings for the children and contribute to their care planning.

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improvement to be good

Overall, risk assessments contain the necessary information about the children’s needs and risks. More recently, these documents are being reviewed in partnership with specialist professionals from within the organisation who are able to give advice on children’s individual needs. This provides staff with further knowledge that they use to manage risks. Staff implement the guidance in the risk assessments, which helps to keep children safe from harm.

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improvement to be good

All children have a missing-from-home support plan, with clear steps to take should a child go missing. Staff follow these plans, which helps them to locate children and return them safely to the home.

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improvement to be good

When complaints and allegations have been made, managers take appropriate action and liaise with relevant professionals to share information and follow advice. Investigations have been thorough, and learning has been identified. Children are supported with feedback about the outcome of the concerns that they raise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in manager and responsible individual, as well as changes to the staff team. The new registered manager is experienced and is suitably qualified. The staff team consists of a mix of experienced and qualified staff. Newer staff are being supported by the organisation to undertake the diploma in residential childcare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the new manager has experienced a challenging period at the home. He has some understanding of the home’s strengths and needs. However, in responding to the challenges he has faced, he has not been able to monitor the home effectively and focus on driving improvement. As a result, this has limited the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff speak positively about working at the home. The manager is well regarded and he is nurturing towards the team. This means that staff work in an environment where they feel well supported. One staff member told the inspector: ‘The manager’s strength is the way he listens and always wants to hear our point of view.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 5 Staff are provided with a wide range of training and development opportunities that inform their practice and help them to understand children’s individual and diverse needs. However, staff do not put this learning into practice consistently, which limits the support and quality of care provided to children at times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Safe recruitment processes and practices are adhered to when recruiting new staff. All necessary checks are undertaken, which helps to ensure that only safe adults are employed to care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(vi)(x)) 4 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 4 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 7 that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, help children who are vulnerable to the risk of being exploited to learn more about how they can keep themselves safe. 4 February 2024

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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 (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h)) 4 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 8 The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all children are supported with the skills to prepare for transitioning out of the home into independence. 4 February 2024

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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: SC481312 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Specialist Residential Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Joanne Humphreys, Social Care Inspector Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC481312 10 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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Inspectors

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