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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2738017 1 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

The home is run by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post and registered since 25 July 2023.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2738017 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and spacious. There are photos of the children displayed throughout, which makes it feel homely. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to a high standard and reflect their interests and personalities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from structure and routine. Staff understand that this stops children feeling anxious and worried about the day ahead. Children know that staff are reliable and dependable, which helps them feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children routinely attend school and are making good progress. Staff communicate with teachers to understand children’s learning needs and follow their advice and guidance on how children can make progress. Staff frequently read with children and help them with their homework. Consequently, children’s academic performance has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and opinions are taken seriously by staff. Children regularly take part in meetings where their choices about the food they eat and activities they take part in are discussed. The manager routinely reviews these meetings and responds to children’s requests. This is demonstrated through the ‘you asked, we did’ forms used by leaders, managers and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in activities at home and in the community, which helps to build their self-esteem. Children go out on day trips with friends, and staff take photos of these enjoyable times to add to their memory books. This helps children to understand and remember their journey through childhood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders, managers and staff have good connections with health professionals, such as the community nursing team, to ensure that children have access to specialist health services. Children are supported to understand their own health needs in a child-friendly way. This helps children to remain in good health.

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

Leaders and managers use thorough vetting procedures when recruiting staff. Where concerns about an applicant arise, these are investigated and a risk assessment is carried out to ensure that children are protected.

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

Children receive good advice about their personal safety. Staff help children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, a child who started to independently walk home from school has been taught about the dangers of speaking to strangers. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. There is a Inspection report for children’s home: 2738017 3 detailed risk assessment in place for staff to follow to reduce the risk of children experiencing harm.

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

Safeguarding practice is good. Risk assessments are detailed and provide staff with clear strategies to follow if there are concerns about children’s welfare and safety. Staff know the children well and understand their associated risks and how to manage these.

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

Staff understand children’s adverse life experiences and how these can affect their behaviour. Behaviour management strategies are informed by therapeutic input from the home’s therapy team to ensure that staff respond sensitively to children. Children respond well to praise and reward strategies used by staff.

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

Children say they feel safe, and this is supported by professionals working with the children. Children can identify a trusted adult to speak to if they are worried. Leaders, managers and staff have provided children with information about how to make a complaint should the need arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. She is child- centred and committed to the children. She demonstrates effective leadership and is described as a ‘supportive’ manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support that they receive. Professional supervision takes place regularly and staff can get advice and guidance from the manager outside of formal supervision. All mandatory training is up to date. Staff receive additional training if the need arises, to assure managers that children are being cared for by a competent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have recruited a child-focused team of staff who are dedicated to providing good care to children. The stability of the team means that children receive consistent care from adults who are familiar to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s placement plans are well written and provide clear information about the child’s journey in the home and their progress. Children’s records include up-to-date documents from the placing authority, and staff are providing care to children in accordance with their care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and staff have established good relationships with partners to achieve positive outcomes for children. One social worker was complimentary of the proactive action taken by the staff team to ensure that children can spend time with their family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided to the children are good. The manager carries out a monthly audit to consider the quality of care provided to the children. When shortfalls are identified, these are addressed by the manager to ensure that children’s needs and welfare are prioritised. Inspection report for children’s home: 2738017 4

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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: 2738017 5

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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: Keys Care Limited, Second Floor, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2738017 6 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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