Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Windsor and Maidenhead

Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 1 SC438624 Registered provider: Keys 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 owned and operated by a private organisation. It provides individualised care for up to two children. The home is part of a cross-regional project, commissioned by six local authorities, which includes other homes and a school operated by the same organisation. At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Good 29/09/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 3

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outstanding

Children have made substantial progress from their starting points. Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of their presenting needs and use a range of therapeutic strategies to support their progress.

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outstanding

Staff foster trusting relationships with all of the children; the impact of this is that children benefit from a wide range of advice and support from adults in the home.

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outstanding

Children are attending school and making excellent progress. One child has been able to remain in the same school they attended prior to moving to the home. This was a child-centred decision despite obvious geographical challenges and has promoted consistency and familiarity for this child. One educational professional stated: ‘I wish that all of my looked after children were supported the same way that the home supports [name of child]; they have turned a challenging situation around for this young person; they are always supportive and collaborative in their approach.’

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outstanding

Staff and children have created a homely environment which provides the foundation for children to thrive. The home layout has been thoughtfully designed to consider the differing needs of children. There are various photos of children and pieces of artwork made by them throughout the home.

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outstanding

Children’s wishes and feelings are central to decisions about the support and care they experience, and staff routinely encourage children to read their care plans and consider any contributions they would like to make. Children feel confident and able to express their wishes and feelings, knowing that staff will listen to them.

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outstanding

Staff and the management team recognise the importance of adapting to children’s needs and using well-informed strategies to promote their sense of stability and belonging in the home. For example, one child is having a family pet to stay over during half term and another child benefits from a gaming room that is in a quiet corner of the home and provides a sanctuary and calm space for him to spend time.

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outstanding

Staff work well with birth families and previous foster carers to enable children to maintain important connections in their lives. For one child, having their mum visit and spend time with them in the home made a positive difference to their relationship.

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outstanding

Children’s positive experiences are well recorded, and staff keep photographic records of activities and life events to preserve memories. Children’s records also have numerous messages of praise and encouragement, which will enable positive reflections for them in the future. Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 4

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outstanding

Children feel safe and secure and benefit from a stable and committed staff team. All staff who have joined the home are fully vetted and safer recruitment processes are comprehensive.

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outstanding

Staff are clear about their own responsibilities in relation to safeguarding concerns, and detailed risk management plans set out the steps that they should take. The staff team is proactive in responding to emerging concerns.

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outstanding

The staff have developed excellent relationships with children and use a range of approaches to help and care for them, including therapeutically informed practice, key-work sessions and intuitive conversations. Staff have access to support from specialists in therapeutic care and this helps them to maintain a well-informed assessment of each child’s individual needs. This also helps them to provide thoughtful, effective approaches to help children to develop and thrive.

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outstanding

Staff responses to children who go missing from home are highly effective and innovative strategies underline the commitment of staff to promoting children’s welfare and sense of belonging. In one example, staff kept a child safe when she left the home by finding her, spending time with her and ensuring that she is not left in vulnerable circumstances in the community.

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outstanding

Children are actively supported to grow in their levels of independence and autonomy, in order to reach their full potential.

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outstanding

The staff team promotes positive behaviour and encourages children to think about the most effective support strategies for their individual needs. This promotes problem-solving and personal autonomy for children. Consequently, staff use well- informed strategies in a natural and organic way when children require extra help and support. Children respond well to this and feel cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious and focused on making continuing improvements in the home. The significant progress that children make is testimony to the way she leads and sets high standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s plans are comprehensive, and the staff regularly update these in response to emerging needs and changing information. The management team regularly reviews children’s records and a cohesive approach across the staff team means that staff set ambitious but realistic targets for children in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The internal monitoring by the management team is of high quality. Strong management oversight is evident from the excellent quality of the recording and children’s care plans. Feedback from the home’s independent visitor is reviewed Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 5 during each team meeting and changes are made proactively. The registered manager has also undertaken a detailed self-assessment of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She uses this to inform the ongoing improvements to the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Morale in the staff team is high and staff work collaboratively. They feel supported by leaders and managers. One member of staff reported: ‘The manager is really supportive and is always looking to offer progression and professional growth in the role.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision and appraisals have all been completed in a timely manner. In supervision, staff are encouraged to think about their own well-being and relationships with children. There is also a clear focus on safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff undertake a range of training and are encouraged to explore areas of interest in relation to their self-development. The registered provider has recently implemented a new therapeutic approach which has been well received by staff as an additional tool to support their care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New staff in the home benefit from a bespoke induction package that the registered manager has created. This has been shared more widely within the organisation as an example of good practice. The induction package provides a range of resources and practical tools to support staff in their new role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is focused on promoting meaningful and connected responses from staff when children struggle with their feelings and emotions, for example ensuring that consequences are always linked back to the original behaviour to ensure fairness and proportionality.

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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: SC438624 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/o Pinsent Masons Llp, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

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Inspector

Ashley Edwards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC438624 7 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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Inspector

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