Children's home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Rossendale

Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 1 SC020610 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 privately owned home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and who are vulnerable to exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified manager, who registered with Ofsted in May 2015.

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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: 25 January 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: SC020610 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2023 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Good 20/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live at this home experience stability and consistent care. All the children have lived in the home for over two years. Children speak positively about the care they receive and say they feel valued by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are in full-time education and are being supported to make good progress. However, one child is out of education and there is no clear plan for how they will be supported back into education. This does not support the child to establish a routine for when they are able to return to education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have strong and trusting relationships with the staff. Children enjoy a wide range of activities. During one school break, one child enjoyed a holiday abroad. Another child enjoys her monthly treat to get her nails manicured with staff. These activities encourage children to have fun and build relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to see family members and those who are important to them. Children are also encouraged to spend time with friends in the community and obtain part-time employment. Consequently, children maintain positive relationships and progress socially.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated nicely and has a relaxed atmosphere. Children’s photos are displayed around the home. Staff have taken great care to ensure that children’s bedrooms are personalised in line with their interests. One’s child bedroom door is painted like a tardis and another child is looking forward to redecorating and choosing new wallpaper.

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

Children said that they feel safe. Children’s written plans provide staff with an outline of children’s presenting risks and behaviours and the strategies staff should use to keep children safe.

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

The use of physical intervention is proportionate and rare. When physical interventions do occur, staff are debriefed by the registered manager and children’s views are sought. The registered manager reviews the records of physical interventions. However, her evaluation is not always completed in line with regulation. While this has had no serious consequences, it may lead to a delay in learning from incidents.

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

Since the previous inspection, there have been allegations made by children against staff. When allegations are made, the manager has ensured a swift response and information is shared with appropriate professionals. The manager provided children with an outcome of the concerns they have raised. However, the manager has not Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 4 always explained to the children how their concerns have been explored and investigated.

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

Children are supported to develop their independence. For example, one child is encouraged to travel on public transport, to learn how to cook and to manage a budget. This helps children to prepare for adult life.

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

There are door alarms on children’s bedrooms and external doors. These are additional safeguarding measures and their use is reviewed. However, the manager has not detailed the use of the monitoring and surveillance measures in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified manager leads the team. The managers and the staff team have a genuine desire for the children to experience positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff group in the home is stable and staff speak positively about working in the home. Team meetings are held frequently and provide opportunities for staff to share and discuss their practice. The manager uses this forum to drive forward improvements in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff have received training to give them up-to-date knowledge of how to care for children. To complement this, the in-house therapist carries out regular consultations with staff to discuss new strategies to support the children. This practice helps staff to understand children’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that enables them to reflect on the progress of children. In addition, staff said the induction they receive when joining the home is comprehensive. However, when staff are in their induction period, they have not received supervision in line with the home’s policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good levels of communication with external professionals and children’s loved ones. Professionals speak highly of the manager and staff. One parent said, ‘[Name of child] has progressed significantly.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 5

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff provide structure and routine for children when they are not attending education and continue to promote learning. 28 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that there are effective systems in place to monitor the use of restraint in a timely manner. 28 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are aware of the home’s complaints procedure and are reminded of it as necessary. This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that children are aware of the steps taken to investigate complaints. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should ensure that they lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. This specifically relates to the statement of purpose being clear on the monitoring and surveillance systems that are used in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff in their induction period receive practice-related supervision in line with the company policy. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC020610 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC020610 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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