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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 1 SC481312

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Registered provider: Keys Specialist Residential Children’s Services Ltd

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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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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and potential risks posed to them. Clear guidance and strategies to follow are recorded in written risk assessments. This awareness is embedded in the staff’s day-to-day work, which effectively reduces and minimises the risks for children. Staff help children to understand risks. Staff complete sessions with the children to address identified risks and raise their awareness about topics of concern. This direct work includes exploitation, keeping safe and substance misuse. This positive work enhances the children’s knowledge of risk and allows them to take the lead in their learning. As a result, they are educated about the risks that they may face.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with their health and wellbeing. Children are supported to attend health care appointments. There are good links with the inhouse therapist to support children’s emotional health. Children are cared for by staff who understand their needs. Staff are attuned to children’s needs and are always thinking of creative ways to best support them. This means that children are looked after by staff who know them well, and who are meeting their needs effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff understand the importance of education. All children have faced challenges with their education and have had periods of disengaging. The manager is persistent with children in motivating them to want to learn and finding ways to engage them. They have successfully supported two children to reintegrate into education despite them having a history of no attendance. This helps children to maintain a daily routine that supports their academic needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to develop independence skills at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. Children develop skills such as, budgeting, work experience and travelling independently. One child is currently exploring different options to live as part of their plan. These opportunities enable children to take on appropriate levels of responsibility to develop life skills for the future.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has implemented new monitoring systems since the last inspection, these are effective. This ensures that they have a good oversight of the home and take action to address issues as they arise. This comprehensive oversight makes sure that all aspects of care and the running of the home are maintained to a good standard. This better assists the manager to identify concerns and make prompt changes to improve and maintain good standards of care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Internal care planning processes are structured well. However, internal placement plans lack clear direction to staff to respond to children's emerging needs. These plans do not always detail clear targets and enable staff to track children’s progress and achievements. Children’s internal care plans do not always detail longer-term Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 3 aims and mirror statutory care plans. This does not promote good-quality and consistent care. The manager is aware of this shortfall and has plans to deliver training to upskill the team around this.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2022 Full Outstanding 02/11/2021 Full Good 06/11/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 4

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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, 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the 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

that each child's relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children's plans are kept up to date, give clear guidance to staff and mirror the local authority statutory plans. 21 April 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 5

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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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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC481312 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 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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