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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 1 SC001016 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 company. It may provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2013.

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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

Date of last inspection: 10 January 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 07/09/2021 Full Outstanding 26/02/2020 Full Good 12/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 3

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outstanding

A dedicated and committed manager ensures that the staff in this home provide an excellent model of individualised care. Children are supported extremely well; they are very settled and make sustained and measurable progress in all aspects of their lives.

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outstanding

Children have formed strong attachments with the staff. All the staff speak lovingly about the children and are proud of the children’s achievements. There is a very warm and homely atmosphere that gives children a sense of security and well-being. Therapeutic and restorative approaches are being used effectively to identify children’s needs and are a pathway for children making progress.

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outstanding

Children make their views known, they are supported to attend their review meeting and have a voice in plans made for their futures. Children feel listened to and this helps them grow in self-confidence.

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outstanding

Children contribute to the interior decoration of the home and the personalisation of their rooms. The home has lots of photos of the children having fun, smiling and enjoying new experiences. Children feel that this is ‘their’ home, they are happy and love spending time with the staff and the manager. The loving environment gives children a real sense of belonging.

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outstanding

Staff work hard to build positive relationships with families and professionals. This has enabled some children to re-establish contact with their families and repair fractured relationships. This means there are achievable opportunities for the children to return to live with their families.

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outstanding

Engaging the children in education, volunteering and other learning opportunities is creative and tailored to the children’s individual needs and capabilities. The staff and manager effectively challenge and unpick any barriers to learning. One child has been supported to return to mainstream schooling and all the children have the highest aspirations for their futures.

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outstanding

Plans and case recordings are of a high quality and regularly kept up to date. There is a balance between staff maintaining relevant and accurate records and spending quality and meaningful time with the children. The children are always prioritised by the staff.

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outstanding

The quality of care is highly individualised and consistent across the staff team. Children are treated with dignity and respect but are also seen as children. Each step towards children’s independence or returning to their families is done at their own pace. Achievements and progress are celebrated, and children gain confidence in their abilities with support from a dedicated staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 4

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outstanding

Staff know the children so well that they can predict and anticipate when children are struggling and how this can negatively affect their behaviour. Physical intervention is very rare and has only been used in exceptional circumstances when other strategies have been exhausted. The manager and staff recognise children’s risks and have been proactive in supporting the children to make more informed and appropriate choices.

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outstanding

The staff team use a restorative approach to managing unwanted behaviour and the children respond well to this. Staff access therapeutic support via the in-house psychologist and work closely using a trauma informed model of care. A member of staff said, ‘Incidents in the home are rare. I believe this is due to the hours that staff put in with the children and the relationships staff nurture with the children’.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have a wealth of knowledge about the risks posed by external factors such as exploitation, drugs and alcohol, and social media. The close relationships staff have with the police, social workers, and parents helps staff to reduce these risks. The children do not go missing or engage in anti-social behaviour.

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outstanding

Highly effective planning and practice results in improvements in the safety of the children. The environment is safe for the children in the home and any free time the children have is balanced against the need to develop their independence safely.

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outstanding

The children and young people receive a lot of input from the staff to help them develop their own sense of safety and to manage their emotions more effectively. A great deal of work is done around keeping safe online and appropriate online safety tools are used to block any unsuitable activity.

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outstanding

Focused and themed work in areas such as child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, drugs and alcohol and sexual health is done preventatively and to enable the children to make more informed choices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly motivated and dedicated to their role and is driven and exceptionally child focused. The manager has a long service history and remains a champion for children. The manager passionately believes that the children deserve nothing but the best and effectively challenges all professionals to achieve this for them. There are effective monitoring and auditing systems in place overseen by the manager, to ensure the children receive high quality and safe care. The development of the home and the staff are a priority and staff have responsibilities that enhance their roles, skills and experience. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 5 The manager and the deputy manager have developed and promoted an excellent team culture, with all the team feeling accountable for their practice and can input their own ideas. Children’s views and opinions are valued, and this comes across in their records and their individualised care plans. Children have a voice in the day to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

day running of their home and they thrive on the boundaries and guidance in place. The manager and the deputy have a visual presence and actively participate in the lives of the children. The manager’s hands on approach ensures he is fully abreast with everything that is happening at the home; the staff and the children feel well- supported. Relationships with other professionals are excellent and the manager ensures that there is a focus on multi-agency accountability. The manager is passionate about the lives and outcomes for the children, and this is evident through his persistent challenge when advocating on behalf of the children in his care. Staff retention is good, and any new staff experience a well-coordinated induction and probationary period. Continuous professional development is encouraged. The home’s development plan reflects the skills and experience of the staff, their strengths and areas of development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The children have access to a range of activities that promote learning and independence. The manager and deputy manager use current and relevant research to inform practice and have been instrumental in promoting staff development. Case records reflect the work undertaken with the children. Children’s voices and opinions are clearly recorded and acted upon through direct discussions, focussed work and through the care planning and review process. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 6

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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: SC001016 7

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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: Second Floor, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 8 inspects 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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