Children's Home run by Keys Group Progressive Care & Education Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 1 SC412476 Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care and Education 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 run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Three children were living and present in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023. The manager also manages another setting.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/08/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their individual starting points. This is due to the commitment and dedication of the entire team of staff who have high aspirations for each child and provide a home full of love and acceptance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is nurturing, welcoming and homely. Communal areas are well equipped and comfortable, and there are photos of children and staff on display. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and reflect their personalities well. The garden provides a large area for children to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and feel safe around the staff working with them. Staff understand each child’s background and current needs and have learned ways that work well to support them, particularly when they are distressed or upset.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for children and encourage them to attend and do well in their education. One child’s induction to school has been brought forward because of the manager advocating for them. However, there is a lack of routine for some children, specifically children who are not currently attending any form of education. Therefore, there are missed opportunities to engage children in suitably structured activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Their health needs are identified and addressed. However, staff recordings in relation to daily logs are of mixed quality. For instance, some records are incomplete and show no clear record or follow up. This particularly relates to records around personal hygiene and food and drink intake. This compromises how well children’s health needs are monitored and prioritised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to local health services, including dental and optician appointments, when they need them. The arrangements for managing medication are safe and effective. Staff have developed effective relationships with health professionals to promote good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are gathered in a variety of ways, including through children’s meetings and day-to-day practice. One child said, ‘I feel genuinely cared for by the staff and know that they all have my back.’

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

Children feel safe and are protected from harm. Staff work closely with other professionals and the children’s family members. Staff understand what they need to do should an incident occur or if a child was to tell them something concerning. Children become safer because of the robust approach of staff and the support that they provide. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 4 Staff manage behaviours that challenge well and are skilled in de-escalation methods. Through a patient approach, they use verbal reassurance and distraction techniques, and they only use physical intervention as a last resort to ensure the safety of children. Reviews are held with children and discussions are thorough and honest. Staff work hard to help children to consider alternative decisions in the future.

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

Children are happy living in the home and rarely go missing. When children go missing, staff take effective action to ensure that they return safely. They liaise effectively with the police and social workers and discuss these incidents with children to better understand how to support them to make positive decisions and stay safe.

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

Staff know the children well. The positive relationships between staff and children consistently promote an open culture where children can share their worries or concerns. Children know how to make complaints. When they do, they are supported by staff who ensure that they understand the outcome.

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

Children are treated with respect and understanding according to their individual needs and experiences. Staff provide consistent boundaries and transparency in their practice. This enables children to feel safe and understand the consequences to their actions.

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

Children live in a safe environment. Staff and children know what is expected in an emergency to keep themselves and others safe. While fire drills and fire checks are regularly carried out by staff, some checks have been missed.

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

Managers activate door alarms when required. However, their use has not been regularly reviewed with children’s placing authorities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an ambitious registered manager who strives to provide children with the best possible care. Staff are proud of their contribution to helping children to succeed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is keen to ensure that staff feel well supported. However, recording of staff supervisions and reflective discussions has been sporadic. The registered manager has introduced key-work workshops to enhance staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been meaningful improvements made since the registered manager has been in post. However, leaders and managers acknowledge the need for a dedicated, full-time registered manager at the home. Managers and leaders are proactive in their approach to address any shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have completed all necessary training. Staff incorporate this knowledge into daily practice. This ensures that children are cared for consistently by experienced and informed staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 5 Child-focused meetings support staff to discuss concerns as they arise and have strategies and plans in place to help support children according to their individual support needs and learning styles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is supported by a visible and proactive responsible individual who knows the strengths and areas of practice that can be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Proactive steps are taken to involve other professionals and children’s families in care planning. Continuity of care is promoted by working in partnership with people who are important to children. As a result, children make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 6

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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 and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children are encouraged to eat a balanced diet. 31 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(4)(b)) 31 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that weekly fire safety checks take place routinely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the use of the door alarms is discussed with children, their families and placing authorities and is kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to engage in suitably structured activities when they are not accessing an education provision. (‘Guide to Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 7 the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: SC412476 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Group Progressive Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michelle Callard

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Inspector

Emma Haskell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC412476 9 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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