Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 1 SC431228 Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a large private organisation. It provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. Four children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post, but Ofsted has not yet received a fully completed application.

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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: 18 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good 29/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience good care. Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection and are making good progress. No children have moved out. One child moved in three months ago and lives in an annex building on the site of the main home. Three of the children were spoken to during this inspection and gave their views on their experiences at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The culture of the home is characterised by high expectations and aspirations for children, and this is demonstrated in practice. The statement of purpose identifies a therapeutic approach to care, and the manager is taking steps to embed this in staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure children have a nice living environment and that they are involved in personalising the rooms. The home itself is very clean, well maintained and has been tastefully decorated with the children’s input.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have lots of positive experiences. Staff decorated the dining area with flags, bunting, themed plates and cups to celebrate the Euro 2024 competition. Children were excited about watching the games together. Children enjoy trips to well-known festivals, and staff support them to join local clubs, such as martial arts and the local gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to reach their goals. One child is planning to go abroad soon with staff and holds their provisional driving licence. Another child plays a musical instrument and produces music using recording software.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are positive. Children feel able to talk about things that cause them distress. The staff are responsive, using an empathetic approach, showing the children they are listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are being supported with their education. One child has completed all their exams and will be starting college doing their chosen courses. Another child is joining a mainstream school and is due to start after the summer holidays. When children are not in full-time education, the manager works hard to ensure the virtual schools and placing authorities work together to bridge gaps in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is due to turn 18 imminently. Plans for the child are unclear and they do not know where they will be living. The new manager is working hard to ensure the child is listened to. However, there has been a significant delay in identifying the plans for the child’s future, contributing to uncertainty and instability for the child.

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

Children feel safe and supported. Staff know the children well. They build trusting relationships with them and know their vulnerabilities. Staff are committed to working Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 4 with the children to reduce the risk of harm.

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

Staff understand safeguarding procedures and handle safeguarding incidents well. Records are detailed and show that staff know what to do and that they follow procedures. One social worker said, ‘Any safeguarding matters are discussed straight away and managed in an effective way.’ Staff use successful strategies to de-escalate or prevent physical intervention. There have been no incidents of restraint since the last inspection. The staff know the children well enough to respond to each child’s individual needs using techniques such as talking to children, giving them space or offering a distraction. Staff and managers use reviews and de-briefs, which helps to create a culture of improving practice. Incidents of the children going missing from home are rare. When children leave home without permission, staff act without delay and follow identified procedures, including coordinating with other agencies such as the police to ensure children are safe.

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

Children know how to make a complaint, and their complaints are taken seriously. Children are supported to give their views on the home. Regular children’s meetings take place, and the children are encouraged to attend and discuss their views. The manager makes herself available to the children if they wish to talk to her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager left the home in January 2024. Another manager was then appointed but withdrew their application to register in June 2024. However, during this period, the organisation ensured there was sufficient management oversight and support. This ensured the home was well managed despite a registered manager not being in post. A new manager was appointed in June 2024 and has now applied for registration with Ofsted. The new manager is experienced and has a level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager sets high aspirations for the home and is building a positive ethos across the staff team. Professionals and parents provided positive feedback about the home, staff and manager. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have completed audits on the home and identified areas for future improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision. The quality of support and supervision is good. Supervision meetings include space for reflection, and any safeguarding concerns are discussed and actions set. Team meetings are also held regularly and are used to build and develop good practice among the staff team. The manager also has good support and supervision from the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff help the children to build their independence and make healthy life choices. For example, they have helped the children to learn about how to cook, healthy eating and how to carry out personal care or daily routine tasks such as doing laundry. This helps the children to feel prepared for moving into adulthood. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 5 The manager ensures safer recruitment processes are followed. New staff receive a suitable induction. There is comprehensive training, which staff say they benefit from and which has helped them to better meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff are enrolled on their level 3 qualification. However, two members of staff have not completed this within the required timeframe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 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 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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)) 1 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home.

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. 1 October 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 7 For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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: SC431228 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Direct Care 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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Inspectors

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Daniel Rankin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC431228 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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