Children's home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Rossendale

Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 1 SC474041 Registered provider: Keys NHCC Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A large private company owns this home. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2014. There is an experienced registered manager in post who is qualified to level 5 in health and social care management.

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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: 7 November 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: SC474041 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Good 17/01/2023 Full Good 28/04/2021 Full Good 12/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the home has capacity for two children, leaders and managers have taken the decision not to admit another child so that they can concentrate on the specific needs of the child living there. No children have moved in or out since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made considerable progress since moving into the home. They like living there and have established strong and trusting relationships with staff. This has helped them to feel safe and secure in their surroundings and has led to an improvement in behaviour because they are better able to regulate their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

External professionals and other relevant people are unanimous in their praise of the home and the stability it has provided for the child. One professional said that this was the most stable placement the child has had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s underlying behaviours. They work hard to advocate for the child so that they can obtain the support needed. For example, the child will be moving on to adult provision soon. The registered manager has taken steps to raise this early with relevant agencies to try and ensure that the child receives the right adult provision for their needs when the time comes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On some occasions, the language used by some staff when describing the child’s behaviours is unhelpful. Language used to describe the child’s behaviour is not always child-centred and is not in line with the ethos of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Effective communication between the home and other professionals has been crucial in helping to maintain continued support for the child. For example, the child has become progressively disengaged from education. By working with the education provider, the home has managed to retain a link for the child to continue with their education in the next school year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are persistent in trying to support the child’s physical and mental well-being. They work creatively to identify strategies to encourage a healthy lifestyle and for the child to engage with support available to improve their well-being. Professional advice and referrals to other services are sought when expert help is needed. However, strategies used by staff are not always successful and, as a result, the child does not receive a sufficiently healthy and varied diet to keep them in good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is welcoming and furnished to a high standard. The home has worked hard to source furniture and decorate the child’s room in a way that meets their specific needs. The home is kept clean, tidy and well maintained, making it a pleasant place for the child to live. Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 4

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

The child’s care plan and risk assessments are regularly updated. They provide an accurate reflection of the child’s current risks and are signed by staff to say that they have been read and understood. This ensures that staff have the right information to best support the child. It also helps to provide consistent care.

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

Staff manage the child’s anxieties well and, as a result, there are few serious incidents. When incidents do occur, staff are able to skilfully de-escalate situations, helping to keep the child safe.

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

Boundaries and routines help to provide the child with some structure. Staff use a combination of praise and consequences to help the child understand expectations of them and the progress they have made. Consequences used are proportionate. However, they are not aways effective. Staff do not routinely record the effectiveness of consequences. This would help them to consider alternative strategies to help the child.

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

Trusting relationships built between staff and the child enable staff to safeguard the child effectively. For example, the child is open with staff about their internet and phone use and cooperates in allowing staff to check their electronic devices, helping to keep them safe online.

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

Staff work with the child to try and minimise behaviours that are likely to cause harm to their general health and well-being. For example, discussions take place with the child to identify strategies to help them manage their weight and be more active. When these have not had the desired effect, staff continue to work with the child to find alternative strategies.

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

Medicines are managed safely. They are securely stored and administered appropriately. All staff are trained in the administration of medicines. Staff obtain professional advice when medicine is refused. This helps to ascertain whether there is any risk to the child and if there is any further action they might need to take to keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from an experienced and appropriately qualified manager, supported by the wider organisational leadership team. The manager has created a culture which ensures that the home provides a calm and nurturing environment for the child, based on routine and praise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is cared for by an experienced and stable staff team. Many of the staff have worked at the home for several years and all hold relevant qualifications. The use of agency staff is minimal. This helps to provide consistency and stability in the child’s life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have a good understanding of situations that are challenging to the child. They forward plan and approach discussions sensitively to minimise the impact Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 5 on the child, for example, in planning for moving from the home and discussions relating to the child’s family.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child’s records are generally of good quality. However, there are aspects of the child’s history that are inaccurate. This could be upsetting for the child if they should access their records in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is tenacious in pursuing support for the child from a range of external services. This has led to health referrals being made, educational placements being continued and early engagement with adult social services. This is helping to ensure the child has the best possible chances before they move to adulthood and leave the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a wide range of training, including training that is specific to the child’s needs. There is a good uptake of training among staff. The registered manager has drawn on additional resources available within the wider organisation to develop staff skills relating to mental well-being. This has given staff the skills to better support the child’s confidence and motivation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. This provides opportunities for staff to reflect on their performance and learning and development needs and helps to improve the overall standard of care provided. Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 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

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, this relates to the effectiveness of consequences used to restrict the use of electronic devices when they are impacting on the child’s well-being and progress. 11 September 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for their needs. This specifically relates to the provision of more varied and healthy meals for the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. This specifically relates to the accuracy of the child’s recorded history. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure staff understand factors that affect children’s

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Recommendations

motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. This specifically relates to unhelpful language used by staff to describe the child’s behaviours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 7

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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: SC474041 8

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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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Inspector

Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC474041 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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