Children's home run by Keir Lock Children’s Homes Ltd in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 1 SC482415

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Registered provider: Keir Lock Childrens Homes Ltd

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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 by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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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 outstanding

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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: 21 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: SC482415 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 05/10/2021 Full Good 20/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children respond well to the nurturing care provided and have built positive and trusting relationships with staff. This helps children to feel loved, safe and valued. Children are settled and enjoy lots of fun times with each other and staff. One child said, ‘I get to do lots of activities, and I really like this.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children now attend school full time, and this results in them making academic progress with their education targets. This has been achieved by staff pursuing permanent education placements for the children effectively. Children have built their confidence to attend with the care and support from staff. In addition, the manager and staff work collaboratively with education professionals to achieve this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being have greatly improved since moving to the home. Furthermore, there are good links with external professionals. The children’s nurse said, ‘I know staff are meeting the health needs of the children. They routinely speak with me to ask advice on particular health matters so that the children’s health needs are met.’ This ensures that children continue to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a wide range of social and leisure opportunities that promote their interests and enrich their childhood experiences. Children speak with excitement about the activities, hobbies and trips that they routinely take part in. Examples include going to the skate park, swimming and visiting theme parks. Children are looking forward to their summer holiday to a seaside resort. These experiences build the children’s confidence and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment duplicates that of a family home. The house is well decorated and furnished to a good standard. Plans have been made for the home’s kitchen to be refurbished. There are lots of homely touches with ornaments, soft furnishings and photos of the children and staff. Children are proud of their bedrooms, which are decorated and personalised to their tastes and interests.

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

Children respond positively from the calm, nurturing approach of staff. Staff provide consistent care, with clear routines and boundaries for each child. This helps to support children to feel safe.

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

Staff follow written risk assessments that detail each child’s vulnerabilities, potential risks and presenting behaviour. Additionally, staff carry out a wealth of direct discussions with children to help them fully understand any risks and how to keep Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 4 themselves safe going forward. Staff consistently implement the strategies that assist in protecting children from harm and help children to manage their emotions better.

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

Staff are well trained and understand their responsibilities. Training has focused on topics such as how to safeguard children, missing-from-care incidents, child exploitation, internet safety and health and safety. This makes certain that all staff know how to keep children safe.

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

Children are cared for by staff who have been through safer recruitment checks. This ensures that only staff who are suitable to work with children do so.

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

Children are only held when they are in danger of hurting themselves or others. There has been one occasion when a child has required to be held since the last inspection. Staff seek the views of children and staff after every incident to reflect on the event to try and prevent any reoccurrence. Staff know the children well and know what helps them to calm when they are upset.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff and children benefit from strong leadership in the home. The manager and senior team lead by example and have high aspirations for children. This ethos disseminates to the rest of the staff. The manager’s commitment and ‘can-do’ approach mean that the staff follow these high expectations for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are routinely encouraged to reflect on their practice during team meetings, supervision sessions, staff handovers and general discussions. This results in consistent approaches and improved practice that the children benefit from. In turn, this provides the staff with the knowledge that helps them to continue to achieve the best care, support and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a well-established, experienced and stable staff team that is knowledgeable about the children it cares for. Children confirm that they have strong and trusting relationships with staff who provide them with consistent care. The children are confident that these trusted staff will address any concerns that children have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff talk with pride about the great team they work in; morale in the home is excellent. Staff say they feel the home is like a second family. They benefit from regular formal supervision sessions, training and support. There is huge importance given to their well-being and professional development, with all staff having or completing the relevant diploma qualification. The manager recognises staff’s knowledge and skills and how they contribute to the team. This makes staff feel valued. Therefore, children receive care from a highly skilled and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home excels in working in partnership with other professionals and agencies. When children require additional assistance from outside professionals, including specific health assessments, this has been pursued with vigour. Professionals confirm Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 5 that there is tremendous collaborative working which benefits the children and helps enormously with their progress now and will support them into adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One child’s social worker said, ‘There is a high level of care provided by the staff. They went above and beyond for one child, giving the child great experiences and life opportunities. The child developed good relationships with staff and the other children living at the home. They were included in everything, listening to the child’s views and helping to prepare them for independence. The child has done so well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are well-established, thorough internal and external monitoring systems. These focus on the progress of children, care practices and children’s records. This means that any shortfalls are immediately identified and corrected. The recommendations made at the last inspection have been progressed. This makes certain that the quality of care provided to the children remains at a consistently high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 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: SC482415 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keir Lock Childrens Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Thompsons Yard, New Street, Ossett, West Yorkshire WF5 8BH

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC482415 8 regulates and 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 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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