Children's home run by Keys Education Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: SC488439 1 SC488439 Registered provider: Keys Education Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All children have lived in the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2019 and is suitably qualified.

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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: 13 February 2024

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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: SC488439 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Good 09/11/2022 Full Good 12/08/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC488439 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled and are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between staff and children are warm and affectionate. Children’s photos are displayed throughout the home as a reminder of the positive memories that they have made there. Children have trusting relationships with the staff and a strong sense of belonging at the home. One child said of the staff, ‘If you have a problem, they are there for you.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a home that is warm and inviting, with a family feel. Staff bring their dogs into the home and recognise the positive impact that animals can have on children. Children look forward to playing in the garden with the dogs. This contributes to the nurturing environment and provides children with a sense of comfort.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a wide range of opportunities to explore and develop their hobbies and interests. Staff actively encourage children’s participation in activities such as sports clubs, outdoor pursuits and volunteering. Through these experiences, children acquire valuable skills and a sense of achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is committed to ensuring that children receive a good education. The manager has taken the necessary actions to ensure that an appropriate school is sought for a child who was not attending school at the time of inspection. In the meantime, staff support the child in maintaining a good routine, which will facilitate a smooth transition back into education when a school is identified. The other children attend school regularly and are making good progress with their education. Staff provide encouragement and support with their learning. This helps children fulfil their potential.

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

Staff encourage children to develop positive behaviours by focusing on praise and reward; they also recognise and celebrate the children's achievements. Staff use incentives and encouragement to promote good choices for children. As a result, consequences are rare. When challenges arise, staff use restorative conversations to help children reflect on their behaviours. This approach helps children learn from their actions.

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

There has been one allegation made by a child, which was handled effectively and in line with safeguarding procedures. The manager ensured a prompt response, making an immediate referral to the local authority designated officer. The child’s concerns were taken seriously. This supports children’s confidence in raising any concerns they may have and ensures that they are heard. Inspection report for children’s home: SC488439 4 When children have not been where they have said they were, staff follow plans to ensure their safety. Staff actively search areas where they suspect children may be and communicate with family members to locate them as quickly as possible. When children return, staff have conversations that encourage them to reflect on their actions and potential risks. Incidents of this type have decreased because of these conversations and the relationship with staff.

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

Staff and managers ensure that children’s health needs are well met. Staff actively encourage children to attend medical appointments and access appropriate healthcare services. When children have specific diagnoses, staff receive specialist training to understand and respond to their needs effectively. Additionally, the organisation provides in-house therapeutic support. This team provides guidance on children’s care plans and supports staff in implementing strategies that promote emotional health. This helps staff deliver consistent and informed support, which promotes children’s well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from experienced and strong leadership. The manager has worked at the home since 2019. She is dedicated to ensuring positive outcomes for children. She is supported by an equally committed deputy manager, and together they make an effective team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective oversight of the home. She carries out regular monitoring and quality assurance tasks to promptly identify and address any areas that require improvement. This helps to improve the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff actively encourage children to express their views, wishes and feelings. Regular house meetings, key-work sessions and informal discussions provide opportunities for children to express their opinions and influence decisions about their care. Staff and managers listen attentively and ensure that children’s voices are valued, acting on feedback wherever possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a consistent staff team working at the home. Staff are experienced and have the necessary training and skills to deliver high-quality support to the children. This consistency of care has significantly contributed to children feeling well supported and building strong relationships with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that thorough pre-employment checks are carried out. This helps leaders ensure that adults are safe to be working with children before they begin doing so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support and guidance they receive from managers. They feel valued and well supported in their roles. Regular supervision sessions provide opportunities for reflection and professional development. However, supervision records lack detail and do not clearly capture the content of discussions or agreed outcomes. Improving the quality of these records would strengthen the manager’s oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: SC488439 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions is kept and ensure that both the person providing the supervision and the staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: SC488439 6

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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

Chrisoula Contoyianni, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC488439 7 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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