Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 1 SC420388 Registered provider: Keys ACE 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 private provider. The home provides care for up to four children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good 13/12/2021 Full Good 30/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living in this home make exceptional progress from their individual starting points. Children benefit from caring relationships with staff who know them well. The registered manager uses external research and resources to inform and improve practice across the staff team, which supports children to live in a home where staff are aspirational for their futures, regardless of their individual starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a warm and welcoming home that has a nurturing atmosphere. Children’s photos and certificates of achievements are proudly displayed around the home. Children are encouraged to take part in personalising their home. Children’s identities are reflected in their bedrooms, and staff work creatively to ensure that bedrooms are adapted to meet children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to attend medical appointments, and where appropriate, they are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health needs to develop their independence. Staff work closely with specialist professionals to ensure that children receive and benefit from individualised support. Furthermore, staff have regular access to therapeutic professionals to support and embed the provider’s own therapeutic model into the work with children. Staff use holistic approaches to help children develop their confidence and resilience. As a result, children are better equipped to manage socially and emotionally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff communicate effectively with education professionals to ensure that children receive the right level of support. Staff encourage and support children to achieve and help them to engage in educational activities that support their individual interests. As a result, children make exceptional progress in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s relationships with family and friends are well supported by staff. They understand the significance of children being able to maintain these relationships. They are skilled in building relationships with children’s families. One family member said, ‘Staff really support our family time and always keep me up to date. Staff are amazing, and I couldn’t ask them to do anything better.’ Children know how to make a complaint and say that they are listened to by staff.

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

Children benefit from exceptional help and support from a nurturing and knowledgeable staff team. The emotional well-being of children is at the forefront of staff’s practice. Staff have well-established relationships with external professionals and safeguarding agencies to promote children’s safety.

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

Children have caring and trusting relationships with staff who are responsible for their care. Significant incidents are well managed, and staff responses are thorough. The registered manager has excellent oversight and evaluation of any incidents and ensures Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 4 that any follow-up actions identified for both children and staff are completed. The registered manager uses external resources and agencies where necessary to ensure that children have access to the most relevant and individualised support to keep them safe.

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

Staff know the children well and understand their individual risk management plans. Plans are regularly updated and provide clear guidance for staff to follow. The strategies in place to manage risks are child focused and created with therapeutic input. Staff are proactive in planning how to manage concerns, seeking input from all involved professionals while ensuring that the child’s voice is heard.

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

Children have clear boundaries in place, which they are supported to understand. Children are consulted as part of any consequences given, and an agreement on fair and proportionate consequences is reached with the child’s input. Reasons for consequences are made clear to children, and they are always supported to share their views.

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

Children are only held as a last resort, and there is clear guidance and strategies for staff to use. Staff always use de-escalation techniques and follow children’s plans. The registered manager has oversight of every incident and uses this to develop practice. Children’s views are always sought, and additional key work is completed where appropriate. However, when room searches are carried out, it is unclear in the records if the child’s consent was gained and if any items were found.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a dedicated registered manager. She has high aspirations for the children and is a strong advocate for them. As the registered manager knows the children well, she is able to ensure that children’s voices are heard and acted on. One teaching professional said, ‘She is a wonderful manager and is very communicative and supportive. She has led her team with a therapeutic approach and works tirelessly for the children in her care.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are committed and motivated to make a positive difference with the children and work consistently to do so. Staff say that they are well supported by the registered manager and that there is a caring and kind culture in the home. Staff say that they love working in the home and that they feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager prioritises training and development opportunities for staff. Staff have access to a comprehensive training package, which includes training that is specific to the individualised needs of the children. Staff say that they find training helpful and that it enables them to create a safe, caring environment for children to grow and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular reflective supervision that is child focused. The registered manager uses external resources and research in supervision sessions to develop and improve Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 5 practice. Annual performance appraisals reflect the commitment to the future development of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers know the strengths of the home. Records are clear and relevant, and the management oversight is strong. The registered manager continuously reviews how the home is operating. She uses her internal and external monitoring of the home to continually improve practice, ensuring that children have the best experiences possible. However, the manager’s quality of care report does not always fully evaluate the support provided to children where significant changes to their care planning have occurred. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is clear guidance in respect of room searches and that any room search is accurately recorded, including if the child’s consent was gained and if any items were found. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that the quality of care report reviews and evaluates incidents, such as placement breakdowns, and that any learning from this is clearly actioned in order to sustain good practice. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC420388 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Justina Henry, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 8 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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