Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 1 SC020607 Registered provider: Keys NHCC Ltd

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with complex needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Good 21/02/2023 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good 13/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, the same three children have remained living in the home. The home is situated in a rural location. It is well presented, warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to suit their interests and personalities. Pictures of the children and of them with staff are on display throughout the home. Children also have pictures of people who are important to them displayed in their bedrooms.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff. Staff know the children well and respond to their needs with patience and understanding. Staff have regular access to a dedicated therapeutic team. This helps staff understand how past trauma affects children’s behaviour and emotional well-being. Staff use this knowledge to tailor their approach to each child’s presenting needs. This leads to more stable, nurturing and effective support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped through child-focused direct work. This is well planned and informed by each child’s associated risk and support needs. Staff manage risks and needs through natural conversations. This supports children to express their feelings and engage in discussion. The sessions help children to make sense of challenges, explore options and develop decision-making skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff prioritise children’s education. As a result, children are making good progress in their attendance and attainment. One child is working towards GCSEs and aspires to be a mechanical engineer. An education leader praised the manager’s child-centred, open and professional approach, saying, ‘I can’t speak highly enough of this home and the care for the child in our school.’ This support helps children achieve their academic potential and increases their future opportunities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand that relationships with family and friends are important to children. Staff are flexible, creative and accommodating in supporting children to spend time with their families. As a result, one child shares his time between the home and his family home, and family reunification is the plan for another child. A child’s grandmother said that staff are organised and supportive when arranging family time. Staff help take the child to school during overnight stays and offer behavioural support if needed. She said, ‘I don’t know what we’d do without them.’

p.3

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

Children are settled and there are few incidents and concerns. This is despite two children experiencing disruption and change regarding their care plans. When concerns do arise, these are well managed by staff who are attuned to each child’s risk and needs. Staff have access to suitable training to ensure they can meet each child’s individual needs. When incidents occur, the manager ensures information is shared with the child’s family and professional network to promote a unified response. A child’s social worker said, ‘I am kept informed of all significant events. We are able to talk through any issues Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 4 about [name of child] and I feel there are no delays in communication.’ Effective information-sharing supports consistent, safe and cohesive care.

p.3

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

Children respond well to guidance and boundaries. Staff use a therapeutic model of care to support behaviour. Each child has a personalised behaviour support plan, and their associated risks are assessed and understood. Staff are experienced in using de- escalation techniques and do so effectively. As a result, the use of physical intervention has significantly reduced since the previous inspection.

p.4

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

Allegations and complaints are well managed. Referrals are made to the local authority designated officer and internal investigations conducted when required. When shortfalls in staff practice do occur, these are investigated, and appropriate actions progressed. When relationships are impacted, the managers use a restorative approach to ensure relationships are repaired and maintained. This helps to rebuild trust and supports children to feel heard and respected.

p.4

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

The home has a garden overlooking rolling countryside. This is well used by the children. They play football with staff and have a trampoline and grassed area to encourage them to exercise and play. However, maintenance and repairs are needed to the garden and an area at the front of the home. The manager has a clear development plan in place to address these concerns but, despite his best efforts, there has been some delay in repairs progressing. These shortfalls pose a potential risk to the safety of children and staff, and need to be addressed in a timely manner.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is kind, compassionate and conscientious. He has high aspirations for both children and staff in the home. He is supported by a strong leadership team, who all have a shared vision. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. He has a clear development plan in place that demonstrates high ambition and expectations for the future progress of the home and staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by staff with diverse experiences, and he uses their knowledge and expertise to promote shared learning within the team. This empowers staff and enhances the quality of care provided to children. One staff member said, ‘The home is truly a place where everyone works together to create a bright future for the young people we support.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and leaders have high aspirations for the quality of care children receive. They have developed a range of monitoring systems to oversee practice in the home. This leads to open discussions, shared learning and support and direction when required. This regular oversight supports staff development and high-quality consistent care for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a stable staff team. Staff are supported with regular supervision and yearly appraisals of their practice. Monthly team meetings are well attended and include open discussions, reflection and learning. This is aided by oversight Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 5 from the therapeutic team. Staff are consistently positive about their experiences of working in the home and say they feel well supported by leaders. As a result, staff remain committed and motivated to support each other to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have good working relationships with the children’s professional networks. Professionals are unanimously positive about the home. A child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘Consistent support, structure, routine and familiarity has, and continues to, facilitate progression.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the outside area is repaired and maintained to a suitable standard. 14 May 2025

p.6

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: SC020607 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Ashley Kerfoot-Davies

p.7

Inspector

Mandy Wake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC020607 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8