Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 1 SC001016 Registered provider: Keys Child Care 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

The home is run by a private company. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted their application to be registered with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Outstanding 10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 07/09/2021 Full Outstanding 26/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 3

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outstanding

Children receive exceptionally high standards of care and have built secure and trusted relationships with staff. Children say that this is their home and they love living here. One child said, ‘I am planning to celebrate my first year of living here with a big party.’

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outstanding

The home feels relaxed and homely. There are many photos on display of the children taking part in enjoyable activities. Children talked enthusiastically about their experiences and progress and were optimistic about what the future holds for them. The home resembles a warm, affectionate family environment where children can thrive.

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outstanding

Children are involved in day-to-day decisions about their lives. Staff actively listen to and spend quality time with the children, and this gives children a real sense of belonging and permanence. It has helped children to make measurable and sustained progress in all aspects of their lives.

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outstanding

Due to the exceptionally child-centred and well-documented care planning processes, the children’s individual needs are accurately assessed and regularly reviewed. Children respond well to the positive incentives and the fair but firm routines and boundaries in place. This has seen continuous progress and a significant improvement in children’s independence, confidence and emotional well-being.

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outstanding

Children participate in a range of activities in the home and in the local community. Children regularly enjoy doing charity work, arts and crafts, dressing up and going on day trips to places of interest. One child had the opportunity to be an extra in a television series. These opportunities have helped children to have aspirations for their future and be proud of their achievements.

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outstanding

Parents and other family members are encouraged and supported to participate in the lives of the children. Staff go that extra mile to ensure that children have fun times and memorable experiences with their families. The manager and staff have worked in partnership with professionals to improve children’s relationships with their families. This has enabled some children to return to live with their parents or other extended family members.

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outstanding

The manager and staff promote the importance of education. They work closely with professionals from the virtual schools and the special educational needs team to understand and unpick the barriers to children’s learning. Children are highly supported in education. For most children, their attendance is 100%, and their attitude and engagement to learning is exceptional. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 4

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outstanding

Children’s safety and well-being are of the utmost importance. Risks to children living at this home are very low because they have no desire to go missing from home or engage in risk-taking behaviour. This is testament to the secure attachments and trusted relationships the children have with staff.

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outstanding

Children’s moves into the home are planned well. The manager and staff work closely with professionals to plan for these significant periods of time. The manager demonstrates professional curiosity, and her attention to detail means she gains an understanding of the needs and character of a child before they move in. This helps to ensure that children feel secure and protected at all times.

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outstanding

Risk assessments, therapeutic interventions and effective care planning all identify the individual needs and vulnerabilities of the children. Staff carry out key-work discussions and debriefs to ensure that all risks are clearly understood and talked about with children. Well-documented assessments and plans provide staff with the guidance that helps them to support children to make positive choices and keep themselves safe.

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outstanding

Children feel a very strong sense of safety and well-being in the home. Children have felt safe and comfortable enough to share their past trauma with staff.

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outstanding

The use of physical intervention is both proportionate and reasonable. It is used by staff as a last resort when children are in crisis. De-escalation techniques are developed from understanding children’s behavioural responses and triggers. The techniques used by staff help to defuse situations and keep children increasingly safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has submitted her application to be registered with Ofsted. They were appointed as the deputy manager for the past six years, and they know the staff and children very well. The manager is confident and creates a culture of positivity. She has high aspirations for the children and her staff team that are already embedded into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff advocate on behalf of the children and ensure there are wraparound services that support them. The manager is proactive in ensuring that a model of good practice and nurture is having positive effects on the individual needs of each child. The therapeutic team works closely with the home, offering clinical consultation and training to staff. This ensures a therapeutic delivery of care with an emphasis on high nurture, empathy and praise. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 5 There is a skilled and established staff team. The children have ‘grown up’ with the same staff due to the longevity of the staff team. The children have close and loving attachments with the manager and staff, and the children flourish in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have opportunities for continuous learning. Staff are either qualified at diploma level 3 or pursuing their qualification. All staff have opportunities to further their careers through promotion. Staff work in a very collaborative way, which gives the children the consistency they need to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive system for monitoring all aspects of the home. She evaluates staff practice through regular and reflective supervision sessions and has good oversight of the care and progress of the children. She is very ‘hands on’ in all aspects of service delivery. She identifies areas of development and uses the staff capabilities to enhance their responsibility and develop their expertise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Multi-agency working is strong due to the proactive approach of the manager and staff. Professionals are extremely complimentary about the care provided by the home. The manager recognises and challenges the children’s placing local authority when she feels there are shortfalls in the care planning process. A social worker said, ‘The home is going above and beyond. The staff are really supporting me in being creative and supporting [name of child’s] development.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 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: SC001016 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Catherine Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC001016 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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