Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Durham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 1 SC423407 Registered provider: Keys 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

A private provider runs this home. It provides care for up to eight children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were six children living in the home. Four children were spoken with.

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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: 17 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

An assurance inspection was completed on 17 March 2025 where serious and widespread concerns were identified. Two compliance notices were served under regulation 11 (the positive relationships standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). A monitoring visit was carried out on 6 May 2025 to evaluate the provider’s response to the two compliance notices. Both compliance notices were found to be met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Good 14/11/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 07/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have created a home that is bright and welcoming. There are photos of the children on display throughout the home. The communal areas are large enough to accommodate everyone, and the children and staff enjoy socialising and sharing meals together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are committed to the children and speak about them with warmth. The team builds positive relationships with the children that have persisted through some tough and challenging times. Children and staff talk about the ‘family feel’ of the home. One child said their key worker was ‘like a nan’ to her. The staff have a calm, nurturing approach with the children, which helps the children to feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education and learning. Children do well in school, with improved attendance in mainstream education. Children have extra study sessions to help them get the grades they need. Staff support children to explore their interests and aspirations, helping them to research colleges and apprenticeships, join local football teams, and support community events. The children said that the support from the staff at the home helps them to learn how to express themselves without getting angry or upset. Children are more confident and have the tools they need to achieve their aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to share their views and wishes in a variety of ways. The manager responds to children’s suggestions and acts on them where appropriate. The children decorate the lounge for Christmas and negotiate with staff to ensure they can all access activities they enjoy. Children feel listened to and have a say in the day-to-day running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have built good relationships with professionals and neighbours alike. Children and staff support local charities and participate in community fetes. The police are welcome in the home and have good relations with the children. This helps the children to feel part of the community.

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

Staff respond well to any safeguarding concerns. The staff work closely with the police when children go missing to return them as quickly as possible. Staff use information from risk assessments to build a picture of a child’s risk when missing from home. Children participate in workshops and key-work sessions that educate children about the risks of exploitation, and help the children to identify risks so they can keep themselves safer. Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 4 Managers and staff ensure that the children are safe online when they are in the home. Staff talk to children about the online world and to be aware of potential dangers, and to use the internet safely. Children learn how to keep themselves safe online.

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

Staff use consequences to address unwanted behaviour that are appropriate and relevant to the behaviour. This helps children to understand the possible impact of their behaviours on others. It also helps children develop empathy as well as encourage positive attitudes and behaviours from them.

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

If children need to be held to keep everyone safe, this is done proportionately and for the least amount of time possible. Holds are recorded in detail and all children and staff are spoken with afterwards to identify ways of reducing reoccurrence.

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

Staff have access to good-quality resources to support them in discussing the use of drugs and alcohol with the children. When staff identify new concerns, they update the child’s risk assessment and conduct individual discussions to highlight the issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a champion for the children, ensuring that they get the right support to meet their needs. The manager promotes openness and honesty and wants all children to attend school and make positive choices about their futures. The manager advocates for the children in all meetings, challenging the decision-making if she thinks it is not in each child’s best interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they ‘love’ working at the home and feel supported by leaders and managers and their colleagues. Staff praise the family atmosphere that the manager has created in the home. Team meetings take place regularly and offer staff a forum to discuss a wide range of issues and agree a consistent approach to their care of children. Team morale is good, and staff are committed to all children who live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and reviewing systems in place. This gives them good oversight of the home when they are not there. The manager identifies issues quickly and puts resources in place to address them promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they value their supervision sessions. However, the quality of supervision records is not consistent. The manager’s records do not always demonstrate that staff are provided opportunities to reflect on their practice, or speak about the children and the care they receive, or any safeguarding issues. This prevents the manager from being assured staff are developing their practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. These sessions should allow staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC423407 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: C/o Pinsent Masons Llp, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 3LP

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Inspectors

Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector (lead) Mark Cryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC423407 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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