Children's home run by Keys Care Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 1 Registered provider: Keys Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties. It was registered with Ofsted in August 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home and spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Inspection date: 29 July 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 2

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Findings from the inspection

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Findings from the inspection

The incidents that led to the investigation are serious and have impacted negatively on the children living in the home. As a result, there are serious concerns in relation to the care or protection of children. At this inspection, the inspector reviewed the actions leaders and managers took following disclosures about these incidents from a child.

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Findings from the inspection

On hearing the disclosures, immediate action was taken to protect children and support them. Safeguarding procedures were followed with leaders and managers working transparently with safeguarding agencies. This collaborative approach supports effective investigations and ensures that multi-agency safety planning is in place to protect children following significant incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers carried out a full review to assure themselves that the serious incident could not have been prevented. This review did not identify any information or concerns that may have prevented the incident. Leaders have shared this information appropriately with safeguarding agencies to support transparency and ongoing partnership working.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have reviewed and updated the home’s safeguarding policies to ensure they remain current and effective. These updates have been shared with the staff, who demonstrate a clear understanding and confidence in applying them.

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Findings from the inspection

Importantly, staff’s focus following these disclosures was on supporting children. Overall, most staff develop warm and trusting relationships with children. Children say they feel supported and speak positively about the care they receive. This support has helped them to manage and cope during a difficult period in their lives.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have access to therapeutic support, both within the home and through external services. Leaders support children to engage with this support in line with their wishes and feelings. Children report that this therapeutic support has helped them during a challenging time.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have ensured that staff also have access to therapeutic support. Staff say that they are well supported in their roles, which has enabled them to provide consistent and emotionally attuned care to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 3 Requirements set at the previous inspection were not reviewed during this visit and have therefore been restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2025 Full Good 15/07/2024 Full Good 21/11/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 4

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand the importance of their roles and responsibilities to safeguarding children. 29 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)) 10 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 5 In particular, ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are captured in a variety of ways and influence all aspects of their care.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must consider the impact of the care provided by staff, along with children’s wishes and feelings, to inform the development of the quality of care provided. 10 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review mobile phone checks to ensure that they remain appropriate to safeguard children. 10 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 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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Inspector

Hayley Booth, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2513341 7 regulates 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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