Kef Kids Ltd

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 1 Kef Kids Ltd Kef Kids Ltd Wilberforce Road, West Hendon, London NW9 6AX Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential holiday scheme is managed by a Jewish charity. This charity supports children and young adults who have physical and learning disabilities and their families. The residential holiday scheme provides a camp experience for children and young people of the Orthodox Jewish faith.

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disabled children

At the time of the inspection, 41 children were attending the holiday scheme for a two-week period.

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disabled children

There is a permanent registered manager, employed on a voluntary basis, who is suitably experienced. The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2020. Inspectors met with numerous children and spoke with a number of staff and volunteers while on site.

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Overall experience 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 13 August 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 3

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outstanding

Children have wonderful experiences while attending this holiday scheme. They say and indicate that they love attending the scheme because they feel exceptionally well cared for, get to do things that they ordinarily would not have the opportunity to do and make friends. A child said, ‘I love coming here, I’ve been many times and hope to keep on coming. The trips are amazing and we have such fun.’ Children who do not communicate through speech readily gave inspectors beaming smiles, thumbs-up, vigorous nods and high-fives indicating that they were having fun and enjoying themselves.

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outstanding

Parents’ feedback of the scheme echoes the sentiments of children. Many send their children to the holiday scheme year after year because they are confident that their children receive the care that they need and want, are kept safe and have exceptional fun experiences. A parent said, ‘This is the best camp we could have imagine for our severely disabled son. He has never had such a beautiful and rich experience and met so many friends and enjoyed himself as much as at [scheme’s name]. And the best thing is that we know the whole time that he’s in the best hands and therefore we were able to go on a vacation as a family and be calm knowing that he’s safe and happy at camp.’

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outstanding

Children benefit from high quality personalised care that meets their often complex needs exceptionally well. Each child receives at least 1:1 staff support. Many of the staff and volunteers are known to the children prior to them attending the scheme. Most volunteers come from the same communities as the children, attend their places of worship, work with them in their schools and nurseries or work with them in community based programmes, some of which are run by the scheme’s organisation. Volunteers therefore have a very good understanding the needs of children they are caring for and provide them with outstanding care and support.

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outstanding

Children’s care plans are comprehensive and individualised, and explicitly detail the nature of care children need. Staff and volunteers are familiar with children’s plans and clearly demonstrate how they are working in accordance with children’s care plans and risk assessments. Volunteers are skilled in effectively communicating with children and interpreting their wishes, which ensures that all children consistently make choices, take part in activities that they enjoy and have positive experiences. A small number of children who are severely disabled attend the scheme with carers who care for them in their homes and communities. This ensures that children with complex medical needs receive specialist, safe care by adults who are familiar with them and whom children trust.

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outstanding

Children are treated with dignity and respect, and their relationship with staff and volunteers is one of high mutual interest and trust. The organisation is a Jewish charity and the residential experience is for children of the orthodox Jewish faith. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 4 Children receive care and support in line with their religious beliefs and the holiday scheme observes Jewish festivals and celebrations if these take place at the time children are away. Meals are prepared in line with children’s faith, kitchen staff provide Kosher meals and on Fridays, Shabbos is celebrated as children are accustomed to at their homes. This year a child celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, before the entire camp and family and friends.

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outstanding

Children are excited about the creative array of activities that the scheme makes available to them. The theme of the scheme this year is ‘The Great KEF Adventure.’ Children are aware of this theme, the activities programme, and start their countdown weeks before their arrival. Children and their parents receive good information to help them prepare for the residential experience and understand what to expect, how the scheme is run and who will be working with children. Children receive welcoming information in formats that they are familiar with using. Communication between children and their parents and staff of the scheme is regular and consistent prior to the start of the scheme and throughout the time that children are away. Staff encourage children and their parents stay in touch. Children were asked if they were missing home. A child said, ‘Missing home? No! They’re missing me! Wishing they could be here too.’

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outstanding

On the day inspectors visited, in the morning, children had enjoyed a speedboating trip; a petting farm, with animals for children to pet was one of the afternoon activities. In addition, a funfair teacup ride managed by an external provider was available at the site’s vast outdoor area. Arts and crafts is a popular indoor activity, there are daily entertainment shows, talent shows, a camp song, and sensory play. Outdoor play includes a trampoline and adapted play equipment. Trips this year includes a pirate themed trip, a safari adventure and a circus extravaganza. A child who had an interest in constructing play objects showed inspectors an intricate, working catapult he had proudly made. He spoke about plans he had to construct other play items while at the holiday scheme. Children enjoy going swimming at the site’s indoor swimming pool. The pool is purpose build for disabled children with hoists and adapted equipment to ensure that children have safe access to water

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outstanding

The activities, trips and experiences available to children is highly creative, innovative and inclusive, available to all children who wish to and are able to safely access chosen activities. This is the case for all children. A staff member said of child who has significant physical disabilities, and required use of a 24 hour ventilator, ‘If he can’t go to where the fun is, we bring the fun to him!’ The child confirmed this to be the case when he told inspectors that he was, ‘Having the greatest time.’

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outstanding

Children say and indicate that they feel very safe while attending the holiday scheme. Children trust the adults working with them and know that staff and volunteers care very much about their well-being. The safety and protection of Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 5 children is paramount and there are excellent safeguarding systems in place to help to help keep children safe. Staff are skilled in caring safely for children with profound and complex disabilities; they receive training in child protection, are familiar with and demonstrate good knowledge of the organisation’s child protection procedures. Staff know and are vigilant about children’s individual vulnerabilities and are confident in their ability in keeping children safe from harm or abuse.

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outstanding

Children and their parents receive clear information about making complaints. Information to children is available in formats that they can readily access. For example, the guide for children has complaints information in written and symbolic form; similarly, information posters are strategically placed around the premises for children to access in varying formats. Staff are heard to regularly check in with children enquiring if they are OK and enjoying what they are doing. There have been no complaints made.

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outstanding

The physical environment of the holiday scheme is safe and secure. The scheme located on school premises that provides education and care to disabled children during term time. The premises are purpose build to accommodate and provide care for disabled children. Adapted equipment is available on site to promote the safe care of children. Staff and volunteers receive relevant training such as manual handling, epilepsy awareness and first aid to support safe care practices. In addition, in order to allow the participation of children who have very high medical care needs the organisation will source and rent specialist equipment, so that children are not denied a holiday scheme experience because they have profound disabilities. Leaders and managers are committed to providing a fun, safe experience to disabled children once it is clear that there are systems in place to ensure that children receive care that protects them from harm.

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outstanding

Many of the children attending the holiday scheme are vulnerable to harm as a result of their acute health care needs. There are effective safeguards in place to ensure that children’s health and medical needs are well met. For example, parents are required to provide comprehensive information about their children’s health and, an ample supply of their children’s medication well before children arrive at the holiday scheme. A pharmacist reviews medication to ensure that all is in order and any enquiries can be made prior to children’s arrival.

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outstanding

A General Practitioner is available on site 24 hours each day for medical advice and guidance; two registered nurses support the GP; this is an increase to the number of nursing staff on site in previous years. The GP and nursing staff are the only staff authorised to administer medication to children, they manage this sensitively and making the process as fun an experience as they can for children. Medication recording charts have been improved to ensure greater accuracy and scrutiny of the administration of medicines. The local hospital is aware of the holiday scheme being run in the area, and there are clear protocols in place for children who need to attend the hospital. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 6 Meticulous care is taken to ensure that there are no risks posed to children as a result of their eating and feeding needs. The chef and kitchen staff are aware of

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outstanding

children’s individual feeding needs and preferences. Food is prepared in accordance with information available of children’s care plans, which helps to reduce the risk harm such as chocking. Children who require tube feeding are assisted by staff who are trained to do so.

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outstanding

Effective risk assessments allow children to challenge themselves safely. There are no reports of children going missing or any suspicion of child sexual or criminal exploitation. There have been no allegations of abuse or harm, and bullying does not happen. Staff and volunteers are aware of the organisation’s whistle blowing procedures. For example, they receive during their induction, pocket sized cards that have the contact details of internal and external safeguarding professionals, including designated officers for them to contact if necessary.

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outstanding

Staff and volunteers promote children’s positive behaviour. When children present with challenging behaviour, staff and volunteers are aware of strategies to use to manage the behaviour safely and sensitively. This year staff are encouraging children’s appropriate behaviour by engaging them in a creative wall chart incentive game where virtual ice cream scoops are awarded for positive attitudes and listening to staff. Children work hard to watch the rise of their ‘scoops’ on the chart.

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outstanding

The vast majority of staff and volunteers have worked at this holiday scheme for a number of years previously. The recruitment and vetting of staff is thorough and in line with safe staff recruitment practices. This confirms that those caring for children are suitable to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership and management of this holiday scheme is strong. The registered manager is an effective leader and has been successfully volunteering for and managing this holiday scheme several years. The holiday scheme is meeting the aims and objectives as stated in the statement of purpose; the one area identified for improvement at the holiday scheme’s last inspection has been successfully resolved. Leaders and managers have ambitious expectations of children’s abilities and ensure high standards of care, providing children with a rich, exciting programme of activities, adventures and trips.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers strive to improve children’s experience of the holiday from year to year; the scope of activities available are increasingly adventurous and innovative, offering every child an opportunity to have a great camp experience. Leaders and managers keenly monitor the scheme’s operation, actively seeking new ideas to improve children’s experiences. A good example of this is the increase this year in nursing staff and waking night staff. This year there are new protocols about escorting children who need to attend hospital. Protocols now ensures that the accompanying staff are qualified to effectively support children and to liaise with hospital medics. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 7 Leaders actively seek the views and opinions of children parents and others to help drive improvement. Robust post-holiday consultation exercises with children,

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

parents, staff, volunteers and others promotes further improvements to the holiday scheme. The registered manager’s detailed annual report highlights the strengths and effectiveness of the previous year’s holiday scheme and informs development plans to improve the running this year and future years. The monitoring visit to the holiday scheme by the provider offers further oversight, review and planning opportunities to support leaders’ high expectations and ambitions for the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers make child-centred decisions about children attending the holiday scheme. The allocation of places is a major strength of the service. Senior staff give considerable thought to the development of peer groups that are likely to result in genuine friendships. Children are carefully matched dependent on interests, existing friendship groups, need and ability. For example, the most medically vulnerable children are in close proximity to where senior staff and waking night staff are situated, so staff can respond quickly if there are concerns for children’s well-being at night especially.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers of the holiday scheme provide the staff with excellent support and supervision. The entire staff team’s morale is high and very positive with many staff and volunteers return year after year. They are passionate and motivated by the positive impact that the holidays have on children and the inspirational leadership of the registered manager. A volunteer said, ‘KEF consistently delivers high-quality training for all volunteers, ensuring we are well-prepared, informed, and confident in our roles. Their commitment to safeguarding and health standards is exemplary. I always know exactly who to speak to if I have any concerns, and I feel completely supported by the leadership and wider team. It’s a community built on compassion, professionalism, and genuine love for the young people we support. I feel honoured to be part of it’. This year there has been a keen focus on promoting the well-being of staff and volunteers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff and volunteers have a thorough induction prior to the scheme’s start and they complete all required training. This promotes safe care and positive experiences for children. Staffing patterns of a minimum of one-to-one support to each child ensures that the needs of children are very well met and in accordance with care plans and the statement of purpose. Regular daily handovers ensure that staff are informed of any issues or the changing needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Parents value the very regular contact that they have with staff prior to, during and after children attend the holiday scheme. In particular parents are very much involved in providing key information to staff about their children and they often have very personalised relationships with volunteers working directly with their children. Parents use the holiday scheme’s bespoke digital platform to see photos and videos of their children while they are away; parents receive regular logs detailing how their children have spent their days. There is time in the evening for parents to speak directly with key personnel working with their child and at the end of the holiday scheme staff encourage parents to complete evaluation forms. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 8 This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is one of excellence. The registered manager is an enthusiastic leader, who promotes effective camp initiatives

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

and leads the team by exemplary example. Staff and volunteers are genuinely passionate about the care they provide to children, ensuring that children have exciting and stimulating experiences. Leaders, managers and the staff team continually strive to make improvements to the high standard of care provided and this contributes to children’s love of this residential holiday scheme. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 9

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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 Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 10

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: Arbiter House, Wilberforce Road, West Hendon, London NW9 6AX Responsible individual: Shelley Groszman Registered manager: Adina Morris

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Inspectors

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Helen Daniel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Kef Kids Ltd 11 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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