Children's home run by Keys Child Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 1 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

This privately owned home was registered with Ofsted in April 2025. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the home opened, three children have moved into the home. All three children contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have made exceptional progress from their starting points, particularly with their personal safety and social skills. Children benefit from excellent care and a stable foundation. Children have excelled because of the support networks around them. Staff work tirelessly to secure the best possible opportunities for children. Children and staff are incredibly proud of their progress and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff follow an embedded therapeutic model of support. This approach is threaded into staff practice and captured in the children’s records. Staff are highly skilled at adapting their approach to ensure that children’s unique needs are met. Managers and staff fully understand the importance of routine and structure for children. Children feel fully understood and appreciate staff input.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to engage with education. This has meant that two children have consistently high levels of attendance. The staff work closely with education providers to provide education that is tailored to children’s learning needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are all new to residential childcare. Staff understand children’s past experiences. They are genuine and authentic in their approach. The staff take their roles in children’s lives very seriously. Staff are unquestionably committed to helping children achieve their ambitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have created an extremely warm and welcoming home that generates a family feel. Staff and children eat together every evening. Children said that they see each other as family and greatly value time spent together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy individual holidays with staff and an array of meaningful activities together. New experiences have helped children to develop their confidence. Staff create opportunities for children to contribute to their local community. Staff design meaningful memory books for children filled with reminders of special times and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of helping children to recognise their self-worth. Staff celebrate and encourage children’s entrepreneurial skills. Staff helped one child to create a small business based on their talents. Staff have secured accredited training for the child to help them develop their skills. This has had a significant impact on the child’s self-confidence and esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of children having a voice and influence at the home. Staff enabled a child to contribute to and draft an organisational policy. This helped increase the child’s confidence. The child then accepted a new role as a peer mentor Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 3 within their local authority Children in Care Council. The child said: ‘Being here has given me so many chances to try new things, meet new people and make amazing memories. I will be forever grateful for all the opportunities I have had. The care is mind-blowing.’

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

The specialist therapeutic team offers ongoing training to staff. The therapeutic team carries out assessments with children to inform their care. This generates personalised care that suits children’s individual needs and significantly influences their progress.

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

Staff work closely with external agencies and therapists. This provides an integrated approach in supporting children with their health and emotional well-being. When children struggle with their emotional well-being, staff take effective action to keep them safe. Reflective conversations encourage children to develop healthier coping skills. Children are considerably safer because of this ongoing specialist care.

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

Highly effective planning minimises risks inside and outside the home. The risks children face are exceptionally well understood and are significantly reducing.

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

Proactive and creative safeguarding practice includes children’s views. Staff are imaginative in their approach to educating children about risks associated with internet use and exploitation. The children’s understanding of online safety has greatly improved.

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

Staff advocate firmly for children. Staff have raised complaints with other health professionals when care has fallen short of their expectations. Action taken because of this complaint meant the child felt comfortable to re-engage with medical professionals and have their health needs fully met.

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviours. They benefit from an environment in which positive behaviour is actively reinforced. Consequences are very seldom implemented by staff. When used, consequences are relevant and relate to the child’s behaviour. One child has committed to charitable work through the home’s strong restorative culture. Staff help children to understand how their behaviour affects others and how it could be different. Children confidently talk to staff about their feelings and behaviours without fear of judgement.

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

Incidents of restraint are very rare and only used as a last resort. Children and staff are given the opportunity to reflect on incidents and are provided with aftercare. Any interventions are reviewed by the manager and risk management plans are updated.

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

Concerns relating to staff conduct are managed sensitively and quickly. Collaborative work with social workers and the local authority designated officer ensures that children are kept safe. The manager identifies learning points and addresses these with staff. Learning is then fully embedded in staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a qualified and highly experienced manager. She is enthusiastic about her role. The manager has a clear vision and a strong desire to achieve positive outcomes for children. Overall, the children experience exceptional care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have created an extremely positive culture. They have high expectations of staff to make a significant difference to children’s lives. Team morale is positive. One staff member said: ‘The manager is an inspiration.’ Leaders and managers are approachable and supportive and place a great emphasis on staff well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers lead by example. They are reflective and maintain their own development. This helps to sustain a culture of aspiration and reflection which this transfers into the quality care for children. Leaders have created an open culture in which staff feel valued and appreciated. Ongoing professional development for staff is fully supported. Staff receive high-quality supervision sessions based on the home’s therapeutic approach. This helps the staff to explore important topics and reflect on their everyday practice, enhancing children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers take time to investigate children’s complaints and reach the appropriate conclusion. The children feel fully updated throughout the process. This helps children to feel listened to and validated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a strong understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She undertakes detailed reviews of children’s experiences and staff practice. Feedback from children is regularly obtained and actioned, resulting in further improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses extensive internal monitoring systems to record children’s progress and any concerns. This helps to support the manager’s extensive knowledge of children’s lived experiences and their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s plans include a comprehensive overview of their lives. The aims of their placements are clear. However, some care plans are not written in a child-focused way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals provided unanimously positive feedback about the quality of care, excellent communication and overall positive impact on the children’s lives. Parents and professionals collectively said that the care children receive is excellent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful and objective recording in children’s risk management plans. Information recorded about the child must always be recorded in a child-centred and focused way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2821542 6

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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

Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2821542 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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