Children's home run by Keys Active 8 Care Limited in Rossendale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 1 SC064428 Registered provider: Keys Active 8 Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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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: 9 December 2024

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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: SC064428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2024 Full Outstanding 19/09/2023 Full Good 30/08/2022 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children say that they feel safe and happy living at the home. One child said, ‘I can speak to them (staff) about anything; they listen to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Research on trauma-informed and therapeutic practice underpins the excellent care and support staff provide to the children. Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points. The consistent and trusting relationships children build with staff allow them to feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff have a comprehensive understanding of each child’s individual needs and provide them with a bespoke package of care and support. They work closely with other agencies to ensure that children receive the services and support they require to meet their needs and to enable them to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making good progress in their education settings. Leaders and managers have actively supported one child’s individual education plan, strongly advocating for a suitable education provision. During the period when the child was out of formal education, staff provided work at home, which included core subjects and educational visits to museums. The manager also helped the child to raise a complaint to the local authority regarding the delay in securing an education placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are actively preparing children for independent living by carrying out work on key life skills, including budgeting, cooking and personal safety. Leaders and managers have also researched and implemented less restrictive practices in the home to support children in moving on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of key-work sessions carried out with children is excellent. Staff sensitively talk to children about key issues that are personally relevant to them. The records of these sessions are in a child-friendly format, which captures children’s views effectively, and they are tailored to the child’s level of understanding and language.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go above and beyond to gather and understand children’s wishes and feelings. They actively listen to children’s views and use creative and alternative approaches to ensure that every child’s voice is heard. Staff carry out significant direct work, ensuring that children’s views are heard and respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is maintained to an exceptionally high standard. Staff regularly consult children about the upkeep and presentation of the property, ensuring that they have a sense of ownership and pride in their surroundings. The home also has a family dog, and children are encouraged to help with its daily care, including activities such as dog walking. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 4

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

Children are settled in the home and enjoy spending quality time with the staff. There is a coordinated and timely response when a child goes missing from home. Staff are proactive in locating the child and ensuring their safety. Children have individual missing- from-home plans that outline the specific actions staff should take to help locate and safeguard them. On their return, children receive return home interviews that are carried out by an external independent service.

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

Children’s risk assessments are up to date and include all relevant risks specific to them. They include the child’s behaviour management plan and clear step-by-step guidance on de-escalation strategies. The in-house therapist contributes to the plans, which clearly show the progress children have made from their starting points. Children are aware of the content of their plans and are encouraged to express their views. The staff team fully understands and is aware of the risks children face.

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

Staff maintain detailed, individualised support plans for each child. These are live documents that are regularly reviewed and updated. They are child friendly and give a clear picture of each child’s needs and vulnerabilities.

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

Children benefit from the support from the home’s in-house therapist and the therapeutic model of care. Reviews take place regularly, where children can provide feedback on their care and support. Since moving into the home, both children have made exceptional progress from their starting points. This progress reflects the skill and dedication of the staff team and the high-quality key-work sessions that focus on building children’s confidence and self-esteem. The positive outcomes achieved by the children are a testament to this consistent and therapeutic approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is overseen by a strong and experienced manager who is child centred and dedicated. Children are at the heart of the home, and their views and ideas are always fully considered. This child-focused approach is evident in children’s plans and key-work sessions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers provide each staff member with excellent support, guidance and supervision. This ensures that staff feel valued and well supported in their role. The team of staff holds leaders and managers in high regard, feeling encouraged to develop and progress in their roles. One member of staff said, ‘[Name of manager] is very supportive and will go out of her way to help in any way she can.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are committed to research-informed practice and incorporate this in the day-to-day running of the home. This approach has been embedded in staff practice and has made a positive difference to children’s lives. The manager has also considered the ongoing development of the service by exploring recent research relating to sibling groups. This has been discussed in team meetings and supervision sessions. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 5 Staff have received a range of child-led training, including mandatory training. Staff hold relevant childcare qualifications, and new starters are enrolled in training for this qualification as soon as they successfully complete their probationary period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 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: SC064428 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Active 8 Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Helen Fee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064428 8 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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