Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 1 SC370899 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

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide 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, four children were living at the home. Two children were spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2024.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 4 September 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child moved into the home and one child moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children currently have education places and have good attendance. Some children have successfully completed exams. The manager recognised that one child’s education needs were not being met. She made a complaint on behalf of the child. The child now attends a specialist provision that better meets their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to try a wide range of new activities and experiences. They enjoy a range of day trips. Children are part of social clubs, including cadets, boxing and youth club. One child is a volunteer befriending the elderly. Children engage in fun and enriching experiences and are part of their local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have excellent holiday opportunities. One child has been able to go and visit family in Lithuania. The holiday enabled the child to reconnect with important family members. Another child has enjoyed a holiday to Disneyland, Paris.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of preparing children for independence. They help children to learn important skills for adulthood. Children can cook basic meals, confidently use public transport and learn to manage independence in the community at an appropriate pace. One child is part of an external housing project that helps children learn practical skills and to understand their rights when they leave care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is effective. One child met staff, visited the home and had a sleep over before moving in. Children are included in the planning stages, helping to reduce anxiety about moving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from children about their experiences is mixed. Children like different aspects of living here. Managers have not consistently addressed children’s concerns. One child said staff are not always consistent and they often feel forgotten. Children do not always feel listened to or valued.

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

Some children have complex safeguarding needs. Managers ensure regular strategy meetings take place. Staff work closely with other professionals to agree risk management and safety plans. Staff know the children well and understand the risks they face, which makes for effective safeguarding practice.

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

Children that have been at risk of criminality have a specialist worker supporting them. Children engage well with this service and are learning about the impact criminality could have on themselves and others. Helping children to understand the impact of criminality helps reduce the risks of offending behaviour. Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 4 One child is at risk of domestic violence. The manager has ensured they have an external specialist domestic violence worker. The child is being helped to understand and recognise what domestic abuse is. The child has also been able to access information through Claire’s Law and understands their protection rights. Staff continue to educate the child about safe and healthy relationships.

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

There have been some incidents of children going missing. Staff manage such incidents well and with sensitivity. Staff always welcome children back home and ensure that children receive an independent return interview. Children feel listened to and supported following these incidents and this has led to a reduction in the frequency of children going missing.

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

The use of physical intervention is proportionate and necessary to keep children safe. Managers identified learning from a review of practice and made improvements. Staff benefit from consultation with a behaviour management specialist.

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

The management of allegations is generally effective. However, on one occasion one child’s allegation was not handled in a timely manner. The child brought this to the attention of the inspector and is disappointed with the manager’s response to date. The failure to follow procedures on this occasion has left the child feeling vulnerable. Immediate action was taken to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been some improvements to leadership, however, there are still shortfalls. During short periods of agreed absence for the manager, a new deputy manager provides leadership. The responsible individual has increased support, which helps managers. Staff morale has fluctuated since the last inspection and has very recently started to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that a child due to move out has been effectively advocated for. The child is approaching adulthood and does not have appropriate care plans in place. The manager has not ensured the child has an independent advocate. The child is anxious about the uncertainty of their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

When children make complaints, senior leaders generally provide timely and clear responses, however, this practice has not been consistent. One child expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of their complaint and requested that the matter be explored further which managers did. However, the child was still dissatisfied with the outcome. Some of the agreed actions have not been completed. This has left the child feeling unheard and has undermined their confidence in the complaints process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have good training opportunities and professional supervision discussions. Staff generally have achieved or are working towards the relevant residential childcare diploma. The manager has set up workshops to ensure that staff are being well Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 5 supported to achieve the qualification. However, one staff member has not achieved the qualification within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager does not always ensure that notifiable safeguarding incidents are notified to Ofsted promptly. Sometimes, information provided is confusing and needs further clarity. This prevents the regulator effectively evaluating children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager knows the children well and has aspirations for their progress and well- being. She has effective systems to track reductions in incidents and to identify where children are making progress. Auditing processes are robust and provide strong oversight, which has supported the development of the staff team. The manager also recognises her own areas for development and takes time to learn and reflect on her practice, which has had a positive impact on both staff and children. Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 6

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that when children make an allegation appropriate safeguarding procedures are implemented. 20 February 2026

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that children have agreed plans in good time for children moving on from the 20 February 2026 Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 7 home and if plans are not clear there is appropriate advocacy for the child.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff provide consistent care for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that staff have a relevant diploma within agreed timescales.

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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

develop positive relationships with them;

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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. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure that children’s views are consistently taken into account, acted upon and children feel valued. 20 February 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. Notifications must include all appropriate details, including the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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 children’s home: SC370899 8

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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

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC370899 9 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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