Children's Home run by Keys Active 8 Care Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 1 Registered provider: Keys Active 8 Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It registered with Ofsted in August 2025 and provides care for up to five children who may experience emotional and social difficulties. It provides a bespoke 90-day placement offering a programme of activity and intervention.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the company in October 2025 and has not yet applied to cancel their registration with Ofsted. A peripatetic manager, who is suitably qualified, is managing the home on an interim basis until a manager is appointed.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the home’s first inspection following registration.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 2

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improvement to be good

At the time of this inspection, no children were living in the home. Since the home was registered, one child has moved in, and later moved on. The inspection focused on the progress and experiences of the child, however, they did not provide feedback.

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improvement to be good

The manager’s systems for assessing children’s needs before they move in require improvement. The child’s needs were not fully assessed by the manager or understood by the staff team. Consequently, the child did not receive consistent personalised care. This does not help children to feel valued and safe living in their home. The management team has since reviewed the admission process for children and put in place new systems to ensure there is a detailed analysis of children’s needs, and that these are understood by the staff team.

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improvement to be good

Children’s educational arrangements are not consistent. The education coordinator works with the manager to develop bespoke education plans for children. The child was enrolled on an education programme, but this was not implemented effectively or reviewed by the manager. As a result, the child did not receive any formal education. This impacts children’s learning and progress and has the potential to affect their aspirations for the future.

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improvement to be good

Children are not always provided with opportunities to take part in outdoor activities. The manager did not develop a programme of activities for the child or advocate on their behalf when there were barriers to arranging these. This does not support children’s physical health, well-being or social development. However, the management team has since taken action to ensure that there is clear planning for outdoor activities, in line with children’s needs and the home’s statement of purpose.

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improvement to be good

Staff recognise and praise children’s achievements. This positive approach helps children to develop relationships with staff. The child stayed at the home for eight consecutive days, which the social worker described as progress. Staff encourage children to share their views, wishes and feelings. The child shared their meal choices and was supported by staff to cook them. The management team recognises that the recording of children’s views and their plans is an area for development, and this is being addressed through additional training.

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improvement to be good

The home is welcoming, with decor and furnishings of a good standard. Children’s bedrooms are individually designed, with en-suite bathrooms. Communal areas provide children with opportunities to watch television, enjoy arts and crafts and play board games. The gardens are spacious and provide opportunities for children to explore and relax. As a result, children are provided with a comfortable living environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 3

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improvement to be good

When children go missing, staff carry out searches in the local area and work with the police to locate them. However, following incidents, there were missed opportunities to help the child to learn about risks in the community, which did not reduce the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff are now receiving specialist training to develop their knowledge and practice in helping children to learn about the risks of going missing.

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improvement to be good

Systems for protecting children online are inconsistent. The child was able to access the internet on one occasion in a communal area. As a result, the child’s use of social media was not monitored, which left them exposed to potential risks online. Staff are now being provided with specialist training to improve their knowledge and develop their confidence in discussing online activity with children. Also, this will help staff to understand the emerging risks of new technology.

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improvement to be good

Children’s allegations and concerns raised are not consistently looked into. An allegation made by the child against staff was not fully investigated. This does not provide children with confidence that their complaints and allegations are taken seriously. However, the management team has carried out a new and comprehensive investigation. As a result, shortfalls in staff practice have been identified and appropriate support and training have been put in place.

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improvement to be good

Since the home registered, there have been no incidents requiring physical intervention. Staff are trained to use physical intervention safely when this is required to keep children safe. Specialist professional support is available to the manager and the staff team to develop their understanding of risk. The management team consulted with these professionals to review the risks to the child.

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improvement to be good

The assessment of the home’s location is detailed and is regularly reviewed to ensure this remains up to date. This helps staff to understand the risks in the local community. External professionals speak positively about the management team’s knowledge of the area risks. This multi-agency communication enables informed decisions to be made about the suitability of children moving into the home.

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

The registered manager left the home in October 2025. They did not lead the home effectively, which resulted in the staff team not receiving the appropriate training, supervision and guidance. As a result, the care and protection provided to the child was not consistent or delivered in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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

Having identified shortfalls, the home’s responsible individual and a peripatetic manager have acted promptly to make improvements. A detailed review of the home was completed that included reflective discussions with staff. As a result, the management team devised a comprehensive action plan that is being effectively implemented. This Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 4 provides assurances that leaders and managers are taking the care and protection of children seriously.

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

The peripatetic manager, who is currently managing the home, is experienced, child focused and organised. Staff speak positively about her support and the changes that are being made to develop their knowledge and practice. Staff particularly value the good-quality supervisions and enhanced training they are now receiving.

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

The management team has developed effective monitoring systems to review the progress of children and staff practice in the home. For example, following a visit by the home’s independent visitor, new systems have been implemented to check the safety of children’s bedrooms and to provide staff with safe spaces to keep their personal belongings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 31 December 2025

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 6 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and 31 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 7 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure arrangements are made for children to be provided with education and outdoor activities, in line with the statement of purpose. Also, that staff receive suitable training, supervision and support to enable them to have the necessary skills to provide consistent care to children.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a 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: 2821705 8

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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 B63 4AH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Agata Dokszewicz

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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2821705 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 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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