Children's home run by Keys Care Limited in Belfast

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 1 SC063883 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 operated. It provides care for up to 2 children, who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. Both children were spoken with.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2025 Full Good 13/03/2024 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Good 25/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy in the home and have good relationships with the staff, who provide warm and nurturing care. Staff create a welcoming, comfortable and homely environment for the children. One family member said their child is a ‘very happy child’ since they went to live at the home. When children move into or out of the home, there is careful planning and staff support children well during this time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have made good progress in their education. Attendance has improved and both children are in suitable provision that meets their needs. One child has been supported by staff to plan for their future and has attended a college open day. Staff understand the importance of education and provide learning opportunities if children are not in school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met and when previous health needs have not been met, action is taken promptly. Children make progress with their emotional wellbeing. When children are experiencing anger or frustration, staff help them to manage these feelings well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a wide variety of activities. Staff encourage children to spend time with their friends in the community. Staff make sure that the children have thorough records of their time in the home, with colourful memory books provided for each of them for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children see their family members regularly, and supervise these meetings when needed. This makes it more natural for the children and gives the staff a chance to build relationships with families. One child was taken to spend Christmas morning with their family, which made the day very special for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are listened to and valued, and children share their views openly with staff throughout their day. Children said that they have what they need in the home and that they can ask staff for anything they want. Children know how to complain, but this rarely happens. When there are complaints or allegations by children, they are taken seriously and dealt with promptly with thorough investigations by leaders and managers.

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

Children are safeguarded by staff in the home and children’s safety plans are easily understandable and clear to follow. Staff know the children well and are aware of the risks associated with each child. There are measures in place in the home to protect children online that help to keep children safer.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, the staff look for them, adhering at all times to the correct missing-from-home procedures. The children are Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 4 welcomed home and follow-up key-work sessions are carried out to try and reduce any further episodes of going missing.

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

When there is unwanted behaviour in the home, staff use their skills to manage this well. Clear behaviour management plans mean staff know what works well for each child. Children have their say in developing these plans themselves, ensuring that staff understand the ways each child wants to be helped when they feel distressed or angry. There are few formal consequences put in place, but when used, they are proportionate and directly related to the child’s behaviour.

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

If difficult behaviours lead to any physical intervention being needed, this is appropriately managed. The manager has oversight which facilitates learning to reduce recurrence. Conversations with those involved take place and the child is given the opportunity to reflect on what happened.

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

Door alarms are used in the home when assessed as a need. One child does not have a door alarm but the other child did. This child raised this with the manager, and after a discussion with the child, the manager agreed that the alarm was no longer needed. This outcome pleased the child as the alarm was bothering them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is central to the home and has a thorough understanding of the needs of the children, of what is working well and what needs to be improved. The manager is aspirational for the children in her care and works hard for them to have their needs met to the highest level. The manager wants to improve outcomes for children in her care. The manager is tenacious in ensuring that the children are properly supported by the right services, and advocates strongly on their behalf when there are shortcomings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The enthusiasm and positivity of the manager permeate through the staff team, and staff say they ‘love’ working at the home. Some staff have worked at the home for many years and the staff team is very stable and its members are supportive of each other. This creates a secure environment for the children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A highly effective deputy manager has moved on since the last inspection, but the manager has ensured that there has been a plan in place for succession from within the staff team. The new deputy manager has stepped effortlessly into the role with the manager’s encouragement and this has ensured the least disruption possible for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager inspires the staff to want to be the best that they can be. Staff are encouraged to carry out their own research projects. One member of staff introduced therapeutic play into the home. The member of staff researched therapeutic play in detail, completed training and then disseminated what they had learned to the staff team. This led to improved experiences for the children, and greater understanding of childhood trauma for the staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 5 Children’s families and involved professionals are positive about the home. Those spoken with said leaders, managers and the staff communicate effectively. This helps build positive working relationships and ensures that well-coordinated care is provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff are suitably qualified and that they complete relevant training to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need. Supervision sessions for staff take place regularly and are reflective. Staff say they feel that supervision sessions are helpful to them and feel able to talk about anything they need to. Additional services in the organisation, such as psychologists, are used well to provide ongoing, effective support to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised following this inspection.

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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: SC063883 6

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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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Inspector

Amy Groom, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC063883 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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