Children's home run by Keys Specialist Residential Children‟s Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Registered provider: Keys Specialist Residential Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2018 and provides care for up to 2 children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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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 good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Outstanding 01/08/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience significant stability living in the home. One child has lived in the home for almost 7 years and another for 3 years. Managers have a thorough understanding of each child’s needs. This depth of knowledge informs exceptionally well-planned care, supported by the insight and guidance of the home’s clinical team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive high-quality care from staff who help them make remarkable progress and achieve significant successes in their lives. For example, managers and staff have provided extensive and focused support to help one child pursue their aspiration to join the Armed Forces. A proactive and persistent approach helped the child increase their fitness and learning to enhance their application outcome. Alongside this, managers have advocated strongly for the child to support their application. This has undoubtedly enabled the child to reach their career goal successfully.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children attend suitable education provisions, and they have achieved qualifications. Managers have strong relationships with education providers to ensure that each child receives the support they need to progress. For example, when one child’s needs increased at school, staff used a proactive and collaborative approach, which successfully prevented the need for the child to move schools and has reduced the likelihood of future police involvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff invest significant and meaningful time with the children to help them develop the skills needed for greater independence. One child described living in the home as ‘good’ and said that the adults looking after them are ‘doing a good job’. Children’s views are at the centre of practice and directly inform care planning. For instance, staff act on children’s views regarding family time arrangements. A child’s social worker said that the home is ‘exceptional’ at promoting and supporting these arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have access to a wide range of positive activities that reflect their interests. Children enjoy holidays and go-karting sessions, and they attend cadet groups. Photos and achievement certificates are collated to help children build their life story. The trusted and nurturing relationships children develop with staff contribute significantly to their ongoing progress.

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

Staff support and protect children well. They talk to children about the issues that affect their lives and help them overcome them. As a result, risks are reduced, and incidents are rare.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. On the two occasions when one child went missing for short periods, staff acted promptly to locate the child and encourage them to return home safely. Following incidents, staff increase safeguarding measures in line with Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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

any concerns for the child’s emotional wellbeing. Staff’s approaches to reduce risk are effective. There have been no children reported missing for over 12 months.

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

Staff have not had to use physical interventions over a sustained period. Staff use strategies to help children relax. A consistent approach helps children learn how to manage their emotions before incidents escalate.

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

Since the previous inspection, there have been no financial reparations implemented. Children receive consequences that are restorative in nature. For instance, staff invest time with the children to repair any damage together.

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

Staff support children in taking risks appropriate to their age and development. For example, a step-by-step approach has helped a child spend safe time with their friends in the community. However, some areas of the home environment have not been sufficiently reviewed to ensure that restrictions, such as knives locked away and window restrictors, are proportionate and do not unnecessarily limit the children’s developing independence.

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

Generally, children are healthy. Staff promote healthy routines and help children learn how to manage their self-care needs. However, the assessment and support required to help a child manage their over-the-counter vitamins have not been implemented in line with their growing independence.

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

Children have not raised any complaints or allegations since living at the home.

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

Recruitment systems are effective and reduce the risk of unsuitable individuals working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A dedicated, experienced and qualified registered manager leads the home. They provide highly effective planning that guides the exceptional care delivered to children. Their professional development informs this care to ensure that children continue to make outstanding progress. They advocate strongly for children. This is a strength of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An experienced deputy manager supports the home. They, and the registered manager, provide strong and visible direction to staff. They lead by example. Staff describe a strong leadership team that is supportive and approachable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research-informed practice underpins practice at the home. For example, a management methodology is used to make small changes over time to drive improvements in practice and support children’s progress. Additionally, the registered manager has completed specific therapeutic training to inform the care delivered to children. Staff are confident in applying their learning and training to enhance children’s care and experiences. All staff have achieved qualifications within the expected timescales, and many demonstrate Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

motivation to extend their learning to continually improve the care offered to children and to progress professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Systems to monitor the children’s development and progress are highly effective and supported by the home’s clinical team. Any emerging needs are identified swiftly, and robust targeted support is implemented. This ensures that children make consistently strong and sustained progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight is evident across records. Supervision and team meeting records are detailed. They demonstrate a relentless focus on children’s needs and continuous improvement in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback received is extremely positive about the home and highlights strong relationships developed with children and high-quality care that drives their exceptional progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment of the home are only made when it is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, properly recorded and kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that children who wish to keep and take their own medication receive the support they need to do so safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.16)

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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: 1277552 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Specialist Residential Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Keys Group, Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1277552 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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