Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Durham

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 1 SC423407 Registered provider: Keys Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to 8 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2017.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were 6 children living in the home at the time of the inspection, 2 of whom are placed away from the home temporarily. Four children were spoken with during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Some children have found the move from the inhouse school to college difficult. However, the manager has ensured that children have had the right support with the move, including the additional consideration of how to support them as they grow older and begin thinking about eventually moving on from the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager works with the relevant professionals to ensure that children move on from the home in a planned way where possible. When children have left the home following incidents, the manager and staff reflect on the reasons for this and how this could have been prevented. The manager understands the importance of working with children's families and the influence and effect that family members have on children. When children move out in an emergency, the manager and staff maintain contact with the child, their social worker and with the adults caring for them to help plan for the child.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

All children can identify members of staff that they have positive relationships with. Children say they feel confident talking to staff if they have any worries or requests. Staff encouraged children to express their wishes and feelings and respond accordingly, such as when a child requested to change bedrooms, this was enabled by staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff work with the therapeutic team to reflect on how they respond to the children. Managers and staff understand children's risks. However, risks for children have escalated. There have been increased concerns with children missing from home and concerns about children being at of harm from child exploitation. Staff have worked with safeguarding professionals and followed missing from home procedures effectively to manage these risks. However, for some children, risks have not reduced.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the pull factors that have led to children being away from the home. The manager has completed a review of the children's relationships with staff to be assured that there are no ongoing issues contributing to children staying away from the home. Additionally, the manager and staff work well with the other agencies to access and provide any additional support children need.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager completes a thorough suitability assessment to evaluate if staff can meet a child's needs and if children are compatible to live together. However, the manager does not always refer to the completed assessment to assure themselves that mitigation identified is in place to manage risks and is effective. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 3 Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager. Staff access training and development opportunities to broaden their knowledge and skills, including about child exploitation. Staff reflect on incidents through regular practice-related supervision sessions. The supervisor identifies practice issues, promotes reflection, and gives advice and support to the member of staff. The therapeutic team have supported staff to reflect on and work through the effect of the recent increase in missing and exploitation concerns for some of the children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager's oversight of incidents is evident. Additionally, scrutiny is provided through the independent person who makes relevant recommendations from their visits to the home. Some recommendations have been identified on more than one occasion and not satisfactorily addressed by the manager.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

There are gaps in recording for some incidents, and it is not always clear what actions staff have taken to safeguard children. The manager provided evidence of more detailed recording in a logbook and accepts that there needs to be more detail in incident reports. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/07/2025 Full Good 17/09/2024 Full Good 14/11/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping. When there are several documents relating to an event they should be clearly linked together. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans. They should ensure that all actions identified to reduce risk in an assessment of suitability continue to be used in line with the child's plans. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should make best use of information from independent monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. They should proactively implement recommendations made by the independent person to ensure good

p.5

Recommendations

practice. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/o Pinsent Masons Llp, The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 3LP

p.6

Inspectors

Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector (lead) Gary Smithson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC423407 7 to 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7