Children's Home run by Keys QTC Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 1 Registered provider: Keys QTC 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

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care and short-term specialist support for up to 4 children. The home's statement of purpose explains that in addition to the registered home, children also use a variety of off-site accommodation as part of an outdoor adventure activity programme.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children's home

Thirteen children have lived at this home and their experiences were considered as part of this inspection. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home. One was at the home; they were seen but they declined to speak to the inspector. Two were staying in off-site accommodation. Both were spoken to via a video call.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/07/2025 Full Good 23/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2023 Full Good 15/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 3

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from a wide range of outdoor and adventure-based activities. These experiences help to build their confidence and self-esteem.

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Summary of findings

Staff support children to reflect on previous risk-taking behaviours and help them to develop strategies to reduce the likelihood of these behaviours recurring. As a result, many children make good progress and demonstrate a reduction in risk-taking behaviours.

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Summary of findings

Education is promoted effectively. Children engage in learning opportunities and achieve relevant qualifications.

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Summary of findings

Monitoring and oversight by managers, both in the home and in the off-site accommodation, are not consistently robust. As a result, staff practice is variable. Staff do not always apply a therapeutic approach in their work with children and, on occasion, use language that is institutional in nature.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at this home often only stay for 12 weeks. Despite the time-limited nature of children's stays, staff promote a sense of stability for children. Children are cared for by a consistent staff team. Staff help children to personalise their rooms and involve children in decisions about their time at the home and future plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Many of the shortfalls identified at this visit relate to one child and how staff have not been able to use their skills effectively to form positive relationships and help the child to engage in the programme of support offered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children have a positive experience of living at the home and make progress. Children report that they enjoy the wide range of activities available to them. These opportunities support the development of their social skills and confidence as well as enabling them to explore new interests and hobbies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager plans moves into the home well using information provided by placing authorities, as well as from other professionals, families and children. When information from placing authorities is delayed, the manager provides appropriate challenge to ensure that the new information is considered and that any potential impact on staff's ability to meet the aims of the child's care plan is fully considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children experience difficulties settling or engaging with the home's programme of support, the manager works with the placing authority to help children understand the benefits of the support offered. Where it is assessed that staff are unable to meet a Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 4 child's needs, the manager takes appropriate action and, where necessary, informs the placing authority that they cannot meet the needs of the child and end the placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote learning. Many children achieve a range of qualifications, including vocational awards, and develop new skills. Children's achievements are celebrated, for example, through graduation events, which give children a strong sense of accomplishment. As a result, many children are motivated to continue their education and learning after leaving the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with family and friends, where appropriate. When visits do not go as planned, staff talk with placing authorities to review and adapt plans to promote more-positive experiences for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with information and support on maintaining good health through targeted direct work. This includes support around sexual health, the importance of regular dental care and medication management. When delays occur in accessing prescribed medication, the manager escalates concerns to relevant professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On occasions, staff have not consistently promoted healthy eating. For example, one child is not always supported to maintain a balanced diet. At times, they consume limited food, relying on takeaway or convenience meals and, through their choice, having long gaps between meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves from the home are well planned and children are involved in decisions about their futures. For many children, the experiences provided by the home contribute to improved outcomes and increased aspirations.

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

Children are cared for by high staffing ratios and, where needed, stay in off-site accommodation that prioritise their safety. The manager ensures that any off-site accommodation used by children is subject to appropriate checks and ongoing monitoring. This includes routine visits to confirm that properties are safe, suitably maintained and meet children's needs.

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

Staff work with children to reflect on previous risk-taking behaviours. Through direct work, children are supported to develop the knowledge and skills needed to keep themselves safe. For most children, this has led to a reduction in risk-taking behaviours and has enabled them to move on to family homes, other children's homes or more- independent living arrangements.

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

Staff engage children in a broad range of outdoor activities, including mountain biking and paddleboarding. These activities are appropriately risk assessed, and staff hold the necessary training and qualifications to ensure that children are supported safely.

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

Some children have gone missing, either when in the company of staff or during time with family or friends. When this occurs, staff follow agreed missing protocols, take Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 5 appropriate action to locate children and work to ensure their safe return at the earliest opportunity.

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

At times, children's behaviours require staff to use physical intervention to keep them safe. This is used proportionately and as a last resort. When practice does not fully reflect training, this is addressed through reflection and discussion, with consideration given to alternative approaches.

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

The manager ensures that staff receive training in behaviour management, therapeutic approaches and models of care. However, some staff are not yet consistently confident in applying this learning in practice. On occasion, this has resulted in a lack of professional curiosity and insufficient adherence to children's plans. For example, one child was able to purchase items they should not and arrange to be collected by an unknown individual. Although the child did not come to harm, this shortfall in staff's practice placed the child at potential risk.

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

Concerns about staff practice are recorded, reported and investigated. Where required, staff receive additional guidance and training, and appropriate action is taken, including dismissal, when necessary.

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

The home is led by a permanent, registered manager who is supported by 2 deputies. The manager has delegated aspects of oversight to the deputy managers, who monitor practice and provide feedback on children's progress.

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

Monitoring and oversight arrangements are not consistently robust. This inspection identified that staff practice does not always reflect the training and guidance provided by managers. Staff are not consistently applying a therapeutic approach in their interactions with children and, on occasion, use language that is institutional in nature. These shortfalls have not always been identified or addressed promptly by managers. This is, in part, due to the challenges associated with overseeing practice across remote locations and the limited frequency of management visits to directly observe staff practice.

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

Staff benefit from a range of learning opportunities, including online training and face-to- face sessions. The manager has developed and delivered additional training during team meetings, incorporating presentations, scenario-based learning and quizzes. However, this learning is not yet fully embedded in practice, and inconsistencies remain in how staff apply their knowledge and skills.

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

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and report that they feel supported by managers. However, some staff describe feeling anxious when managing behaviours that challenge, which indicates that further support and development are required to build confidence and ensure consistent, effective responses from staff. Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 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

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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff understand children's presenting risks and behaviours and have the confidence to manage those behaviours appropriately. In addition, staff should help children to understand why action is taken to keep them safe and understand risks along with strategies to keep themselves safe. 31 July 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— 31 July 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to management oversight and monitoring of staff practice. That all staff use a nurturing and therapeutic approach to care. That they do not use institutional language and staff maintain professionalism at all times.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand and, where necessary, work to change negative behaviours in nutrition and healthy diet. Specifically, that children who are reluctant eaters are encouraged to eat regular, healthy meals and snacks and that they do not go for prolonged periods without eating. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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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: 1280578 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Third Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspectors

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Jane Anstis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1280578 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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