Children's Home run by Keys ACE Limited in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 1 SC420388 Registered provider: Keys ACE Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home, and they all were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that is alleged to have occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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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: 11 November 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 2 Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2025 Full Good 25/02/2025 Full Outstanding 06/02/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 4

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Summary of findings

An alleged serious safeguarding incident involving 2 children highlighted weaknesses in staff supervision and oversight of children. Known risks were not managed effectively, resulting in children’s experiences and stability in the home being adversely affected. Although the environment is generally spacious and personalised, communal areas require improvement, and progress to address this has been slow.

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from positive relationships with staff, receive good support in education and opportunities to develop their independence skills. However, safeguarding practice and behaviour support are not yet applied consistently or effectively. Leadership demonstrates commitment to improvement and is viewed positively by others, but expectations and guidance are not yet embedded across the team, meaning further progress is required to ensure safe, consistent and good-quality care.

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improvement to be good

An alleged serious safeguarding incident involving 2 children has had a significant and lasting impact on their overall experience while living at the home. As a result, one child’s placement ended earlier than intended, while another child remains subject to a police investigation. This incident has affected the overall stability and quality of care provided in the home and highlights areas for improvement

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improvement to be good

Communal areas require improvement, as décor is worn and furnishings are outdated. Although there are plans to address this, progress has been slow. The home remains spacious and tidy, with a large garden used regularly by the children. Bedrooms are personalised and generally well maintained, supporting comfort and individual preferences.

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improvement to be good

Children say that they enjoy living at the home and can approach staff if they have concerns or want to make a complaint. Interactions between staff and children are positive, demonstrating caring and respectful relationships. Staff demonstrate a commitment to supporting children and are willing to engage in challenging discussions when these are necessary to promote children’s welfare and understanding.

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improvement to be good

Education is promoted effectively. Children attend school regularly, and staff work closely with education providers to ensure there is consistent support, particularly when challenges arise. This approach has helped children to achieve important milestones, including completing examinations despite personal difficulties, and has encouraged aspirations for further education. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 5 Staff place an emphasis on developing independence, tailoring support to each child’s age and ability. Children are encouraged to build practical life skills such as travelling, shopping, budgeting and preparing meals. When concerns arise, staff adapt plans appropriately to reduce risk while continuing to guide children in making safer choices and understanding how to keep themselves protected.

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improvement to be good

An alleged safeguarding incident that had a significant impact on children occurred due to a lapse in staff supervision. While the incident is currently subject to a police investigation and is presented as isolated, both children involved had known vulnerabilities that had already been identified in their care plans and risk assessments. This means that the incident was foreseeable and could have been prevented if more effective supervision arrangements had been in place at the time.

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improvement to be good

When incidents occur, staff act to manage situations and maintain safety. They use a range of strategies to support children before considering physical intervention. Any physical intervention is brief and proportionate, and the manager reviews incidents to identify learning that then inform changes to the children’s care.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of children going missing from home are infrequent, but when they do happen, staff respond following agreed procedures. Relevant professionals are informed quickly, and efforts are made to locate the children as soon as possible. When they return, children are supported through conversations that are caring and reassuring, and return home discussions are completed when appropriate. On each occasion, children returned of their own accord.

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improvement to be good

The approach to managing children’s behaviour has shifted away from punitive responses towards helping children understand the impact of their actions. While this approach is still developing, there is growing consistency in how staff support children to reflect, repair relationships and move forward positively. The manager is actively promoting this practice across the team, and early signs show that this is beginning to influence daily care in a constructive way.

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

There has been a serious shortfall in ensuring that all staff, particularly those unfamiliar with the home and the children’s needs, are provided with an adequate handover of children’s risks and safety plans to deliver appropriate supervision of children. This has contributed to a serious incident between 2 children that is currently under investigation. This demonstrates the need for stronger management oversight and clearer direction to ensure staff consistently understand and act on identified risks.

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

The manager shows commitment to improving care and outcomes for children. They have a clear vision to develop the home environment and raise standards of care and Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 6 recording. Staff report that leadership has had a positive influence, and expectations are becoming more clearly understood, though further progress is required to embed this consistently.

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

Team meetings are focused on the current needs of the home and support information- sharing among staff. These are used to reinforce routines, clarify expectations and address areas for improvement. This supports more consistent practice following the serious safeguarding incident.

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

Supervision sessions provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and discuss any challenges. These meetings encourage open communication and focus on improving both individual and team performance. Attention is given to children’s experiences and staff relationships with children.

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

Feedback from external professionals is positive about the manager’s approach and developing leadership. They describe the manager as consistent and increasingly confident in their role. This reflects growing confidence from others working with the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 7

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b)) 18 September 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

promotes their welfare. 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 8 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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 18 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 9 meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(vii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that any wear and tear and any damage are repaired and redecorated swiftly.

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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: SC420388 10

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC420388 11 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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