Children's Home run by Keys Care Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 1 SC370899

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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 and managed by a private provider and registered to provide care for 3 children who may have social and emotional needs. At the time of inspection, 2 children were living in the home, and the inspector spoke with both children. A child moved into the home on the second day of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left recently, and the deputy manager has stepped up into this role. The inspection was supported by the manager and the responsible individual.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 18 November 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection: none

Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2025 Full Good 04/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/06/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 3

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Summary of findings

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and how to support them. Children benefit from clear and detailed plans that help staff to keep them safe and support their progress. Staff work effectively with social workers, education providers, health professionals and other agencies so that children can access the specialist support they need. Children are listened to, involved in decisions about their lives and supported to develop their interests and independence. Positive relationships between children and staff help children to feel settled and able to seek support when they are worried.

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Summary of findings

There have been shortfalls in the management of the home. These contributed to instability within the team and some inconsistency in staff practice. Leaders and managers have begun to address the identified weakness and improve oversight.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. The inspector saw and spoke with the children who were living at the home. Children receive individualised care. Their plans are regularly updated, which helps staff to understand how to meet children’s needs. These plans, alongside conversations, is helping children to understand what is happening in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their views and are involved in decision-making about their care and day-to-day experiences. When children’s requests cannot be accommodated, staff explain the reasons and explore appropriate alternatives with them. This helps children to feel listened to and understand the decisions made by adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported when moving into or leaving the home. One child moved in during the inspection. The manager had carefully considered the child’s needs and prepared staff for their arrival. The child’s bedroom was welcoming and included a pack containing essential items. The preparation helped the child to experience a reassuring and positive start to living at the home. One child’s move out of the home was carefully planned and supported by a trusted member of staff. Staff write individualised plans in a child-friendly format.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and has recently been refurbished. It is maintained to a good standard and provides children with a comfortable, welcoming and relaxed environment. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to a high standard and personalised to their individual preferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional health needs are met. Staff support children to attend their health appointments and access the services they need. Children are encouraged to Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 4 pursue their hobbies and interests, giving them opportunities to develop their confidence and enjoy positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the value of education and support children to attend regularly. Leaders and managers have advocated for one child to have an adaptation to their timetable to meet their needs and to support regular attendance.

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

Staff understand children’s needs and respond promptly. Children's individual plans are thorough, providing clear and effective strategies that staff use to support each child's daily care, progress and unique needs.

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

Children feel safe in the home and can identify trusted adults they can approach for support and advice. Staff take appropriate action when safeguarding concerns arise. For example, when information indicating a potential risk to a child was shared by a family member, staff immediately informed the police and the child’s social worker. This response demonstrates a transparent safeguarding culture, where children’s welfare is prioritised.

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

Staff use de-escalation strategies to reduce conflicts and, where necessary, use physical intervention to prevent harm. However, staff responses during incidents lacked consistency. Delays in responses reduced the effectiveness of interventions and contributed to one child feeling that staff were running away from them. Records show that managers review these incidents and children are offered the opportunity to discuss their experience afterwards. However, opportunities to fully evaluate the incidents and response strategies were not utilised.

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

Leaders and managers take appropriate action in response to allegations and concerns about staff and other professionals. Concerns have been shared with safeguarding professionals and steps have been taken to safeguard the children involved.

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

Staff support children to understand how to keep themselves safe online. Appropriate monitoring systems are in place and staff regularly discuss online risks with children. Staff engage children in conversations about how to keep themselves safe. The manager offers training and workshops around emerging areas of risk to ensure that staff have the necessary skills to keep children safe.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and actively search for them in line with their individual plans. However, management reviews identified inconsistencies in the recording and communication during one incident. Although staff’s actions were focused on safeguarding, the child’s records did not consistently show evidence of the rationale for decisions made or consultations with the managers.

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

Four minor medication errors were identified. Managers have since updated working practices and established safety measures to safeguard children. These concerns are Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 5 currently being investigated by the provider. This shows a willingness to learn from incidents and strengthen safeguarding arrangements.

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

Safer recruitment processes are in place, which help to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is familiar to the staff and children because she previously worked in the home as the deputy manager. The staff feel supported and one staff member said, ‘She is one of the best managers I’ve had.’ Staff report that they are supported by their manager and by each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings take place, which are creative and well attended. These meetings discuss the child’s needs and progress. The home is trying to use a love-led care approach by using more child- centred language. The manager provides clear actions and expectations for staff to follow.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work positively and proactively with other professionals to secure positive outcomes for children. Feedback from professionals is consistently positive. Internal monitoring and quality assurance processes are in place, enabling the leadership team to know the strengths of the home and the areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff attend regular training and development opportunities and meet frequently with the therapeutic lead. There is also support from external agencies and professionals. For example, a police liaison officer helps the home to chase any matters related to the police. This helps the manager to discuss with professionals the child’s specific needs and how best to support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes a positive culture within the home. Staff say they are supported and confident to raise concerns, share ideas and discuss any issues openly with the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The absence of the previous manager during this review period had a detrimental impact on staff morale, and staff report that this had an impact on their practice with the children. The lack of consistency in staff responses ultimately affected children’s sense of safety and security. As a result, children experienced inconsistent care and support, which led them to feel unsafe. Leaders and managers identified these concerns and took action to make improvements around the day-to-day management arrangements of the home and support for the staff team. These changes have been effective in improving the quality and consistency of care and management oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 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 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—

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(f)(h)) 22 October 2026

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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: SC370899 7

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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

Jibin Vakanil, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC370899 8 regulates and inspects 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 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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