Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 1 SC009651 Registered provider: Keys Child Care Ltd

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Inspected under the Social Care Common Inspection Framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 4 children who may have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, 4 children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to all the children during this inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2026 Full Good 13/03/2025 Full Outstanding 14/11/2023 Full Outstanding 29/11/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 3

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Summary of findings

Children living in the home make good progress, including in school.

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Summary of findings

Staff listen to children, and they understand children’s behaviours. Relationships between children are improving through direct work to support children to understand kindness and respect.

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Summary of findings

There have been no missing-from-home incidents or complaints since the last inspection. When children are physically held, holds are proportionate and the frequency of incidents is reducing for each child.

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Summary of findings

The home is managed by a dedicated manager and staff speak about children with warmth. Staff benefit from regular reflective supervision and team meetings, which are contributed to by children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved to another home run by the same company, and one child has moved in. The moves into and out of the home were well planned and child centred. The child who has moved in has made good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with consistent care. This helps children feel settled. Family members and professionals are positive about the care that staff provide for children. One social worker said, ‘They have made excellent progress and present as a happy, settled and thriving child.’ This demonstrates that the manager and staff are providing children with consistent and effective care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is decorated and furnished to a good standard, creating a welcoming and homely feel. Photos of the children and staff are displayed throughout the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual preferences and are decorated with their own possessions, helping them to develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide variety of activities such as football and Scouts. Children enjoy holidays individually and together. These are risk assessed, and children have positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their family and friends. Staff support children to visit family members. This includes children’s families who live a far distance from home. This supports children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 4 Staff prioritise children’s education. Children attend school full time and have good attendance. This demonstrates that staff support children’s ongoing learning and development effectively.

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

Staff endeavour to understand children’s behaviours, and they focus on this in discussions with children. Staff reward children’s positive behaviour. As a result, children are beginning to understand the boundaries in place to support them.

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

Staff use the PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) model of care to support children when they are upset. This helps to prevent incidents from escalating. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to ensure the safety of children and staff. Children are spoken to promptly following any incidents, enabling them to reflect and share their views. One child said that they understand why they need to be held, and they talk to staff afterwards. Records of physical intervention contain all the required information in line with regulatory requirements.

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

There have been incidents of verbal and physical aggression between children. Staff support children to improve relationships with peers. This has resulted in fewer incidents.

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

The children’s risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans are updated on a regular basis. The children’s risk assessments include new information. This ensures that staff have up-to-date information about the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. This ensures that strategies to keep the children safe are effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring and ambitious manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager advocates well for the children. The manager and staff speak about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a well-trained staff team. Staff receive training to meet children’s individual needs. The organisation’s therapeutic team provides specific training to improve staff practice, for example training in relation to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. This provides them with the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their practice. A member of staff stated, ‘During my supervisions, I feel massively supported by the management team. If I have any issues or concerns, I feel comfortable taking these to my supervisor or manager, and know that I can speak openly and will be supported. I feel that anything I raise is dealt with professionally and in the correct way.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 5 Staff attend team meetings where children’s views are shared from the children’s meetings. This supports staff development and ensures children’s views are listened to. Children receive feedback after the meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff maintain effective relationships with relevant professionals. This helps staff to provide children with a coordinated approach to meeting children’s needs. This contributes to staff providing children with consistent care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 6

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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: SC009651 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Child Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC009651 8 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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