Children's Home run by Keys Direct Care Limited in West NorthamptonshireOfsted inspection, 7 Oct 2026

Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 1 SC430587 Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for 4 children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Four children were living at the home at the time of 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 outstanding

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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: 4 November 2025

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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: SC430587 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2025 Full Good 31/07/2024 Full Good 11/10/2023 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 3

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Summary of findings

Children are provided with opportunities to share their views, and staff practice is adapted in line with each child’s wishes and needs. Staff are confident in managing risk and use the home’s therapeutic model effectively. Leaders and managers maintain strong communication with agencies and families. Children have made progress from their individual starting points. Leaders and managers are passionate about their role in keeping children safe and providing positive experiences and this is reflected in the care children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and provides a sense of each child living there. Children choose furnishings and the decor for their rooms and show pride in this. One child’s room has some damage to the ceiling from a leak. Leaders and managers have been proactive in taking action to address this. However, further work is needed to ensure that the bedroom remains a safe and suitable space for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from trauma-informed and reflective care. Key work and general discussions with children are planned to ensure that they meet each child’s individual communication needs. This is done using external resources and workbooks, through arts and crafts, on car journeys and during activities. This promotes children’s engagement and staff’s ability to gather children’s views, wishes and feelings. This meaningful approach was reflected in feedback from children, professionals and parents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive behaviour is promoted through the consistent use of praise and incentives. When consequences are used, these are proportionate and relevant to the presenting behaviour. Children benefit from a reflective and restorative approach to behaviour management. One education professional said staff provided ‘valuable insight’ into managing a child’s behaviours and the strategies that could be used to prevent escalation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are enrolled in education provision aligned with their needs. Two children have made notable progress with their education. When children are not in full-time education, managers identify tutors and staff complete learning tasks with them. There is good communication with education professionals, which supports children to improve their engagement with learning and ensures that the right placements are identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the home are well managed. Conversations are held with relevant agencies and the staff team to ensure that the home is equipped to meet the needs of children moving in. Risks are balanced, taking into account staff’s abilities and the potential impact on other children living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 4 One child moved out earlier than expected. This was a decision made by all involved in the child’s care and was done in a planned way. Learning has been identified, to be used when any children move into the home in the future.

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

Concerns around self-injury are managed well, with detailed discussions taking place with the provider’s in-house therapist and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Staff have open dialogue with children so they have a good understanding of their wishes and feelings and can ensure that the appropriate support is in place. Risks are clearly captured in children’s plans and staff follow the strategies in place to keep children safe.

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

Children’s rooms are searched when necessary to ensure their safety. Records show the reasons for the search, what was found and any items removed. Staff have sensitive discussions with children about room searches and provide clear reasons why the search has taken place. Children’s views are captured in these records.

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

Physical interventions are clearly recorded, and the registered manager provides oversight. Records demonstrate that interventions are used proportionately and when necessary to safeguard children and those around them.

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

When missing-from-home incidents occur, staff maintain contact with the child, search for them and inform relevant agencies and family members. Incidents are dealt with effectively in line with children’s plans. Incidents are reviewed thoroughly and any increasing risks are identified, and children’s plans are updated. Multi-agency working is effective. The registered manager seeks guidance from external professionals when required to ensure that incidents continue to be managed safely.

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

Children spend safe, good-quality time with family and friends. When concerns arise during family time, staff are proactive in managing this to ensure that the arrangements in place remain appropriate. One child is under a shared care arrangement, and the manager works closely with their family to ensure that they are working together and providing consistency to the child.

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

Allegations against staff are managed efficiently and effectively by leaders and managers. Staff know the whistleblowing procedures and confidently follow these when required. Children are updated throughout investigations, and their views are clearly recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is experienced and has the relevant qualification. He has strong aspirations for children living in the home. He is passionate about creating a happy and safe environment and is supported by a team of dedicated staff who share the same ambition. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 5 The registered manager works closely with other agencies to advocate for children. One professional described the manager as ‘effective in representing and communicating the child’s views when they have felt unable to, ensuring that their voice remains central to planning and decision-making’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Learning from incidents is addressed through detailed and child-focused single-subject supervisions. Staff also receive regular, reflective and effective formal supervision, attend team meetings and have additional training to support their needs. Appraisals are detailed and identify staff’s strengths and areas for development. Staff feel they have a safe space to learn, and this helps them to make and sustain changes. Feedback from staff is extremely positive. Staff say that they are proud to work for the home and that the training offered helps them to provide consistent care and for them to develop in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual has a strong presence in the home. He is familiar to children and, where appropriate, involves them in organisational matters. He facilitates opportunities to meet with staff from other homes in the organisation to share their views about recruitment and what they need from adults around them. This feedback informs recruitment processes and ensures children’s views are heard. One child spoke positively about this, saying they felt listened to and have been able to create friendships outside of the home and school.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers maintain strong oversight of the home. The responsible individual provides oversight of serious incidents and any physical interventions involving the registered manager. This ensures there is accountability and an open culture for learning. When learning is identified, including shortfalls identified by the independent visitor, managers work closely with staff to provide the appropriate training and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Strong working relationships have been built with external agencies, including police and the local authority designated officer. When allegations have been made and are unfounded, the impact on the staff team is recognised and managed through open conversations in supervisions, team meetings and sessions with psychologists when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recruitment checks are thorough and ensure that staff are safe to work with children. The induction process assesses competencies and focuses on new staff completing relevant tasks and training within their probation period. Staff have completed mandatory training and undertake additional learning that reflects children’s specific needs. All staff spoke positively about the in-depth training available to support them in their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that repairs to the home, particularly to the ceiling in one child’s bedroom, are dealt with efficiently and escalated when required to ensure a timely response. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC430587 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keys Direct Care Limited

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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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Inspector

Hannah Shoreson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC430587 8 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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