Children's Home run by Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited in Plymouth

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . This children’s home provides highly personalised and nurturing care. The registered manager leads by example and is respected by young people and staff alike. Young people are at the heart of decision making. Their views are valued and they are supported to become more confident, considered, safe and resilient. Young people say they enjoy living at this home and that they feel safe and secure. They can talk to staff and know that they will be listened to. Young people have highly personalised bedrooms that reflect their characters, and staff provide excellent support so that young people can pursue their wide-ranging interests. Relationships between staff and young people are excellent. The majority of staff have recently had specialist training that focuses on playfulness, acceptance,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

curiosity and empathy. The manager describes it as ‘the best training I have ever had’ and feels that staff have really benefited from it. In turn, young people are benefiting from staff who are confident and compassionate in their practices. There is an open and two-way dialogue between adults and young people. In this way, young people learn to form positive attachments and learn how to trust. They feel supported to move on from personal difficulties and to develop aspirations for their future. There is a lovely atmosphere in the home and a sense of playfulness. Young people are encouraged to have fun and enjoy hobbies, such as creative activities and pet care. Staff show an excellent insight into the impact that past experiences, especially during early life, have on young people’s behaviour and their responses to different situations and people. Staff take a sensitive approach and work positively to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

overcome difficulties. The staff team receives regular clinical supervision from a clinical psychologist. This is a fairly recent and welcomed introduction that is helping to improve staff confidence and consistency in their approach with young people. While staff have completed basic online adolescent mental health training, the manager is hoping to source more advanced training in order to ensure that staff are fully skilled to meet the needs of the young people in their care. There is a real sense of progress at the home since the full inspection in June. While there have been a variety of challenges, staff have pulled together and have been successful in keeping very child focused. Two new young people have been admitted to the home. While their needs are very different, thorough pre-admission assessments were carried out and they have settled really well together. Staff enjoy responding to the young people’s diverse needs and staff are able to draw on

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their range of good parenting skills. Effective partnership working with placing authorities continues to be a strength of the home, resulting in young people’s needs being addressed appropriately. For example, careful decision making takes place around education and keeping young people safe. Good progress has been made with staff securing their level 3 diploma in residential childcare. All staff have either achieved this qualification or are at various stages of completion. A new and holistic life skills programme is due to be introduced with young people, which will identify individual targets and evidence their progress. A schedule of work, including the redecoration and refurbishment of the home and garden, has also been agreed. The manager has responded well to the requirements of the full inspection. Staff recruitment records throughout the company are being audited to ensure that they fully comply with regulations. The manager’s review of quality has also been under

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

review in the company and a new template is to be used for the next report, which is due shortly. The manager is aware of the importance of reflecting on what has gone well, but also what lessons have been learned from things that have not gone as well as they could have. Good progress has been made in supporting staff to achieve professional qualifications and, while the manager has not yet completed his level 5 qualification, there have been mitigating circumstances and plans are in place for this to be pursued. The independent visitor reports are thorough and much valued by the manager as he identifies priority areas for further improvement. The reports, however, do not always explicitly give the opinion of the visitor as to whether young people are effectively safeguarded, and whether the conduct of the home promotes their well-being.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, (Regulation 13, 2(c)) the registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. In particular, this is in reference to training in adolescent mental health. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and whether the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b)) 30/04/2017

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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