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

Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 1 SC458811 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning And Care Ltd

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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 operated by a private provider of education and social care for children and young people. Care and accommodation is provided for up to two young people who have emotional and /or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 September 2017

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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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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 The individualised support provided to young people is of a good standard. This has had a significantly positive impact on the emotional well-being of one young person who currently lives at the home.  Risk management planning is overall of a good standard. This is further reinforced by good safeguarding practice. There are clear systems in place which demonstrate how safeguarding concerns are addressed effectively.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The admission process is not rigorous enough. This means that important preparation and planning for young people are not always completed in a timely manner.  The escalation of concerns regarding the practice of other professionals does not always follow the correct statutory guidance. This means the shortfalls in practice are not rigorously challenged in order to effect wider learning.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/06/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 3

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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, 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

In order to meet the engaging with wider systems standard, (Regulation 5(a), (b), (c), (d)) the registered person must ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs (see regulation 5(c)). Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. ( ‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 12, paragraph 2.8) This specifically includes using the correct escalation procedures in line with the ‘Working together to safeguard children’ document 2015, in order to ensure that the best interests of young people are

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard (Regulation 14 (2) (a), (b)) the registered person must challenge (under regulation 5(c)) any placing authority who asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current relevant plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without the necessary information would go ahead (in circumstances other than an emergency) is inadequate in relation to their role. It is essential that homes understand what will be required of them before they accept responsibility for a child’s placement, to avoid disruption and instability for the child in future and for other children in the home. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 56, paragraph 11.5) 18/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 4

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Recommendation

 The home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. Therefore care-planning and record-keeping systems must enable important information to be accessed easily. This includes ensuring that information is accessible to the young person which they can relate to. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The individualised support provided to young people is of a good standard. One young person has left the home since the last inspection. However, staff remain very supportive of this young person, providing outreach visits in order to maintain important relationships with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two young people living at the home currently. One of these young people is making significant progress regarding their ability to regulate their own emotions. They are fully engaged in education and receiving awards for excellent attendance and for the effort they are putting in with their studies. Staff have a good understanding of this young person’s needs. These include the need for clear boundaries, consistent routines and emotional support which is tailored to their specific needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The other young person has only been living at the home for a short period. This young person is finding it hard to settle. Staff are very aware of the need to provide unconditional positive regard for this young person in order to help them adjust to their new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are provided with varied opportunities to engage in activities of their choosing. These include visits to the local skate park, fishing trips, football club, a doll show, and a trip to Legoland. While these trips are not everyday occurrences, they are indicative of staff supporting young people to access experiences which are relevant to their individual interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is ensuring that the young persons’ views are accurately and consistently reflected to the relevant professionals. In addition, the registered manager is ensuring that a co-ordinated response to young people’s needs is promoted. This includes advocating for young persons with all of the relevant professionals; that is especially important, given the distance between the young people’s placing authority Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 5 and their home.

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

Risk management planning is overall of a good standard. This is further reinforced by good safeguarding practice. There are systems in place that demonstrate how safeguarding concerns are addressed effectively.

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

Young people are provided with clear and consistent boundaries. These are reinforced by nurturing care from staff. The approach to behaviour management is underpinned by praise and unconditional positive regard. Sanctions are used on a minimal basis only. This has had a significantly positive impact upon the emotional well-being of one young person.

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

One young person’s current care planning documentation was not obtained by the manager prior to the young person arriving at the home. The admission process is therefore not rigorous enough. However, the registered manager is aware of the severity of this matter and has taken action to ensure that all of the relevant information is available.

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

The correct statutory guidance is not always followed when escalating concerns regarding the practice of other professionals. This means that shortfall identified concerning the responsibilities of other professionals towards young people are not always appropriately challenged.

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

The registered manager ensures that the evolving needs of young people are consistently considered within care planning. This includes promoting the capacity of others to understand the rights and entitlements of young people, both practically and emotionally. Advocating for young people overall is of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear vision for improving the standard of care provided to young people at the home. A good system of ongoing analysis of the care already provided to young people is in place. The registered manager has identified ongoing areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager demonstrates a good understanding of the needs of young people. He promotes the importance of young people being provided with consistently positive care from a nurturing staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Record-keeping systems are not all streamlined and effective. This can make accessing important information in a timely manner difficult. This can led to confusion regarding which information is the most current.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision systems overall are good. However, not all supervision sessions are of a Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 6 consistently high standard. This means that not all practice issues are addressed effectively within this process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment processes are safe. However, duplication in recruitment files has caused some information to be missed within a second file. This can cause confusion regarding any actions which require completion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Mandatory training is up to date. The skills and knowledge of staff members are further enhanced by the provision of advanced training. This promotes the ability of staff to meet the varied needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The views of young people are not sought through formal meetings. However, the nurturing one-to-one sessions, which are consistently facilitated by staff for young people, demonstrate how these views are creatively sought. It is also very evident that young people are provided with a great deal of choice within their everyday lives. This includes food choices, activities and how they want to spend their free time.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC458811 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning And Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Phoenix Learning And Care Ltd, Rolle Quay, Barnstaple EX31 1JE

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Inspector(s)

Polly Soper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458811 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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