Children's home run by Phoenix Child Care Limited in North Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 1 SC066179 Registered provider: Phoenix Child Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company which operates a number of other children’s homes in the south west of England. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 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

Date of last inspection: 12 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people who previously experienced multiple moves are settled in the home and making progress. This is due to the trusting and nurturing relationships that the manager and staff build with young people who were not engaged by other carers in the past. Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 2  Young people take fewer risks. Incidents of young people going missing are rare. The use of physical restraint is also rare and only ever used as a very last resort, to ensure the safety of the young people or others. Risks are well managed by the staff. The young people are learning how to keep themselves safe when using social media.  Young people moving into and on from the home is well managed. There is effective communication between the staff at the home and other professionals and agencies, such as the police and safeguarding professionals.  The physical and emotional healthcare needs of the young people are fully met.

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Key findings from this inspection

The young people all now receive support for their emotional needs willingly, having not done so previously.  The young people are all in full-time education and making progress. One young person, who previously refused to attend school prior to coming to live at the home, achieved nine GCSE examination passes in the summer. Other young people, who previously refused to engage with education and who have experienced many exclusions and changes of school, are all settled and regularly attending school.  There is a settled and consistent staff team that benefits from clear leadership from an experienced and skilled manager.  The house offers a homely, well-maintained and warm environment for the young people. Bedrooms are personalised. The young people benefit from learning to care for the pet cats who live at the home.  Feedback from placing social workers is very positive. One placing social worker

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Key findings from this inspection

said: ‘The home have given my young person stability for the first time after lots of placement breakdowns ... there is nothing they could do better, I cannot fault them.’

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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

 Risk assessments are not always updated promptly in line with progress. One young person complained that she was not able to use a spray deodorant. This was because of an incident in her previous home. Her progress has not been taken into account.  Young people do not always sign to demonstrate whether they are satisfied with the outcome of a complaint.  The children’s guide is presented in a child-friendly format. However, it does contain a long list of rules and regulations of the home that would not reassure a young person that they were coming to a warm and welcoming home. Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 09/11/2016 Full Inadequate 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 4

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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

Ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

In particular; that the young people comment and sign the records detailing the outcome of any complaints they make, to evidence that they are satisfied with the outcome. (Regulation 39(3)) 31/01/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that when it is individually risk assessed as not safe for a young person to use a spray deodorant, that the reason for reaching this decision is carefully explained to and understood by the young person concerned. The decision should be regularly reviewed in line with the progress that the young person is making. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9)  Ensure that the children’s guide is available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed and must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to ensure they understand it; in particular, that it does not contain excessive rules of the house. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.11)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people make progress as a result of living in a home that provides a calm and nurturing environment. The staff build effective, nurturing and trusting relationships with the young people and ensure that the young people do well and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are all settled at the home. One young person has lived there for more than two years, one for over one year and one for eight months. This is significant progress for all of them. After coming into care, they have all experienced a series of carers who were unable to manage their risk-taking behaviour. The staff at this home have succeeded where others have failed. The young people were observed to speak Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 5 freely and openly with the manager and staff, evidencing trusting relationships. There is a good use of appropriate humour and honesty between the young people and the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person has left the home since the last inspection. They successfully moved on to an independent living situation. The staff remain in contact with this young person and others who have left the home. The young people benefit from clear plans that detail what the objectives and aims of their time at the home are and what they are working towards. Two of the young people are working towards moving out of the home in the near future. The staff help them learn the practical skills they will need, such as cooking, washing and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the young people are settled at schools or a college that meets their educational needs. One young person achieved nine passes in their GCSE examinations in the summer. They have now gone on to a vocational course at a local college. Other young people are settled at a school, which is a big achievement for them, following multiple changes of schools prior to coming to live at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of the home is how staff nurture the young people, who in the past have rejected nurture and have been difficult for carers to reach and support. The staff help the young people to dress their hair and nails, play board games and watch films sitting on the sofa with them. When the young people are poorly, the staff look after them with a blanket on the sofa and bring them tea and juice. These actions ensure that the young people feel cared for and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of an established daily routine. Routines run smoothly in the home and the young people generally get along well with each other. Any disagreement or potential bullying is swiftly addressed by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff help the young people to settle in their bedrooms at night. They sit and chat in the bedrooms and offer reassurance to the young people. One young person, who when they came to the home refused to settle at bedtime, now does so. They are allowed to choose a member of staff to sit with them before they go to sleep and have a comfort blanket. This helps them feel secure and safe so that they are able to go to sleep on time. When one young person arrived at the home, they would not allow the staff to touch them. Now they happily accept a hug before bedtime and will sit on the sofa with their feet across the staff’s legs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthcare needs are fully met at the home. Incidents of self-harming have reduced. The young people benefit from eating a healthy diet. Since coming to the home, one young person has lost weight and is now taking pride in their appearance. Another young person is now independent with their personal care. The company psychologist and local mental health services offer the young people regular sessions. This is now being accepted by all of the young people, who previously refused to engage with support services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are encouraged and supported by the staff to give their views formally at house meetings, in one-to-one sessions and informally at other times. The young Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 6 people choose the decoration for their bedrooms, what meals to cook, and where to go on holiday. The house is well decorated, clean and warm. The young people learn to care for pets by looking after the two pet cats who live at the home. The home is rurally situated and has large gardens where the young people learn to grow vegetables.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A relative of one of the young people commented on the positive change in their young person. They said: ‘I was surprised with how good their behaviour was when there was a disagreement between the other children. She was calm, happy and no swearing.’ Another young person said: ‘I don’t want to leave here, I want to stay here until I get my own flat.’

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

The young people spoken with during the inspection all reported that they felt safe living at the home. They could name a member of staff they could speak to if they felt worried or unsafe. Young people with a previous history of extreme risk-taking behaviour are no longer putting themselves at risk. The staff are very vigilant and make sure that they know who the young people are associating with when they are on free time out of the home. The trusting relationships that the young people have built with the staff ensure that if they are worried about or have been involved in any unsafe behaviour, they will tell the staff. One placing social worker reported: ‘The staff are doing all they can to keep [the young person] safe.’

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

Comprehensive risk assessment processes and documents ensure that the staff have clear strategies and control measures in place to guide their practice and keep the young people safe. One young person complained to the inspector that she was unable to have a spray deodorant. Risks associated with an incident at a previous home are documented and it was concluded that it was not safe, although there had been no incidents of unsafe use since the young person came to the home. The young person did not understand the reasons why she was unable to have a spray deodorant and the risk assessment had not been updated in line with her progress.

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

The young people are fully involved in any searches of their room. They give consent and can express their views if they disagree with the search, but the search is deemed necessary because of an identified safeguarding risk.

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

The manager and staff have strong links with safeguarding professionals. Any safeguarding incidents are promptly reported to the relevant safeguarding authorities, including the designated officer. The staff closely monitor the young people’s use of the internet and social media sites. There is an appropriate balance in the home between allowing the young people, who will soon be leaving the home to live independently, to take controlled risks so they are able to learn from their mistakes, and keeping them safe.

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

The young people know how to complain and said that any complaint they make will be taken seriously. Records of complaints evidence that they are comprehensively investigated and the outcomes recorded. However, on two occasions, the outcome of a Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 7 complaint made by a young person was not signed by them to evidence that they were satisfied with the outcome.

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

The use of physical restraint in the home is very rare. The staff are all trained in an accredited physical restraint technique and are fully aware that it is only to be used as a very last resort to ensure the safety of a young person and others. All of the young people living at the home have previously experienced multiple moves due to foster carers being unable to manage their behaviour safely. As a result of trusting relationships built with the staff, all of the young people are benefiting from being settled in the home for the longest time they have experienced since coming into care.

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

The staff ensure that the young people understand the clear and consistent boundaries and rules of the home. A placing social worker said: ‘The home are good at maintaining the boundaries. Consistent and firm.’ Positive behaviour is encouraged through rewards, not excessive sanctions.

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

Staff recruitment procedures are comprehensive and ensure that only suitable persons are employed in the home.

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

The young people and staff know what to do in the event of a fire. The fire safety officer very recently visited the home and issued a positive report with no recommendations regarding fire safety. Health and safety are well managed at the home to promote the safety of the young people and the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is very experienced, qualified and has managed the home for five years. Alongside the registered individual, she provides clear and consistent leadership to the staff team. It is clear that she is in full control of the home and the young people gain a sense of security from her consistent presence and clear leadership. The staff speak positively about the manager. One member of staff said: ‘She has the respect of the staff team... she is really good to work for, child-focused, clear leadership. She interacts with the children, and is not just based in the office. She role models for the newer staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that routines run smoothly in the home. The staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Robust disciplinary procedures mean that only suitable and skilled staff are employed in the home. Following a period of understaffing due to staff vacancies, there has been a proactive recruitment drive. This has resulted in there now being only one vacancy and no use of agency staff. The home now has a stable and consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well supported by a deputy manager. There is clear succession planning. The deputy manager is enrolled on a new initiative from the company, ‘the aspiring managers programme’. This programme gives training and experience to talented staff who aspire to be the managers of the future. Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 8 Records are now more organised. Work was taking place during the inspection to lessen excessive paperwork and reduce the impact of the office in the house. The staff receive regular supervision from the manager and benefit from a programme of training that ensures that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to care for the young people. For example, recent training has been offered in therapeutic parenting and self-harm management. The staff are either qualified to level 3 in childcare or are enrolled to undertake the training to gain this qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager benefits from rigorous monthly visits from an independent person. He conducts a thorough audit each month and issues a report containing clear recommendations of the issues that the manager needs to address. The development plan details how the home intends to continuously improve. The manager understands the strengths and areas for improvement of the home and how she will address these. The manager promptly notifies Ofsted of any serious incidents. The requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection are met.

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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: SC066179 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 10 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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