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

Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 1 SC463431 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning And Care Limited Interim 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. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Children can attend education at the provider’s school or through external provision.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The stability of the manager and staff team contributes to the safe and positive experiences for the young person who lives at this home. Since the previous inspection, there have been no changes to the staff team or to the young people who live here. As a consequence of the stability and good-quality care provided at this home, there have not been any significant incidents since the previous inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The decoration and furnishings of the home make it a warm, comfortable environment with very few indicators that it is a children’s home. The house is personalised with photographs, pictures and posters of the young person’s choice. Decisions about the running of the home frequently include the wishes and views of the young person as Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 2 they are invited to attend the staff meetings. The young person has had more storage for his bedroom and a new bed. More recently, a new couch has been chosen.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team advocate strongly for young people. Difficulties in gaining a full-time college placement have been supported well through a coordinated approach from different professionals. As a result, access to education, and the opportunity to mix with other teenagers, has greatly improved and continues to increase.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Many opportunities and experiences are provided. The young person has enjoyed a holiday and a trip to a premiership football match. There are regular trips to go swimming, to a gym, fishing and other personal interests. Team sports at college provide opportunities to be with other young people and form friendships.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The high level of support provided is embraced by the young person, forming some positive relationships with the manager and staff as they report he has grown in confidence and maturity. To make sure that staff know how to care for him, the young person devised a quiz to test staff knowledge about him. Regular shopping and cooking evening meals are skills that are developing well. Staff are committed to help prepare young people to have the skills and knowledge to support them in their young adult life. Applications for a passport and provisional driving licence are in process for the next adventures of learning to ride a moped and going abroad for the first time.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Among the team, language is used verbally, and recorded in documents that have the potential to stigmatise those living in a children’s home. The manager and staff are mindful to avoid referring to the home as a ‘unit’. However, this needs to be extended to eradicate the use of other words such as ‘contact’ and ‘absconding’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that staff members are supervised regularly and attend a range of training. As a result, staff report that they are trained and supported to do their job well. The development plan for the home fails to identify action points and does not reflect the reality of the vision held by the manager and the team. The current development plan is a standalone document and lacks reference to the review report as completed under Regulation 45.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is benefiting from living in this home, where he feels comfortable and safe. Regular visits and telephone calls with his family help him to keep in touch with the people who are important to him. Parents say they are very satisfied with the care provided to their son, staff are helpful and communication is good.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The one requirement made at the previous inspection has been met now that there are opportunities for socialising with other young people. There are two recommendations from this inspection with regards to using language that does not stigmatise young people because they live in a children’s home and improving the development plan. Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2017 Full Good 11/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 01/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure that language used is appropriate and does not stigmatise children because they live in a children’s home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The review of the quality of care should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weaknesses in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report under Regulation 45. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. In particular, the development plan should reflect the actions identified within the report as required under regulation 45. These actions should be specific with a clear timescale. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 4 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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning And Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Clare Davies, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 5 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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