Children's Home run by Phoenix Childcare Ltd in Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 1 SC408149 Registered provider: Phoenix Child Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a local provider who operates a number of children’s homes in the region.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person continues to make exceptional progress from their starting point when they arrived at the home six months ago. The aspirational staff team has built trusting relationships with the young person, who had experienced multiple disruptions with foster carers. The young person no longer hides in their room. They now speak freely and openly with the carers, and are able to inform the staff if something is upsetting or worrying them, rather than showing it through behaviours that people in the past found hard to manage.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is now enrolled in a local college and has 100% attendance. This is very good progress, as this young person previously refused to attend any educational provision prior to arriving at the home. The staff have also helped the young person to find a work placement at a local steam railway, one day a week. This work is something that the young person enjoys and has a talent for; consequently, it helps to raise their Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 2 confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. As a result of their increased self-confidence, the young person has recently made friends in the local area, which is something they previously struggled with. They are now, as a result of the effective support of the staff and the trusting relationships they have built with them, able to attend events, such as a local steam fair where there are large crowds of people, and not become overwhelmed

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and anxious. The young person said: ‘I like it here, I like the staff, we get on really well. It is good living at (the home).’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has an incentive plan in place to help them to achieve the targets set in their placement plan. This is presented to the young person in a visual form, which they find most helpful. The staff are creative. For example, they have written the young person’s achievements in foot-shaped patterns, which are fixed to the wall going up the stairs. The targets achieved by the young person are many. They include learning to travel independently by bus and train, attending medical appointments and achieving regular attendance at college. The young person is able to earn a reward of their choice. This month it is a game for the young person’s computer.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person reports that they feel safe living at the home. There have been no incidents of the young person going missing from the home. The staff do not use sanctions if the young person makes a mistake, but prefer to focus on positives and helping the young person to understand and learn from any mistakes. One recent minor safeguarding concern was promptly and comprehensively managed and resolved by the vigilant staff, who are quick to notice any changes in the young person’s behaviour that may indicate they are feeling unsafe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A major step that the young person has recently made is re-establishing a relationship with their birth family. The staff have successfully supported the young person to take this big step. They have closely and effectively liaised with the placing social worker, to ensure that visits planned by the young person to meet their family are re-introduced slowly and carefully.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff ensure that the health needs of the young person are fully met. Progress has been made in meeting the emotional needs of the young person through the arrangement of regular therapy sessions. The young person is keen to participate and has just attended the first session. The young person has made progress with their personal care and is now needing less prompting and encouragement from the staff to undertake daily personal care tasks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and the young person have worked hard to continually improve the house. The office has been redecorated, files have been reduced to a minimum and, consequently, the office does not dominate the house and negatively impact on the otherwise homely environment. The young person has been fully involved in improving the garden, which is now ordered and tidy. The young person has made bird boxes for the garden and helped to fell a small tree. The young person’s bedroom is personalised with model train sets and photos. It is clear that the young person feels a sense of pride and ownership with regard to the home. At Christmas, the young person bought all of the staff a present and has written a card expressing gratitude for the help that the staff have given Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 3 them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff make up a consistent and experienced team, and are continually striving for improvement. They effectively work together with the registered manager to ensure continuity of care for the young person, who they demonstrate a clear commitment to. The staff report that they receive training in the topics they need in order to provide good-quality care for the young person. They receive regular supervision from the manager to ensure that their knowledge and skills are up to date.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/07/2016 Full Inadequate 27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/11/2015 Full Requires improvement

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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

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 Child Care Limited Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 4 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: SC408149 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 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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