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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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

Date of last inspection: 12 December 2017

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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 requires improvement 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 young people continue to make progress because of the good standard of care and support they receive from the staff team and the child-focused leadership from the registered manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people have continued to enjoy stability in the home since the last inspection, with no change in the young people living at the home and no changes in the staff team. The manager is very careful when considering the potential impact of any new admissions, to make sure that the mix of the young people is appropriate. She has refused a number of potential referrals since the last inspection to ensure that the mix of Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 2 young people remains positive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager, registered individual and the staff team continue to make improvements in the home. The office has been decorated and rearranged to make it an accessible space for the young people. Placement plans and risk assessments have been updated and improved. The young people are now individually assessed to ensure that they are safe to keep and use aerosol deodorants in their bedrooms, rather than staff keeping them in the office for all young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff ensure that the young people succeed with their education. They challenge education providers if they are aware that a young person in their care is not receiving the educational provision they require. One young person is currently being supported effectively by the staff to sit their mock GCSE examinations. Another young person is being prepared to leave the home in the next few months as they turn 18 years old. The staff ensure that the young person is learning all the independent living skills they will need for the future, such as budgeting, shopping, cooking and using public transport.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff ensure that the home continues to offer a homely environment for the young people. Following a recent leak in the shower room, some damp areas have appeared. The flooring in the shower room has an ‘institutional’ appearance, which detracts from the otherwise well-maintained home. The maintenance team is aware of the repairs required and plans are in place to refurbish this room.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints or concerns made by the young people are now comprehensively logged and investigated. The young people are kept informed of the progress of their complaint and the outcome.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people spoken with said that they felt safe living in the home. The staff have developed positive and trusting relationships with the young people. One member of staff was observed by the inspector to de-escalate a young person’s behaviour effectively when the young person was very angry about an incident that had happened that day at school. The incident ended with the young person being successfully diverted from their angry feelings and calmed down to speak about the incident in a mature and calm manner. The young person was then successfully supported and engaged by the staff to enjoy cooking a meal.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding incidents are promptly reported and comprehensively dealt with by the manager and the staff. The staff know the young people very well, know who the friends of the young people are, and what the young people are doing when they are out of the home on free time. Internet safety is a priority in the home. The staff are very vigilant and closely monitor the young people’s use of the internet. They quickly intervene if they are aware of any potential safeguarding concerns.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s guide to the home is currently being updated but this remains a work in progress and is not yet complete. The recommendation from the previous inspection is repeated. Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/01/2017 Full Good 09/11/2016 Full Inadequate 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/11/2015 Full Good

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Recommendations

 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 make sure 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)  Ensure that the home provides a homely and ‘domestic’ rather than ‘institutional’ appearance; in particular, ensure that the damp areas in the shower room are repaired and the flooring is replaced. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC066179 4 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 5

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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 6 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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