Children's home run by Phoenix Children’s Homes Limited in North Devon

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 1 SC368137

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Phoenix Child Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider of education and social care.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 13 May 2019. The purpose of this inspection was to monitor progress since the May inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual immediately supplied Ofsted with a clear action plan in response to the requirements made at the full inspection. Since then, significant progress has been made in all areas of the plan. The manager of the home has applied to Ofsted for management registration.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, a new young person has come to live in the home. Prior to her arrival, the manager ensured that she had the full information about the young person, so she could make an informed decision about whether the team had the capacity to meet her needs. All the necessary planning, including introductions, took place. Although it is early days, as a result of the careful preparation the young person has settled into the home well. Staff know what to do, should there be any signs of a potential incident or concern. However, written recording of an incident did not reflect the actual events that took place, and inappropriate language and terminology was used. Therefore, a recommendation has been made.

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This monitoring visit

Clear arrangements for staffing are now in place, and team and individual training days are scheduled. Staff have had regular and effective supervision; team meetings have been held and any performance issues or investigations have been addressed and resolved. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 2 The home has now been completely repaired and refurbished. It is now a welcoming and homely environment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/05/2019 Full Inadequate 06/03/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 01/11/2018 Full Good 25/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 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 meeting the quality standards of engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all necessary information is obtained from the local authority regarding new referrals, before any decisions are made. 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; 31/05/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 4 help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(e)(h)) In particular:  record all complaints and concerns raised collectively, so that the outcome of these can inform improvement of the home  embed management quality assurance, oversight and monitoring systems, including organisation and review of staff supervision arrangements; team development; review of risk management documents; the missing protocol and guidance for staff  hold regular team meetings with staff and record these  ensure that the home is well maintained and repaired so that it is a welcoming environment for young people. 28/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and 14/06/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 5 have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, leaders and the manager need to ensure that impact risk assessments are detailed and where shortfalls are identified in these by the responsible individual, these are addressed and then reviewed by the responsible individual.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)) 14/06/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home—

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure all checks, such as verification of references, are completed before staff start their employment. 31/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 31/05/2019

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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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 6 record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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

Sarah Canto, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC368137 7 to 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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Inspector

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