Children's home run by Plymouth City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 1 SC454900 Registered provider: Plymouth City Council

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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 registered children’s home operates as a short-break service and is run by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children who can stay overnight. In total, there are 14 children on its register. It also provides evening and weekend care. All the children have very complex needs and require at least one-to-one care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified registered manager is in place.

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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 December 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2018 Full Good 12/10/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(2)(c)(i)) 28/08/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are experiencing consistently good care which is provided by a stable core staff team. The registered manager and her staff team possess insightful knowledge of each child’s needs and how to meet them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been a minimal loss of stays for children since the last inspection. Agency staff are rarely used and when they are, the worker is often the same person. This provides important consistency for children who need clear routines, and who find it difficult to form new relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making marked progress from their starting points. Several children are now able to manage their own intimate care needs. This significantly reduces the vulnerability of these children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children at the home and sometimes in their family home as well. This is above and beyond the expectations of their roles. Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 4 The overall environment is worn and in need of maintenance. The registered manager clarified that this is an ongoing struggle due to the behaviours of some of the children. The registered manager is actively seeking to improve this area.

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

One concerning medication error has occurred. However, since this incident a new protocol has been developed and staff have been retrained in the safe handling and administering of medication.

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

Safeguarding practice is of a good standard overall. The registered manager provides training for other professionals specifically in relation to safeguarding children with disabilities and learning difficulties. She is also teaching some children who can process this information about safe touch and how to keep themselves safe.

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

Risk management and assessment is of a good standard. The registered manager works closely with parents and other professionals to ensure that all relevant information is shared.

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

Physical interventions are rarely used. On the two occasions they have been used, staff have demonstrated good practice which is based on de-escalation techniques.

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

Audio monitoring of children is used for two children. There is a plan to remove this for one child soon. The other child will need this on a long-term basis due to their complex health needs. Video monitoring is not used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and staff benefit from long-standing stable management. The registered manager is a forward-thinking, proactive manager. She acts on advice and is keen to raise the standard of care she provides to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good relationships with families. She is fully aware of wider issues which impact on children. In consultation with parents and other professionals, care packages are increased when additional support is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision systems have improved, and sessions are now on a more regular basis. Supervision is used to support the development of good practice effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning is fluid and evolves in response to the changing needs of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all care staff are on target to complete the required qualification within the specified timescale. However, there is a clear rationale for this and every effort is being made to ensure that these staff gain this qualification. Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 5

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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: SC454900 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth PL1 3BJ

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Inspector

Polly Soper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 7 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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