Children's home run by Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning and Care Holdings Ltd Full inspection 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 who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of education and social care. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2016.

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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 outstanding

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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: 30 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/11/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person who lives in this home has been provided with a period of stability for over two years. An extremely stable team of staff provide a calm and nurturing environment and do well in building trusting relationships with the young person. These positive relationships enable her to successfully work through past traumas and make good progress in all parts of her life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young person’s placement plans are detailed and clearly explain how the staff should best meet her individual care needs. A specific strength of the team is the consultation with and inclusion of the young person in her plans and the development of the home. As a result, the young person feels valued, listened to and, as she told the inspector, ‘part of a family’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and manager have high aspirations for the young person. They support the young person effectively to attend school and achieve in her examinations, visit family, go abroad on a holiday and have safe and positive friendships with other young people. This is impressive, considering the starting point for this young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals from other agencies spoke highly of their relationships with the manager and staff a nd the progress made by the young person.

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

The staff do extremely well, to achieve a balance of allowing the young person to take risks and learn from any mistakes with keeping her safe. Risk assessment procedures and documents give the staff clear guidance and strategies to use, should the young person engage in risk-taking behaviours. That said, the staff’s knowledge and understanding of the young person, coupled with their in-depth knowledge of behaviour management and use of therapeutic interventions, have directly resulted in the young person becoming more emotionally resilient. For over 12 months, there have been no instances of the young person going missing from the home, staff having to use physical intervention to manage risk or police involvement.

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

The staff are vigilant, and take prompt and effective safeguarding action if necessary. Safeguarding incidents, such as when a young person discloses information, are competently managed and all details are promptly shared with the relevant safeguarding authorities. For example, a compassionate, sensitive and collaborative approach by both the local authority and the home has meant that a recent disclosure by the young person has resulted in her feeling supported and listened to, thereby helping her to navigate her way through historical trauma.

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

The young person is encouraged to build her independence skills by using ‘free time’, independent travel and the use of the internet. There are trusting relationships between the young person and staff, so much so that the young person has adults Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 4 whom she can speak with if she sees anything inappropriate or concerning when using the internet or when forming relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate and committed to improving the outcomes of young people. She achieves this by remaining up to date with current practice and research, regular training for herself and the staff team, reflective supervision and collaborative working with a team of therapists. Her enthusiasm inspires the staff, who share her passion. This dedication has directly impacted on sustained and improved outcomes for the young person living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains quality relationships with all professionals involved with the young person. She produces reports and updates that are of a high quality and that reflect an in-depth knowledge of the young person’s progress and plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A local authority social worker spoke of ‘excellent communication’ with the manager and staff and the ‘excellent progress’ that the young person has made, and continues to make, because she has lived in the home for over two years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The young person gains a sense of security and permanence from being supported by a consistent staff team. The manager undertakes regular care shifts in the home as well as managerial tasks, so knows the young person extremely well. If a member of staff is away, other staff cover the shift rather than have someone whom the young person does not know. There has been no use of agency staff for over 12 months.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates skilled and effective management and leadership qualities. Good use is made of the monthly independent visitor reports. They directly inform the ongoing development of the home. Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 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 difference 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: 1244137 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning and Care Holdings Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Hub, Seckington Cross, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8EY

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Inspector(s)

Linda Bond, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1244137 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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