Children's home run by Phoenix Childcare Ltd in North Devon

Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 1 SC408149 Registered provider: Phoenix Child Care Limited

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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 children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. However, it has been agreed with the local authority that the child living in the home currently will be the only child looked after in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local provider which owns a number of children’s homes in this region.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered for this home in June 2019.

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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: 29 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/01/2019 Full Outstanding 31/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/07/2016 Full Inadequate 27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular:  ensure that staff debriefs, following incidents, are recorded in a timely manner  if behavioural consequences are recorded separately, ensure that they reflect the teaching and support given to the child  record plans concisely and specifically, so that they are clear for staff to use. 07/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, subject to paragraph (5), children are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home—

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Requirement Due date

a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private; and

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Requirement Due date

facilities to send and receive post and, if the necessary facilities are provided for the use of children, electronic mail, in private. (Regulation 22(3)(a)(b)) 31/01/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 4

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Recommendations

 Personalised care is provided that takes into account the child’s gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. In particular, ensure that children’s understanding and perception of their identity and cultural background are included in plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child in this home is well supported and cared for by the manager and staff. Since moving to the home, he has started to go to school every day and make progress, an achievement that was not possible before. He is also helped to achieve independence, relative to his age, by travelling to school in the same way as other children travel, without the need for staff in the home to accompany him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a variety of fun activities. The manager and staff are continually thinking of the best ways to motivate him and help him channel his energies positively, in line with his planned targets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The social worker, school and parents speak positively of the home. They all highlight the excellent communication and support that the child is given.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not considered to be old enough to have a mobile phone. There are no restrictions on his use of the telephone, but he is unable to make a call from a landline telephone unless he asks staff for permission.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The previous young person who lived here enjoyed a settled home life and was happy. He made excellent progress and staff still keep in touch with him.

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

The manager and staff do their utmost to keep the child safe. The manager has made sure that she knows the child’s needs in detail, and any associated risks. She met with the child’s family members individually, before he came to the home, so that she could understand his history as much as possible, in addition to professionals’ perspectives. The manager regularly pursues any missing assessments or services that the child needs, so that the home’s intervention is as effective as possible.

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

The manager and senior staff member continually review the best way to look after the child safely. On occasions, staff have needed to restrain the child, as a last resort, to keep him safe. Considerable thought, planning and training have been given to ensure that physical intervention is very brief in duration, and is necessary and effective, with a Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 5 view to reducing such intervention and incidents in general. Of particular note are the follow-up conversations that the manager has with the child each time incidents happen, as they are meaningful and thorough.

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

The social worker expressed her admiration of the team’s commitment to the child, despite difficult incidents. While progress has gone forwards and backwards as the child settles into his home of just over three months, the management team identifies and analyses small but significant steps of change. An example includes the child being able to accept physical affection from staff, something he has previously struggled with.

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

Staff manage the child’s internet use carefully and are currently reviewing his use of electronic games. They have ensured that safeguards are in place to prevent him from accessing inappropriate or harmful material.

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

When allegations are made, they are handled sensitively and safeguarding procedures are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The dedicated manager has been registered with this home since June 2019. However, she is an experienced manager. She feels strongly about making sure children receive excellent care and nurture. The manager and team are clear about what the child’s overall plan is and what they need to achieve for him. Every month, an independent visitor provides a thorough monitoring report which assists the manager in continuing to provide good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported and supervised well. If an incident occurs, staff are debriefed by the manager or senior staff member, and plans are reviewed. The staff are committed to the child they look after and focus on his strengths and how these can be developed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child’s plans and records are in-depth and carefully thought through. There are some areas where management review and administration could further improve the quality of care. For example, the child’s cultural identity requires more understanding, recording of staff debriefs are not always timely, and aspects of plans are generic and repetitive, risking staff not keeping up to date with changes. The team cares for the child in a nurturing and positive way, but the child’s behavioural consequences records do not always reflect the good practice that takes place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is welcoming and well looked after, with personal touches throughout.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 6 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: SC408149 7

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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 Limited, First Floor, Rolle Quay House, Rolle Quay, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1JE

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Inspector

Sarah Canto, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC408149 8 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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