Children's Home run by Phoenix Children’s Homes Limited in Devon

Assurance visit report: SC403234 1 SC403234

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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. At the time of this visit only one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of education and social care.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 17 December 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC403234 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Staff clearly know this child’s needs and give her the care she needs to stay safe and have positive experiences. Positive, nurturing and caring relationships have developed. The child feels comfortable to talk with staff about how she is feeling, and is confident that they will care for her and help her. The child clearly feels loved in this home and interacts with staff in a relaxed and comfortable way. The child is safe and happy here. She said that she ‘loves’ living here and described it as the best placement she has had.

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The care of children

The child enjoys positive experiences and activities here. Staff and the child spend positive time together enjoying shared activities such as surfing, shopping and art and craft. The child especially likes looking after animals, and is helped to care for two pet guinea pigs.

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The care of children

This is a well-decorated and beautifully personalised home that clearly shows the interests and experiences of the child who lives here. The child is invested in this home as she contributes to how it is decorated and chooses items that are bought or made for the home. The child and staff are currently building a corner seat for the garden and have already decorated the garden fence in lights that spell the child’s name out.

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The care of children

Support plans are individualised and include detailed input from the provider’s therapeutic services and the child. These plans provide staff with clear guidance on how to support the child and also demonstrate the progress she is making. One-to- one discussions with the child are of a good quality, demonstrating the staff’s reflective, nurturing support in helping the child to reduce levels of anxiety.

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The care of children

The child’s physical, emotional, social and mental health needs are being met. This is a work in progress due to the level of trauma the child has experienced, but progress is being made. Staff are providing effective support in regard to managing and reducing incidents of self-harm. They work closely with mental health professionals to develop strategies and a provide a cohesive approach. Staff ensure that the child has access the additional services she needs, and work collaboratively with her to achieve the best outcome for her. The providers therapeutic team not only supports the child with therapeutic input, but also providers the staff with beneficial sessions that enable them to reflect on their practice.

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The safety of children

Children are kept safe. The child’s needs, vulnerabilities and levels of risk are understood by staff who know the child well. This is enhanced by clear, current risk assessments which provide staff with strategies to mitigate and reduce risk. Assurance visit report: SC403234 3 Behaviour is well managed because staff focus on giving praise and reinforcing positive behaviours. Individualised behaviour plans are kept under regular review to ensure that they reflect the child’s current and emerging needs. They provide clear guidance for staff on behavioural triggers and effective supporting strategies. The child, with the support of staff, has developed a ‘soothe box’ which has helped her to manage her emotions.

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The safety of children

The use of restraint is appropriate and it is only used to keep the child safe. Records of restraints are detailed. However, conversations with the child after a restraint are not consistently carried out by a member of staff who was not involved in the restraint. This does not provide the child with the opportunity to express her views about the restraint with an independent person.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding, which helps to protect children. Leaders and managers address any safeguarding issues promptly. Safeguarding records are comprehensive and show that good-quality feedback is given to the child at the end of any investigations.

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Leaders and managers

The home has a registered manager in post who is appropriately qualified and experienced for his role. The manager has a very good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement, for which he has plans in place. Staff praised the manager for his support and his approachability. They also said he is inclusive and welcomes staff members’ ideas on developing the care provided.

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Leaders and managers

The staff have good working relationships with other professionals, who complimented them on their skills, the care they provide, the progress the child is making and their clear communication. This view was also echoed by the child’s family.

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Leaders and managers

Since the pandemic began in April 2020, the independent visitor has not visited the home face to face. All visits have been carried out remotely, which has resulted in limited contact with the child. This reduces the independent visitor’s ability to determine if children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being, as required by the regulations.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have followed the government guidance in relation to COVID-19, which protects the child, the staff and visitors to the home.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. This allows him to scrutinise the work undertaken in order to ensure that it is of a good quality and address any practice issues.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements from the previous inspection have been met. Weekly fire safety checks are now carried out, children’s plans are clear and easy to follow and there is no duplication of information. The manager has not had the need to challenge a Assurance visit report: SC403234 4 placing authority, but clearly understands where this would be required and how he would escalate any concerns.

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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

44: Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular the visit must include time actually at the children’s home. 30/11/20

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Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases, children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint (regulation 35(3)(c)). Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. Children should be offered the opportunity to access advocacy support to help them with this (regulation 7(2)(b)(iii)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.60)

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Recommendations

In particular, these conversations should consistently be carried out by a member of staff who was not involved in the restraint.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Hub, Seckington Cross, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8EY Assurance visit report: SC403234 5 Responsible individual: Wanda Green

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Inspectors

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Paula Lahey, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance visit report: SC403234 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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