Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC386428 1 SC386428

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Plus One (South West) Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company based in the south west of England. The statement of purpose advises that the home can accommodate a maximum of three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, and/or learning disabilities. The home may take emergency and respite care placements, subject to a satisfactory risk assessment.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post and his application to register with Ofsted is in progress.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed because Ofsted has not visited this home since September 2019. Since the last inspection, the home has employed a new manager whose application to register with Ofsted is in process. At the time of this visit, there was one child living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection included a visit to the home to speak with the child and staff and to check the environment. In response to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, a review of the records and discussions with professionals took place remotely.

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This monitoring visit

The child is cared by staff who have the skills to develop meaningful and respectful relationships with him. The child spoke positively of the staff and identified individual adults who he enjoys spending time with.

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This monitoring visit

Care plans and risk assessments are, in the main, informative. These documents provide staff with information on how to meet and respond to most of the child’s Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC386428 2 needs. The manager took immediate action during the visit to amend a risk assessment relating to an emerging concerning behaviour.

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This monitoring visit

Behavioural incidents have reduced in number because staff take appropriate and proportionate action to prevent them from happening. However, the manager’s monitoring of incidents lacks robust scrutiny. He has not identified or rectified all of the omissions in the records. For example in some records, the duration of an intervention had not been documented, and other records contained subjective language. Following every incident, the manager ensures that the child and the staff are provided with opportunities to discuss what has happened and why. Despite this good practice, the manager has not been successful in helping staff to consider alternative behaviour-management strategies, nor has he found out how the child felt about being held. On one occasion, the manager monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of his own practice. This does not provide independent oversight.

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This monitoring visit

The education arrangements for the child are not satisfactory. The manager has taken appropriate action to escalate his concerns to the placing and hosting authorities. In response to this issue, and as an interim measure, the manager has sourced an alternative education provision. This is limited to two days a week with staff also providing home tuition.

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This monitoring visit

Team meetings and formal supervisions take place regularly. These meetings provide staff with an opportunity to share good practice, reflect on the child’s progress and consider areas for improvement. Training records confirmed that all staff have completed basic mandatory training.

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This monitoring visit

The manager shares information on the child’s progress, positive engagement and targets with professionals and family members. This was confirmed by the social worker and a family member who contributed to this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/09/2019 Full Good 04/10/2018 Full Good 08/11/2017 Full Good 19/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC386428 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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the duration of the physical intervention is consistently recorded and that the management review of the incident is not completed by the person involved in the incident. 19 March 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should continue to escalate concerns to the placing authority to ensure that an education provision is identified for a child who is not in school. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.5)

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC386428 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plus One (South West) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Mount, 21 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8QT

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC386428 5 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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