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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463647 1 SC463647

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Phoenix Learning and Care Holdings Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home offers care and accommodation for two children with emotional care needs. The home is operated by a provider that operates other children’s homes in the local area.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in December 2020. An acting manager is in place. An application for registration has not been received as the provider plans to close the home within the next two months.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was undertaken because the last inspection took place on 21 May 2019, the registered manager has resigned and an application for registration has not been received from the acting manager. There are two children living in this home. This visit was undertaken off site.

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This monitoring visit

Children make good progress from their starting points. A strength of the home is the child-focussed and nurturing care that is given to children. The adults in the home build trusting relationships with the children. These relationships form the basis from which the children build their self-esteem and a sense of belonging.

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This monitoring visit

The adults in the home understand the importance of carefully considered and planned moves in and out of the home. When the home closes, the children will either move back to their home area to live with a foster carer, which is possible due to the progress that the child has made at the home, or move to another home in the area that is operated by the provider. The adults in the home are also moving to this home, which will provide consistency and continuity for children.

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This monitoring visit

The adults in the home succeed in supporting the children to make progress with their behaviour, and incidents have decreased. Children are rewarded for positive Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463647 2 behaviour and are supported to learn from their mistakes. Rules are clear in the home and consistently implemented.

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This monitoring visit

Use of restraint in the home is rare. However, the adults in the home do not ensure that records of restraint clearly document if behaviour management strategies were tried by the adults in the home to de-escalate incidents prior to a restraint being used. The records do not evidence that the incidents of restraint were necessary and proportionate.

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This monitoring visit

Children report that they feel safe living at the home and can speak to any of the adults in the home if they feel worried or upset. Any safeguarding incidents are promptly dealt with by the manager and reported to the appropriate safeguarding professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s physical and emotional healthcare needs are fully met at the home. The manager tenaciously challenges healthcare providers and advocates for the children to ensure that they receive the services they need.

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This monitoring visit

Both children are placed in schools that meet their identified educational needs. The adults in the home support the children by attending parents’ evenings, reading bedtime stories and helping the children with their homework. Both children have an excellent record of school attendance and are meeting, and in some subjects exceeding, their targets.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/05/2019 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good 05/09/2017 Full Good 09/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463647 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

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

evaluate the effectiveness and consequences of the measure used. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the staff ensuring that they clearly record in the record of restraint the antecedent leading up to a restraint, what was tried to de-escalate the incident and that the manager has evaluated the incident for any learning. 26 February 2021

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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: SC463647 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning and Care Holdings Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Nicholson

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC463647 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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