Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477040 1 SC477040

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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. A maximum of three children who require support with social and emotional needs may live in this home. At the time of the inspection, three children lived in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken because Ofsted had not visited the home since October 2019. Independent visitor reports contained information that required further review. There have been no notifications of serious events (Regulation 40) since February 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place remotely due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Interviews with children, staff, the manager and relevant professionals took place through video links and over the telephone. The inspector took a live video tour of the home, and conducted a review of documentation.

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This monitoring visit

Restrictions relating to COVID-19 have had an impact on the children living in the home. Children have been unable to take part in their usual activities and have missed seeing their friends. The manager and staff team have done well to provide children with alternative experiences and, because of this, children are able to draw out positive aspects of their lockdown experience.

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This monitoring visit

The manager keeps safeguarding incidents under constant review. She has completed safeguarding training and understands child protection procedures and the need to notify Ofsted of a serious incident when appropriate. The manager has not deemed it necessary to refer any recent incidents to outside agencies. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477040 2 Staff are sensitive to children’s previous experiences. Consequently, caring and thoughtful relationships are established. Risk is well understood and minimised appropriately. The high level of clinical support a child receives is deeply rooted within their care plan. Staff fully understand the care plan and implement it well. Children benefit from this consistent approach to care.

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This monitoring visit

One chid requires access to certain items restricted to meet their individual health and safety needs. At periods of time, these restrictions impact unnecessarily on the other children. While leaders and managers have a plan in place to reduce these restrictions in an attempt to remove them completely, further work is needed to ensure the other children’s liberty is not negatively affected.

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This monitoring visit

Recent independent visitor reports have detailed information that required action from the manager. This information related to children’s education, access to therapy, and education, health and care plans. The manager has resolved all these issues effectively, which means that children are receiving the services and support they need.

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This monitoring visit

Children speak positively about their experiences of living in this home. One child said, ‘The best thing about living here is the opportunity to grow.’ A social worker also praised the staff for how they have helped children achieve positive outcomes.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendation from the previous inspection is met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/10/2019 Full Good 14/11/2018 Full Good 16/08/2017 Full Good 06/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477040 3

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to access all shared areas of the home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of the individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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.

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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

Nicola Lownds, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC477040 4 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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