Children's Home run by Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited in Plymouth

Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 1 SC458812 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home was registered in February 2013 to care for up to two children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural care needs. The home is operated by a private company that operates a number of children’s homes in the local area.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in place and an application for registration has been received. The manager has a childcare qualification and is studying to complete a Level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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 good

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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: 12 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2019 Full Good 26/06/2018 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers work in partnership with the young person, parents and professionals to agree and provide therapeutic support. Planning for improvement is aspirational and has led to significant progress and positive outcomes for the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have secured a school placement for the young person following months without formal education. In addition, their negotiations with a local college have allowed the young person to experience aspects of college life and become familiar with the people and buildings in preparation for starting a full-time course.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Improvements to the young person’s physical and emotional health and well-being are substantial. The staff provide the support and attention needed to reduce the young person’s anxiety and this helps them to avoid unnecessary risk taking. Purposeful activities take up much of the young person’s life. They are involved in numerous activities, including team sports, uniformed organisations and playing drums in a local band.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with parents. The young person’s time spent with family has gradually increased to include overnight stays. Parents feel included in the decisions and say that the young person is ‘doing really well and has made massive improvements’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers make regular phone calls to the young person when she is away from the home. They are skilled in recognising any anxiety or distress and respond immediately if support is needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Memorabilia and records of the young person’s time in this home are being complied and kept safe so that the young person has a full history of this time in their lives. The home is personalised by the young person with the help of the carers. There are many photographs of the young person, activities and of her family, including the family dog which visits the home and has stayed overnight.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements for moving in to the home are carefully planned. Carers visited the young person and started to build meaningful relationships prior to admission. These positive relationships persist and are the basis, alongside the young person’s resilience, for the all the progress made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The garden and paths around the home are unkempt. Exterior maintenance and repair of the home lack sufficient attention. These aspects detract from what is internally a homely, welcoming environment with a great atmosphere filled with lots of laughter. Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 4

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

Meaningful and attentive relationships allow the young person to feel valued and supported. Their views, wishes and feelings are understood and considered in any decisions made. The young person says that they ‘feel safe’ and it is clear that the carers are proud of her achievements and are both aspirational and optimistic for her future.

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

Effective understanding and management of risk has seen a reduction in very serious risk-taking behaviour. This behaviour previously threatened the life of the young person. From needing a secure placement, a deprivation of liberty order and constant adult supervision, the young person is gradually beginning to enjoy the freedoms experienced by most teenagers.

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

Therapeutic care plans detail signs and symptoms of distress and anxiety. Staff are skilled in recognising stress indicators and are able to support the young person to feel safe. Clear boundaries, expectations and meaningful negotiation with the young person avoids behaviour becoming beyond the control of carers. The use of physical intervention is kept to a minimum. Since the young person moved in to this home, incidents of being missing are no longer a constant concern for adults. The few incidents have led to an effective response and a quick return to safety for the young person.

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

The manager is swift to deal effectively with any concerns or complaints. Neighbours’ complaints about noise levels from drumming were quickly resolved with an apology, some sound proofing and negotiated practise times. Relationships with neighbours are cordial and they are supportive of a children’s home in this neighbourhood.

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

Additional precautions are in place to guard against the spread of COVID-19. Most carers are vaccinated and undertake tests twice a week. Visitors complete a health questionnaire and their temperature is taken prior to entering the home.

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

It is not clear from records that all staff have had the opportunity to practise evacuations from the premises in case of a fire or similar emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Ofsted are currently processing an application to register the manager of this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and other stakeholders are confident in the ability of the manager to lead a service which meets their high expectations and is clearly described in the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular support is provided to staff through formal supervision, team meetings and training. Staff are encouraged to utilise their own skills and interests in developing Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 5 the young person’s self-esteem and confidence. Lengthy bike rides, paddle boarding and open-water swimming have become favourite activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The strengths and weaknesses of the home are understood. The manager is proactive in developing staff’s understanding of important issues. Staff have done some work around compliance with legislation and how the team meet the quality standards. The manager has also provided clarity about record-keeping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are well ordered and there is a gradual move towards electronic record- keeping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff responded quickly to requests for feedback about their work and the home. The feedback is wholly positive, demonstrating an enthusiasm and commitment to the young person and the team. Consistency of staffing and a willingness to cover for one another avoids the use of carers who are unfamiliar with the needs of the young person. Positive feedback about the progress of the young person is echoed by professional stakeholders and parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The monitoring of the home by independent visitors is welcomed by the manager as an effective tool in ensuring the quality of care and in developing the home. The organisation has four visitors who can offer differing insight into good practice. A clinical evaluation tool is used to measure the impact of the support on young people’s mental health and well-being. Analysis of findings supports the understanding of changing needs and care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider is committed to this being a home that accommodates just one young person at a time. This will allow them to continue to provide for young people whose support and attention needs will not benefit from sharing with others. Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 6

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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 registered person must ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)) 18/06/2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the garden and the exterior of the home are appropriately maintained – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC458812 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & 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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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458812 8 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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