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

Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 1 SC463431 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

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for children with social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a provider of education and social care for children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2013.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 29 and 30 October 2019 to undertake a full inspection. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 29 October 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2019 Full Outstanding 10/07/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 4

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outstanding

The one child who is living in the home has done so for more than two years. As a direct result of this period of stability, and the consistently high quality of care provided by the staff team, the child has made excellent progress. A professional spoken with during this inspection was extremely complimentary about the care provided and the child had told his social worker that this was the ‘only placement that feels like home’. The social worker feels this is testament to the good work that is done by the staff.

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outstanding

Changes in the staff team are rare. As a result, the child feels secure, has developed trusting relationships and is supported well by a stable, skilled and knowledgeable staff team.

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outstanding

A particular strength of the manager and staff team is their knowledge of the child currently living in the home. The manager and the staff team provide clear, consistent messages that have helped the child to understand boundaries and structure. Positive behaviour is rewarded, and sanctions have been replaced by learning and talking to the child. This means that sanctions are neither required nor used.

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outstanding

The child living in the home has made excellent progress with his health, education, social and psychological development. Extremely well-documented records evidence marked improvements for the child since he moved into the home. The records capture examples of significant progress from the child’s starting point. For example, the child now enjoys overnight visits with his family, returning to live with his family is planned, and his attendance and attainment at school are outstanding. The child is on track to achieve qualifications and aspires to have a career.

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outstanding

All the staff recognise the importance of including children in their plans. Consultation with the child is exceptional. The child is very involved in all aspects of his care and future planning. This makes him feel valued and listened to, which has increased his self-confidence.

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outstanding

The manager and staff do extremely well to achieve a balance between allowing the child to take risks and learn from any mistakes and keeping him safe. Risk assessment procedures and documents give the staff clear guidance and strategies to use, should the child engage in risk-taking behaviours. That said, the staff’s knowledge and understanding of the child, coupled with their in-depth knowledge of behaviour management and use of therapeutic interventions, have directly resulted Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 5 in the child not engaging in risk-taking behaviours and becoming more emotionally resilient.

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outstanding

Records scrutinised during the inspection confirm that the manager deals with risk effectively, and policies and protocols are reviewed regularly. As a result, the child receives consistent and reliable messages about behaviour management.

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outstanding

It is exceptional that for over 19 months there have been no instances of a safeguarding nature. There have not been any behaviourally led incidents that have required police involvement in the home or the use of physical intervention. This is a direct result of the skills of the manager and the staff team, and the progress made by the child.

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outstanding

A comprehensive training package is routinely reviewed and updated to reflect any lessons learned and incorporates current practice and research updates. A professional spoken to during the inspection confirmed that they have had no safeguarding concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has managed and led the home since 2013. She provides the home with consistent and strong leadership. She is experienced in supporting children as they move through adolescence towards independence, so much so that when children leave the home, they do so confidently and having achieved measurably improved outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals and staff who contributed to this inspection were overwhelmingly positive about the registered manager. Staff spoke of how they feel ‘inspired’ as a result of being mentored by the manager. A professional said that there is a direct/clear correlation between the dedication and passion of the registered manager and the significant progress made by the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager recognises the importance of continual professional development, and routinely incorporates research and practice updates into team meetings and supervision. In addition, detailed handovers, regular team meetings and a comprehensive training package ensure that members of staff have an excellent understanding of how to meet the needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal and external monitoring of the home are thorough. An independent visitor provides detailed and informative regulation 44 reports, and in turn the registered manager uses this information to update the development plan. Records scrutinised during the inspection identify a clear relationship between the quality of care, the safety of the child and his improved outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Evidence of the child being consulted is threaded through all monitoring and recording systems. As the home progresses and develops, children are assured that their views and opinions matter. The child currently living in the home knows that he is valued and listened to. The child has made excellent progress Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 6 because the home has a strong, confident leadership team and a skilled staff team that is managed effectively. Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 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: SC463431 8

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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: Unit 5 Chinon Court, Lower Moor Way, Tiverton. EX16 6SS

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Inspector

Linda Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC463431 9 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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