Children's home run by Plymouth City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 1 SC454900 Registered provider: Plymouth City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home operates as a short-break service and is run by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children who can stay overnight. All the children have complex needs and require at least one-to-one care and support.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified registered manager is in post.

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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

Ofsted carried out an assurance visit of this home on 9 and 10 September. The report is published on our website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Full Good 12/10/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 3

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improvement to be good

This home does not provide a welcoming and homely environment for children. Numerous areas are in of need refurbishment, including many walls which need to be repainted and softened with some form of decoration.

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improvement to be good

Children’s bedrooms are sparsely decorated and most of the mattresses are of poor quality. The registered manager took action to purchase mattress toppers during the inspection.

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improvement to be good

There is a padded room adjoining one child’s bedroom. This is institutional, and is not in keeping with a homely environment. Some televisions are enclosed in protective casing. While there is a rationale for this, there is no plan to reduce the use for this approach.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has a working plan to enhance the environment. Improvement work has started. The main lounge has been decorated and a large ‘play bus’ has been built for children to play in. The television in this room is creatively protected by a recess that has been made in the wall. There is a new kitchen, the dining area has been repainted and new furniture has been purchased.

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improvement to be good

Children have limited access to the kitchen, due to infection-control measures. They are supported to make certain foods, such as milkshakes and toast, in the dining area. There is no clear plan in place for children to be able to access all areas of their home.

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improvement to be good

The care team members know children’s individual needs well. Children were seen to have fun during their short breaks. Children presented as relaxed and happy.

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improvement to be good

Due to low staffing numbers, there is a reduced number of children enjoying short breaks. The registered manager is recruiting to address this problem.

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

This has been a difficult year for the home, due to the impact of COVID-19 and the outbreak of another highly infectious disease. The registered manager has acted quickly and vigilantly to minimise the risk presented to children and the care team.

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

Children’s records are child centred and promote nurturing practice. Key documents explore the individual needs of each child well, and provide clear guidance for staff. This guidance also promotes opportunities for children to communicate with their carers as behaviours are better understood. Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 4 In line with children’s needs, social stories are used to help children understand how their bodies work and to promote privacy and dignity.

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

Personal emergency evacuation plans provide clear and easy-to-access guidance for staff so that they can help children in an emergency. However, one child’s plan does not reflect his current sleeping arrangements in the home.

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

Fire drill information is not easy to access. Consequently it is not easy to find out if all children have taken part in fire drills at regular intervals.

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

There is currently no use of visual monitoring systems in the home. One child is supported by an audio monitor, which is reflected appropriately in their care planning.

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

There have been no medication errors. However, it is not clear which medications for children are controlled drugs and which are not. This does not safeguard against the possible incorrect storage and administration of medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows children who stay at the home well. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of their needs and personality traits. She promotes a nurturing ethos in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning is effective, and important information is accessible. Not all documents are clearly signed off by the manager, which means that it is not clear if they have been approved for use. Recruitment processes are disjointed. This does not ensure that all the necessary information has been obtained before individuals start working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers provide staff with meaningful and reflective supervision on a regular basis. One staff member commented that they really enjoy the supervision process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are being supported to complete the required training and formal qualifications. Managers closely monitor staff training to ensure that the staff hold the skills and knowledge they need in order to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents reported that their children benefit from taking short breaks and the children enjoy their time here. A social worker who was spoken with would like to see more variation in the activities provided for children. Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 5

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(c)(i)) 7 October 2021

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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: SC454900 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Plymouth City Council, Civic Centre, Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 2AA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Whitman

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Inspectors

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Claire Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC454900 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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