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

Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 1 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 children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children. It is operated by a private company that has several other homes in the same area.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 26 June 2017.

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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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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: 10 December 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/12/2019 Full Outstanding 28/01/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/05/2018 Full Good 22/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 3

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outstanding

The home is beautifully presented both inside and out. It looks loved and provides a warm, family atmosphere for children. Children’s bedrooms are generous, comfortable spaces that are personalised. The main living space provides children with places to eat, relax, socialise and play.

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outstanding

Children live at the home for many years. When children move in this is well planned, and the individual needs of all the children are fully considered during the decision-making process.. Children’s views are sought and respected. There is a genuine understanding that it is the children’s home and their views are crucial in all decision-making. When children leave the home, their departure is carefully planned and the impact of this on those remaining is assessed and supported.

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outstanding

Relationships between children and carers are full of love and respect. Children build enormous trust in the adults in the home because they are listened to, encouraged and praised. The carers know the children very well and want them to excel in all areas of their lives. Their caring skills are underpinned by good-quality training and research.

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outstanding

Physical affection is in abundance in the home. Children give and receive hugs and affection. Carers and children talk to each other warmly and are kind to people who visit the home. Carers provide exceptional, attuned care for the children. Children told inspectors that they love living at the home, and feel loved. They make outstanding progress in all areas of their lives and this is due to the quality of the daily care they receive.

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outstanding

Children make very good progress in education. One child is attending college after passing their GCSEs, and another is taking GCSEs next year. The registered manager has good relationships with education professionals. The registered manager ensures that all resources are explored and made available to help children remain in mainstream education.

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outstanding

Children are supported to develop their independence in ways that reflect their individual needs. One child recently moved to live independently. The plan to support the child was robust and child-led. The registered manager challenged the local authority in order to ensure that the timescales were right for the child. Children who have moved continue to access support from the home by phoning and visiting.

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outstanding

Carers build wonderful memory books for children. These include photographs and narratives of their lives in the home. Carers recognise that it is important for children to be able to explore events in their childhood to help them make sense of their journeys. Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 4 Children’s records are of a very high quality. Plans are concise yet thorough. Risks are carefully evaluated to ensure that staff have up-to-date information to help keep children safe. Progress is tracked on a weekly basis so that carers can support children with areas of vulnerability in their emotional well-being, behaviour, education and health. This also provides consistency for children, as all staff respond in the same way and know the best response for each child.

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outstanding

Carers work collaboratively to ensure that the emotional needs of the children are met. Daily discussions take place to ensure that every carer is aware of updates to children’s plans and risk assessments. Plans are regularly updated and reviewed, and children take part in this process. Risks are clearly identified and fully understood. Safeguarding concerns are swiftly acted on to ensure children’s safety.

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outstanding

A key strength of this home is that restraint and physical interventions are not used. Children are supported to understand and express their feelings. Incidents are rare. When they occur, carers demonstrate exceptional skill in managing them. On every occasion they help the child to become calm and make positive choices. Discussions after incidents are meaningful and help children to reflect on their behaviour and explore the reason for their upset. This helps children to talk about how they feel during events, and leads to situations de-escalating. Carers’ reflections after incidents are thorough, and assist in improving practice and recognising triggers. This methodical response to children’s emotional distress has led to a significant reduction in incidents.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from home. If this should occur, carers have clear strategies in place to find the child, ensure their safety and welcome them home.

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outstanding

Carers are fully aware of the risks that the internet may pose for children. Carers have frank, age-appropriate conversations with children about internet bullying, sexual exploitation and healthy relationships. They use up-to-date guidance and research to underpin their knowledge of this fluid medium, and help children to develop confidence in their ability to keep themselves safe online. When incidents occur, they are managed with professional curiosity, openness and understanding.

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outstanding

Allegations into possible harm are investigated thoroughly and swiftly. Children are supported and protected throughout the process. The registered manager ensures that any identified learning is actioned and verified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that the home has a stable and skilled team of staff who meet the needs of the children. When additional carers are required, they are recruited from sister homes and additional checks are undertaken to ensure that they can meet the needs of the children safely. Carers told inspectors that they Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 5 would not want to work anywhere else. The home’s staff team respects the registered manager and holds them in high regard. Children talked fondly of the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an exceptional understanding of children’s needs and the care they receive. They have developed robust links with professionals, community resources and family, to ensure that the children can access things that help them to grow and feel connected. They challenge professionals when plans do not meet children’s needs or resources are not made available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals spoke highly of the home and the positive effect that the care provided has on children’s lives. One professional, who has supported two children for many years, detailed the exceptional progress that children have made since moving to this home. One child has developed the confidence to talk to family about their childhood experiences and begin to make sense of the harm she experienced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager communicates well with families so that they are kept up to date on their children’s progress. A parent told the inspector that their child had improved tenfold since moving to the home. They said that the registered manager always answers any questions and discusses visiting plans with them. This means that children maintain important relationships and continue to develop their identity needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has high expectations of children and carers. The registered manager promotes a culture in which less than outstanding is simply not good enough. They ask for excellence and they lead by example. This is a home where children can thrive. Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 6

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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: 1256771 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: Support Hub, Unit 5, Chinon Court, Lower Moor Way, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6SS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Stephen Nicholson

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256771 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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