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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 1 SC478152 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children. The home specialises in providing time-limited accommodation for children who are at a point in their lives when they have been exposed to high levels of risk and need emergency care.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 12 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have considered the impact on children’s needs and the care they receive when more than one child lives in the home. As a result, the home’s statement of purpose is currently under review. This aims to increase individualised care for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child is currently living in the home. There are no plans for another child to move into the home until he moves on. This means that the specific arrangements that are required for his care can continue without disruption. As a result, he has settled well and is forming positive relationships with staff members. However, the full extent of contact arrangements between the child and his family has not been fully explored with the child’s social worker. Doing this work is important to support the child’s developing narrative of his life story.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have completed relevant risk assessments in consultation with professionals involved with the child’s care. These assessments provide clear guidance for staff so that risks outside the home are minimised. This has enabled the child to enjoy different activities in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment and the care provided appropriately match the child’s current needs. His care is informed by good-quality sessions provided by the home’s therapy team. These sessions are recorded well and seek to embed a consistent approach across practice. However, not all staff members had attended these sessions or verified that they had read the minutes of these meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records capture the child’s experiences. The child does not present with behaviours that challenge staff. However, the inspector found one daily record that described the child as being most upset, which was not followed up appropriately. Some of the records did not evidence robust management oversight, and some of the current recording system is not wholly purposeful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child is receiving education delivered by a tutor at the home. There are periods when the tutor is not able to attend the home and the child is left without education provision. Despite attempts by the manager and child’s social worker to escalate this issue, this has not been resolved. A review of the child’s educational needs and support has not happened since he moved into the home. Some records also used language that is not conducive to the child’s learning environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has been off work for a short time and is expected to return shortly. His application for registration with Ofsted is in progress. During this inspection, Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 3 there was sufficient cover in place, provided by the responsible individual and the designated manager from another home. However, not all documents were accessible during this inspection. This included supervision records for all staff members. Some documents required to care for the child were also not held on file. The responsible individual obtained some of these documents from the relevant local authority during this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two medication administration errors have been recorded over this period. These errors were identified promptly and reported appropriately by the manager. There has been a thorough investigation conducted by the provider. The actions that have been recommended to reduce the risk of future medication administration errors have not yet been completed. In addition, supervision records did not demonstrate sufficient challenge and learning following these events.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The shortfalls identified during this inspection mean that two repeated requirements are made. Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/10/2019 Full Good 16/01/2019 Full Good 13/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(c)) 12 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h)) 12 April 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 6

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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 for children’s home: SC478152 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

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC478152 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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