Children's home run by Phoenix Child Care Limited in North Devon

Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 1 SC066179 Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of education and social care. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant.

p.1

Inspection date: 8 February 2022

Date of last inspection: 7 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 8 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 8 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 2

p.1

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.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager since March 2021. The manager in post at the time of the previous inspection has left the home. A new permanent manager has been recruited and is due to start in March 2022. Meanwhile, the responsible individual and well-established managers from the provider’s other homes have been managing the home effectively.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recruitment for new staff members has been successful. This is allowing managers the time to fulfil management tasks, rather than providing care. As a result, management oversight in the home has improved. Feedback from staff reflects the positive impact of these changes.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy attending school and they are making progress. However, the home’s plans do not clearly define the children’s current needs. In addition, care plans for children are not coherent. This means that children experience delay in accessing support and services. This has affected children’s experiences, including time with their family. One child continues to face uncertainty about their future care arrangements.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have attended training in line with the children’s specific needs. There is also good-quality support in place from the internal therapies team. Sanctions for children are no longer used. However, a therapeutic approach is not embedded across practice. This limits opportunities to support children. While incidents have reduced, records show children disengaging from discussions with staff when behavioural approaches are used.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor has consistently reported the impact of inconsistent care on children living in the home. On occasion, these concerns have been significant. During this inspection, leaders and managers identified shortfalls, and actions to reduce concerns were evident. Following this inspection, an updated action plan is being produced to ensure that progress continues. It is acknowledged that time is required to embed changes and ensure that the overall experiences of children improve.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The shortfalls identified during this inspection mean that one repeated requirement is made relating to leadership and management. An additional requirement is made to ensure that the quality of care provided to children is reviewed in a timely way. Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/01/2020 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good 13/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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—

p.4

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.4

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; 30 June 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(h))

p.4

Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to leaders and managers ensuring that the staff team supports the children in line with the home’s therapeutic model.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that records are kept up to date and accurately reflect the needs of the children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.5

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

p.5

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 9 March 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 6 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a review of the quality of care provided by the home every six months, and that this review considers the views of children. The report should be sent to Ofsted in a timely manner.

p.6

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.

p.6

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: SC066179 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC066179 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8