Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 1 SC386428 Registered provider: Plus One (South West) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. The home can care for three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home may take emergency and short-break care placements, subject to a satisfactory risk assessment.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 2 February 2021 to undertake a monitoring visit. 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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 September 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2019 Full Good 04/10/2018 Full Good 08/11/2017 Full Good 19/12/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. He has been living here for over two years. Staff have developed a warm, nurturing and caring relationship with him. This has enabled the child to become more confident, trusting and emotionally resilient. The child told the inspector that he is happy living here, feels safe and likes the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child keeps in regular contact with his family and significant other people in his life.. A parent said that they are happy with the care and support that the child receives and that he has told them that the staff are like his second family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives a bespoke education package. Staff support and encourage the child to attend and he is making good progress from his starting points. At the time of this inspection, the inspector received extremely positive feedback from the headteacher. In particular, the partnership working with the staff continues to improve the child’s outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage the child to enjoy his hobbies and interests. However, due to the pandemic, staff say that this has had a negative impact on the child in being able to access clubs and some activities. As a result of this, the child has not been able to expand his social circle and develop friendships with children of his own age.

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

Staff help the child to develop positive behaviour and support him to manage his emotions and feelings effectively. This is echoed by a parent, staff and external professionals. As a result of this, the number of incidents has reduced.

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

Generally, records relating to incidents are well recorded. Staff reflect on their practice, and leaders and managers ensure that the child’s views on the incident are sought. However, leaders and managers have failed to ensure that they have thoroughly scrutinised and evaluated all incidents. In addition, they have failed to ensure that significant notifications are sent to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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

Physical intervention is rare and is used as a last resort to keep the child and staff safe. The registered manager ensures that discussions are held with the child to gain his views of the use of the intervention. In addition, staff reflect on their practice to ascertain if anything could have been done differently.

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

Staff have a good awareness of the child’s risks and they are provided with detailed assessments and guidance on how to manage and reduce the known risks. These Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 4 are regularly reviewed and updated. A parent said that the child is safe, and this is echoed by external professionals.

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

Staff have a good awareness of safeguarding protocols. Since the last visit to the home, no referrals have been made to the designated officer or to children’s services. In addition, the child has not been missing from the home.

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

The registered manager has conducted a detailed and effective risk assessment of the location of the children’s home. This is regularly reviewed. Leaders and managers have worked in line with government guidance to keep children, staff and visitors safe. At the time of this inspection, the inspector observed staff following government guidance to promote the safety and well-being of all.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the monitoring visit in February 2021, the manager of the home registered with Ofsted in November 2021. The home is well managed. Staff speak highly of the support and guidance that they receive. They say that the registered manager is approachable and that they feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff place the child’s needs at the centre of their practice. The child receives effective care from a stable and cohesive staff team. The registered manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision and specific training to enhance their awareness, understanding and skills to meets the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management oversight and scrutiny of some records needs improvement. This includes the monitoring of incident reports and ensuring that notifiable incidents are sent to Ofsted as required by regulation. In addition, the registered manager’s most recent review of the quality of care does not include the views of the children. In addition, it does not include realistic, achievable and measurable targets to further improve. These shortfalls do not put children at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular visits to the home are undertaken by the independent person. The registered manager responds effectively to the recommendations made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from a parent and external professionals about the quality of care is extremely positive. External professionals say that communication between them and the staff is excellent. This positive partnership working results in good outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirement and recommendation that was made at the monitoring visit in February 2021 have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the records of incidents are regularly monitored, scrutinised and evaluated. In addition, ensure that effective systems are in place so that any significant incidents are reported to Ofsted in a timely manner. 31 March 2022

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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.

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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—

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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

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1)(2)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the quality of care review includes the views of the children and stakeholders, and evaluate how 31 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 6 these views can inform improvements in the quality of care that is provided. In addition, ensure that any actions that the registered person considers necessary to improve are realistic, achievable and measurable.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to develop friendships with children of their own age and encourage them to participate in activities in the community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.6)

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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 for children’s home: SC386428 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plus One (South West) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Mount, 21 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8QT

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Inspector

David Kidner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC386428 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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