Children's home run by Plymouth City Council

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

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is currently vacant.

p.1

Inspection date: 16 February 2022

Date of last inspection: 15 September 2021

p.1

Inspection date: 16 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 16 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC454900 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 acting manager is managing the impact of COVID-19 well, ensuring that planned stays for children usually go ahead.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Work on developing the environment to be more homely is ongoing. New mattresses, bedding and curtains have been provided for every bedroom. Personalised pictures are displayed for each child’s stay. However, many of the communal areas are still sparsely decorated and lack a homely feel. For example, the ground floor flat has many bare walls and is not an inviting space for children.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one significant incident since the last inspection, when a child managed to leave the building partially clothed. Additional safeguards have been put in place to reduce the risk of any reoccurrence.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A parent spoken with during the inspection commented on the commitment of staff to meet the evolving complex needs of their child. The parent told the inspector that staff work closely with other professionals, adapting to their child’s needs in a child- centred way.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager is due to be interviewed soon regarding his application to register with Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454900 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/07/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Full Good 12/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC454900 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(c)(i)) 30 March 2022

p.4

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.4

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: SC454900 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plymouth City Council

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth PL1 3BJ

p.5

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Victoria Whitman

p.5

Inspector

Polly Soper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC454900 6 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.

p.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6