Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report children’ s home: SC477040 1 SC477040 Registered provider: Plus One South West Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company based in the south west of England. The home provides care for a maximum of three children who require support with social and emotional needs. At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2020.

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 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 improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both children are making educational progress from their starting points. The staff ensure that the children attend school and college regularly. The children benefit from the effective communication between the home and school staff. One child has successfully gained a part-time job. Staff are helping both children to learn the independent living skills that they will need in the future. For example, they are learning to budget, shop, and prepare and cook their own meals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Routines run smoothly at the home. The staff team is now stable and consistent and the manager is demonstrating effective leadership of the home. The quality of care is monitored through internal and external monitoring and through gathering the views of the children and the staff. However, the home’s development plan is out of date and does not document how further improvement in the home will be achieved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff manage the complex behavioural needs of the children effectively. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home and no safeguarding incidents. Staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities and strongly advocate for the children to ensure that they receive the services they need to make progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children enjoy seeing their families with the support of staff, who are sensitive to the conflicting feelings that arise for the children after these visits.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Institutional fire signs are displayed around the home and there is a padlock locking the loft hatch and patches of damp in one bathroom. The office continues to present an institutional appearance. These aspects detract from the otherwise homely and well-maintained environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The restrictions placed on one child through a deprivation of liberty order are no longer impacting negatively on the other child. Staff have achieved this through creative solutions, including providing each child with their own lounge and fridge. Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2019 Full Good 14/11/2018 Full Good 16/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continual improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that for children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations. However, in doing so, homes should seek, as far as possible, to maintain a ‘domestic’ rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children’s home: SC477040 5

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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

Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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