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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 1 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 is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a provider of social care for children.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager is in post. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 12 October 2021

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 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. Since the previous inspection, one child has moved on from the home. The child presented with behaviour that challenged staff. Incidents occurred that included some staff being injured. Leaders and managers acknowledged that the child’s needs could not be met effectively in the home. As a result, the child’s placement ended. During this period, leaders have considered the difficulties that affected the child’s care. As a result, effective changes have been made relating to staffing and matching processes for children. Recruitment has been successful. As a result, the home is suitably staffed and a new manager is in post. One child currently lives in the home. The home environment meets the child’s needs. However, the manager plans to improve the environment for the child. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

includes personalising rooms and providing outdoor play equipment in line with the child’s interests. During this inspection, the responsible individual arranged for work to be completed to reduce potential risks relating to an outside garden wall. The child enjoys daily fun activities in and out of the home. However, the child is not currently receiving any formal education. This affects the child’s day-to-day routine and structure. The child has limited interaction with other children and their education outcomes are being affected. In addition, the child does not have an up- to-date education plan. This means that the adults caring for the child are not informed about the child’s learning abilities and needs. Leaders and managers have not escalated this to ensure that it is resolved in a timely way. The child regularly spends time with some significant family members. Despite the home’s efforts to promote other family-time arrangements, this has not progressed

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in line with the child’s care plan and their views. The child’s positive experiences are captured in photographs. However, the child does not have photographs available to them that capture memories spent with their family. Following this inspection, the manager seeks to address this promptly. Staff are provided with necessary training and support to meet the child’s needs. This includes clear direction from the manager to use a therapeutic approach when responding to the child. However, not all staff are experienced or confident in using this approach. At times, when a therapeutic approach is not used the child’s behavioural and emotional needs are affected. Records evidence the manager taking steps to review and improve the quality of care provided in the home effectively. Leaders and managers identify that a period of time is needed to ensure that a consistent therapeutic approach is embedded across practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 4

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(vii)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers ensuring that there is no delay or drift in identifying a suitable educational placement for the child, and that when a child is not in receipt of formal education there is an informed and structured package of home education. 25 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

mutual respect and trust; 1 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 5 an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(ix)(xi)(b))

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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: 2538055 6

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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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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2538055 7 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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