Children's home run by Phoenix Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 1 Registered provider: Phoenix Learning & Care Holdings Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider of education and social care. The home was registered in March 2020, and provides care for up to two children who may have social and emotional and needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since November 2020. They registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, two children have lived in the home. Despite careful and considered matching processes, both children’s needs increased while living together. This contributed to one child moving on from the home. The child’s views were listened to as part of this decision. As a result, a positive ending was planned with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. From the child’s starting point, incremental progress is being made. They have lived in the home for almost two years. The child told the inspector that they liked living in the home. The inspector observed many warm and playful interactions between the child and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment meets the child’s needs. This includes the garden area that is used by the child. Their bedroom has been decorated recently and reflects the child’s likes and interests. The child is proud of their bedroom. There are photographs of family members in their bedroom and in other areas of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

However, the child would benefit from increased support from staff to ensure that their bedroom is kept clean and tidy. Some other areas of the home lack a homely feel. The registered manager acknowledges that this is an area for development. There are plans to replace the bathroom floor, and for the office area to be changed into a space for the child. This will create a greater sense of a family home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of activities inside and outside the home. These include baking, horse riding, swimming and attending clubs in the community. These experiences, alongside the care and support provided, are supporting the child’s social and emotional development. As a result, the child is developing friendships and achieving appropriate independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, the child has changed school. The child’s views were listened to as part of this decision. At their most recent school parents’ evening, it was reported that the child is making good progress. This includes a reduction in additional support at school and that they are on track to pass their exams this year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spends regular time with family members. An overnight stay for the child and their sibling is planned to take place at the home. The child is excited about this. This supports the child’s identity and their well-being. In addition, the child’s friends come to the home. This has included staying for a ‘sleepover’. In addition, the child has been supported to maintain some indirect contact with the child who previously lived in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 4

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

Staff have invested time and made considerable effort to develop trusting relationships with the child. This is because the child can struggle to take on board messages from the adults caring for them. At these times, the child needs significant support to manage their emotions, including learning to resolve conflict without harm to others.

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

The desired outcomes for the child are progressing gradually. This includes the child accepting help and reassurance from the adults caring for them. The child is developing strategies to help calm themselves when they are distressed. This progress is echoed in feedback from the child’s social worker. They attribute the child’s progress to the commitment and nurture provided by staff.

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

Children’s needs are understood well. This informs a range of discussions with children, including debriefs following incidents. Plans are individualised and specific to children’s needs and are informed by partner agencies. For the child previously living in the home, this included coordinated responses when the child was missing from home. Despite efforts by the registered manager to request independent return home interviews for the child, these were not consistently undertaken by the responsible authority.

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

There is clear guidance provided to staff when responding to the child in the home. When incidents do occur, staff use therapeutic approaches to help support the child. However, these approaches do not always help to manage the child’s behaviour effectively. This can lead to restraint being used to prevent harm to others. These incidents of restraint are clearly recorded and detailed in accordance with the child’s support plan. Since the previous inspection, the number of times restraint has been used has reduced.

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

At times, boundaries that ensure that the child is safe and well are guided by the child’s behaviour. This includes boundaries relating to the child’s diet. Professionals involved in the child’s care are realistic about the support and care that are required to ensure that the child moves forward. As a result, leaders and managers are currently devising a focused and timely plan so that these areas are addressed effectively. This is informed by the internal therapies team and supported by the child’s social worker.

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

When significant incidents have occurred, leaders and managers have responded promptly and effectively. This includes compliance with arrangements that are in place when the child makes an allegation against an adult caring for them. The outcome of any investigation is explained to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staffing has been an issue. There is currently a reduced permanent staff team. Staff demonstrate emotional resilience in the most Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 5 challenging situations. They remain calm and measured in their responses to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff from the provider’s other homes, who are familiar to the child, work alongside permanent staff team members. This ensures that there is sufficient staffing in the home to meet the child’s needs. Leaders and managers have acted on the issue of staffing shortages and recent recruitment has been successful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Permanent staff provided feedback to the inspector that they feel supported by leaders and managers. They are provided with necessary training, regular team meetings and consultation with the internal therapies team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight documented across records is excellent. This means that care in the home is robustly reviewed so that experiences for children are improved. This includes reflection about practice and learning from incidents that inform future care planning and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality supervision from the registered manager. This supports their emotional well-being, learning and professional development. However, the frequency of professional supervision is not accurately reflected in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor provides rigorous scrutiny and challenge during visits to the home. This contributes to improved care for children. The registered manager has told the inspector that they intend to ensure that moving forward their views are fully included in reports submitted to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2573614 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the child is supported with appropriate boundaries in relation to their behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that a homely environment is created. In addition, the child should receive support that ensures that their bedroom is clean and tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the services needed to meet a child’s needs, the home must challenge them. This is in relation to escalating concerns about the lack of return home interviews. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose

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Recommendations

accurately reflects the arrangements for professional supervision for all staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)

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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: 2573614 7

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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: 2573614 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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