Children's home run by Phoenix Child Care Limited in North Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066179 1 SC066179 Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd Full 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 provider of education and social care. It is registered to provide care for up to five 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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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: 8 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC066179 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/01/2020 Full Good 02/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC066179 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, a homely environment is created for children. The inspector observed a relaxed atmosphere, and warm interactions between children and staff. The home provides adequate privacy and space for three children currently living in the home. Children enjoy the large outside area, including activities associated with camping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The office area provides a less nurturing environment. Despite the manager telling children that they do not need to knock on the door to speak to adults, children did this throughout the inspection. This indicates that this has been the norm for children over a period. In response, the responsible individual told the inspector that they will change this area so that children can access it freely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s daily routines support their individual needs. Staff support children to develop their life skills and a healthy lifestyle. As a result, children’s self-care and hygiene have improved. For one child, direct work has led to a reduction in time spent playing computer games. Over the summer, activities and trips are planned, in line with the children’s wishes and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved with menu planning, food shopping and cooking. For one child, their choice of meals promotes their cultural identity. However, there are not well- developed strategies in place that support children’s individual needs to manage a balanced diet. As a result, snacks for all children are kept in the office area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are receiving education, and their education plans are up to date. In addition, the manager has progressed overdue health reviews. This has included effective partnership working to prevent further delay for children. As a result, one child has benefited from a review of their medication.

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

Children feel safe. This is reflected in feedback gathered from children by the manager. They are supported to meet with their independent advocates to ensure that their voices are heard. The children’s daily records are reviewed by the manager, and information is shared with other professionals appropriately. This supports effective safety planning.

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

Leaders and managers take effective action to reduce risk. For example, when concerns were identified for one child in the community, actions were taken to increase safety for the child. On another occasion, a medication error, that did not cause harm to the child, led to actions and learning that reduce the likelihood of medication errors reoccurring.

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

Children are developing trusting relationships with staff. This allows a range of discussions to take place with children that support their well-being and safety. This Inspection report for children’s home: SC066179 4 includes direct work relating to online safety. In addition, d iscriminatory behaviours are challenged, and support is given to children about how to treat others.

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

Since the previous inspection, staff have improved their responses to children. This includes increased consistency when implementing boundaries. Children are involved with their care planning. This helps them to understand what is expected of them, and to respond to care provided.

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

At times, when one child’s behaviour is not managed effectively, restraint is used. The manager’s oversight of these incidents challenges practice and promotes learning that seeks to reduce restraint in the home.

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

The use of a therapeutic approach, rather than a behavioural approach, to manage children’s needs is improved. Children’s records, and staff feedback gained by the inspector, demonstrate that staff have developed a greater understanding of children’s needs, and the responses that are required to support their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In the short time that the manager has worked in the home, they have made tremendous steps to improve care provided to children. In addition, small changes, such as the introduction of a positive comments book, shows children that they are valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing arrangements have impacted children’s care. However, there is an emerging picture of a settled and stable staff team. This is because the manager is demonstrating strong leadership that is needed to ensure that the home is run efficiently. Staff told the inspector that team morale is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite the manager’s efforts to contact other professionals, children have waited too long for specialist help or input from partner agencies. Leaders and managers have not escalated matters to ensure that children receive a response relating to specialist help and future care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs. However, the inspector found that this information is not reflected well across plans. This includes details about children’s needs identified during matching processes, and strategies used in the home to support children. In addition, systems are not monitoring children’s progress effectively, in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to improving care for children. They have taken action to address the requirements made at the previous inspection. Following this inspection, two recommendations are made, and one new requirement is made. The home’s development will continue to be monitored by Ofsted by the independent visitor’s reports that reflect the home’s recent progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066179 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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers ensuring that plans detail the child’s current needs and strategies that are used in the home to respond to the child. In addition, the child’s progress should be measured, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 2 December 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should, in line with the child’s individual health plan, ensure that staff have the skills to be able to help the child understand and change negative behaviours relating to their diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  The registered person should ensure that when a placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input or services needed to meet a child’s needs, the home must challenge them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)

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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: SC066179 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Phoenix Childcare Ltd

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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: SC066179 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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